TechShopz in a Box™ Topics
TechShopz in a Box™ are free workshop plans, documents, and guides based on TechGirlz' tried-and-true workshops. They make it easy for anyone, anywhere to run a hands-on workshop for middle school girls. As a result of this program, the number of girls we've reached has more than tripled - and with your help, we can make that number grow.
Topics are listed in ascending order of instructor levels. If you have questions about running your own TechShopz in a Box™, read the PlayBook for guidance, or contact amy@techgirlz.org with any issues or questions.
Workshop Difficulty Level for Instructor
Basic
Intermediate
Advanced
Look Through Techshopz
YOU Can Code!
In this workshop, students will use Blockly, a drag and drop language to interface with the memory of the computer. We will be trying a number of puzzles, mazes and… »
Web Accessibility and Screen Readers
Use a screen reader to explore website accessibility concepts and techniques. Students will work in small groups to evaluate the accessibility compliance of websites and make recommendations to improve the… »
Newsroom Story Production
Storytelling is the basis of impactful media – from news articles to slideshows to videos. Starting with an idea, students will learn how to produce great stories the same way… »
Podcasting
This TechShop is the most popular in our library. In order to create an effective podcast, students need to learn how to make their stories engaging and use sound to put… »
Game Design with Kodu
Updated!
Using Kodu, a free software from Microsoft, students can step into the world of video game design. Students will be introduced to Kodu, a game creation environment that uses a… »
Web Concepts
This workshop is a brief introduction to how websites work, how they are built, and how to become a person who builds websites. It is a discussion with interactive activities… »
Designing Mobile Apps
Students will work in teams to design a mobile app. They will select an app idea, develop a prototype, and present their final product to the class. Knowledge of design… »
Make a Website Using WordPress
In this workshop, students will create their own website using WordPress. They will learn how to set up a WordPress.com website and add their own content via web pages, and… »
Tell Your Story with Graphics!
Updated!
In this workshop, students will observe that infographics are often used to raise awareness or sell products in social media, and are more easily searched and viewed on the Pinterest… »
Code & Play Your Own Game with Makey Makey, Scratch and a DIY Game Controller
Updated!
In this workshop, students will use a Makey Makey Inventor’s kit to build a custom keyboard out of unconventional conductive materials, such as fruit and Play-Doh. Students will then pair… »
You Can Be a Photographer: Photography for Marketing
New!
In this workshop, students will learn how to put a sunset and a starry night sky into the background of their photographs, as well as some other fun features and… »
Mapping for Humanity: Using Digital Mapping to Better the World
In this workshop, students will learn how satellite images, collected by various agencies around the world, can be used to help global humanity. Platforms like OpenStreetMap and Tomnod offer an… »
Make an Animated Bracelet with Micro:bit
New!
In this workshop, students will use the micro:bit’s drag and drop interface, MakeCode, to learn how to code the device. Students will walk through the various features of a micro:bit… »
Make a Website Using HTML/CSS
The second most popular TechShopz in our library. Students will learn the elements of HTML and CSS and use them to create a website. Using a text editor and web… »
Animation & Graphics with Python
Use Python in the program Calico to draw geometric shapes and then animate them. Students will write code in Python, understand the coordinate grid system, and use loops to animate… »
Scratch & Raspberry Pi 
Programming simple electronic circuits on the Raspberry Pi using Scratch: students will learn about simple electronic circuits (power, resistors, lights, and switches) and simple programming constructs (in “if…then…” scenarios). Understanding… »
Creating Your Own Games with GameMaker
Students will learn how to use GameMaker Studio, an intuitive program for the creation of electronic games. They will learn to create a basic running and jumping game, and how… »
Electronic Funny Faces – Circuits with littleBits
This workshop introduces students to electrical circuits. In small groups, students will design and create battery-operated funny faces, with eyes that blink, tongues that wag, ears that wiggle, or other… »
Smart Textiles & Digital Knitting
Students will learn about the relationship between traditional knitting and modern-day digital fabrication of textiles. They will explore current research in smart textiles, design their own smart textile idea, and… »
Intro to Encryption – How to Protect Your Information
Updated!
Learn how to protect private information and what kind of information should be protected while exploring encryption. Using substitution ciphers, students will encrypt and decrypt messages and make their own… »
Introduction to JavaScript
Updated!
In this course, students will learn the basic concepts of JavaScript, learn to talk directly to their website, and create their own JavaScript program using Chrome Developer Tools (DevTools) or… »
VideoCasting
In this workshop, students will learn how to construct stories and prepare their work for distribution over the Internet. Topics covered include how to import media, edit in iMovie, prepare… »
Create Your Own Map Using Open Data and CARTO
Using free online software and publicly available data (open data), students will explore concepts and tools used in creating maps. The workshop reviews types of maps, how to organize data… »
Intro to Arduino Programming
Low-cost microcontrollers, such as the Arduino ($8-$25), have revolutionized the way we connect the real and virtual worlds. The credit-card sized Arduino board can be used in robotics, to control… »
MATLAB Motion Tracking
Explore how computers and video combine to capture motion and analyze movement using machine learning. Using a MATLAB script and a phone camera, students analyze videos of each other and… »
How Engineers Solve Problems Using Tinkercad and 3D Printing
Using a template, students will design a 3D boat and use engineering techniques to assess, replicate, and improve the design. The students will analyze and update the existing design in… »
What’s Inside a Computer?
Let students explore what is inside a computer by taking one apart – all you need is a computer and a screwdriver! Review the parts of the computer with photos… »
Computer Programming with C++
Introduce students to computer programming concepts using C++. This workshop reviews basic programming concepts such as data types, arrays, and functions. Students will use input/output in the console to write… »
Entrepreneur Summer Camp
This Entrepreneur Summer Camp puts the tools and technology used to create a business plan and prototype into the hands of 6th-9th graders. Students will go from idea generation to… »
Intro to Game Development with Unity (Session 1 & 2)
These workshops consist of guiding/facilitating students through an online video course at Udemy. In these sessions, students will learn how to use Unity, a professional software used to create many… »
Using Computer Simulations to Help Solve Complex Problems
In this workshop, students will learn about computer simulations and create their own simulations of an epidemic and what factors make it spread faster or stop, which we like more.… »
Solving Genetic Mysteries with Online Tools and Family Histories
In this workshop students will learn about the free technologies available to examine genes and visualize a family tree! You will learn how to use online tools to create a… »
How Computers Talk: Introduction to Network Communications
Students will learn the basics of network communications, how computers communicate via these networks and network security. Students will use Cisco Ethernet switches and their own laptops to construct a… »
Models and Molecules
In this workshop, students will work with different types of molecular models. Students will learn how scientists use these to understand synthetic and natural molecules, including those of living organisms.… »
Introduction to Virtual Reality (VR)
In this workshop, students will learn about how VR works, create 360 degree photos and code up their very own virtual world using simple JavaScript. After the workshop, students can… »
Forking, Cloning and Creating a Website with Git/GitHub
In this workshop, students will pull a clone of a web page from a GitHub code repository and work to edit the webpage. The goal of this workshop is to… »
SQL and Databases
Students will use online tools to experiment with SQL (Structured Query Language) to learn about the way databases work and how to store, find, and create data in them. No… »
3D Jewelry Design with Tinkercad & 3D Manufacturing
New!
Students will learn the basics of 3D modeling, will learn about the different types of professional 3D modeling software available and will walk away with an understanding of how small… »
A Day in the Life of a Web Designer
New!
In this workshop, students will learn all the different responsibilities that come with the title and become a web designer for the day. Learn how designers work in teams to… »
Programming Edison Robots using Python
New!
Meet Edison, a Lego compatible robot that is fun and easy to program. These robots are inexpensive and can be coded with blocks or in Python. In this workshop, students… »
Generating Word Maps using Text Mining
New!
In this workshop, students will understand how word maps are used in powerful ways to communicate ideas through a picture. Using music app reviews, students will find commonly-used words and… »
Artificial Intelligence: How Computers Learn
New!
In this workshop, students will learn about how machine learning techniques such as artificial neural networks learn from data to answer real world questions. They will get insight on and… »
Investigate Water Pollution Sources using ArcGIS Online
New!
This workshop uses a combination of a water quality dataset and an online map-making tool to investigate where a fictitious source of groundwater pollution (based on real world data) may… »
Python Programming
Students will learn the basics of Python programming including: simple data types (e.g., floats, integers, strings, and lists), comparisons, if-statements, and loops. Prior experience with Python or similar programming language… »
3D Printing: Slicing & Design Using CAD
Download 3D printable designs and guide students through editing the designs and printing their creations in plastic. Students will learn about 3D printing principles, importing and adapting open source designs,… »
Cyber Stalking: How to Keep Your Personal Information Safe
In this workshop students will explore Recon-ng, a free information gathering tool that runs on Kali Linux, which can be used to stalk companies and individuals. By understanding how these… »
Developing Virtual Reality using TinkerCAD, Unreal Engine, and Sketchfab
In this workshop you are invited to learn about how Virtual Reality works by learning to create simple 3D objects in a free online application, TinkerCAD. We will then import… »
Robotics Programming with Lego Mindstorms NXT & EV3
This lesson covers what robots are and how to program and control them using computer code. Students will use pre-made LEGO Mindstorm robots to learn basic programming techniques in NXT-G… »
“Superuser Do,” Games, Puzzles & More with Linux
Updated!
Learn more about the operating system that big companies and organizations like Amazon, Twitter, Facebook and NASA use. During this workshop students will learn the basics of Linux through a… »
Engineering and Roller Coasters
New!
In this workshop, students will learn to think and design like an engineer by utilizing the engineering process to design a roller coaster using pipe insulation, marbles, and objects within… »
Arduino Programming Camp
New!
The Arduino Programming TechGirlz Camp puts the tools and technology into the hands of 12-15 year old girls. The students will learn programming, basic electronics, and engineering using the Arduino… »
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