To highlight the career opportunities available in Wisconsin in the manufacturing arena, ​Governor Walker has proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin. What can Northeast Wisconsin classroom teachers and school districts do to educate their students about manufacturing and its importance to the Wisconsin economy? 

​Ideas:

• Visit the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce webpage devoted to Manufacturing Month
• Use information from the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA) Manufacturing Vitality Index in your academic and career planning curricula
• Share some of the over 100 Career Videos available on the NEWMA website
• Organize a manufacturing plant tour for students and staff
• If you're a math teacher, plan on attending the Get Real Math! Movie Premier at the Meyer Theater in Green Bay in October.

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CESA 8's 2017 teacher externs had the opportunity to find out what manufacturing is REALLY like--see what they learned!

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Manufacturing Field Trips

Remember, if you take advantage of one or more of the Manufacturing Month opportunities for your students, they need preparation and reflection time for the event to have an impact.

Before the event:

• Make sure students AND STAFF are aware of the event at least two weeks in advance.
• Staff members should receive a thorough briefing on the activity and the student expectations for the event.

During the event:

• Have a game plan for the event--a worksheet, checklist, or activity which gives them a purpose for being at the event. Florida Advanced Technology Education has a GREAT manufacturing tour guide.

​After the event:

• ​Work with classroom teachers to develop an after-event lesson or activity which ALL students will be completing.
• Invite a guest speaker with a connection to the event to do a follow-up presentation for students and staff.
• ​Incorporate student learning into the district's academic and career plan.

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