Category Archives: Full STEAM Ahead

Create slime-tasic-fun! 

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Mini Challenges

Making slime is a fun way to study science. Print out the Science Guide and the My Slime Recipe Book to use while you are learning about slime science.

 Science Guide

My SLIMEBOOK

*****Check out the slime badge on the EY webpage***********

 

The SLIMEBOOK  is 2 page document. Print double sided and cut it in half and staple or glue it together to make a 6 page booklet with 3 slime recipes and a short explanation regarding polymer

Ideas for this lesson are adapted from lessons written by Science Mom. You can find more of her lessons at YouTube.

Coding Challenges

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges

The Hour of Code is celebrated the week of Dec 3-9th.

Look over these fun project ideas and write some lines of code to celebrate the Hour of Code any day of  the year. As you are looking at the resources, make sure to check out the coding badges that you can earn.

Scratch Jr

This app is in Self Service. With this app, you can create a game that reviews any of the ideas you have done in science.  When you are done, share your game with your class.

Watch these instructions for how to make some pages in scratch.

Are you working on badges? Link to scratch badge information.

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Cargo Bot

This app is in self service and is a fun way to learn the basics of
coding and it will help you strengthen your problem solving as well.
Here is a tutorial from YouTube that shows you how to play.

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Hour of Code Challenges

These challenges are found online. Go to code.org to sign up with Goggle to get started.

Are you working on badges? Link to Hour of Code badge information.

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Bitsbox

(app development)

This coding resource is accessed online. To get started, kids login at bitsbox.com with his/her Google account. There is a star in the top right hand corner to tap to get started.

Here is a link to a few free coding projects provided by Bitsbox.

Are you working on badges? Link to Bitsbox badge information.

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Swift Playground

This app is in Self Service.

You will sign on using your Google information.

Start with learn to Code 1.

Are you working on badges? Link to Swift Playground badge information.

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Tynker

This app is in Self Service.

Your teacher needs to have an account and he/she will give you a code to sign in.

  • Go to https://www.tynker.com
  • Log in to Tynker with your Google information
  • Enter the class code when prompted
  • Contact the EY coordinator in your building if you need help.

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National STEM/STEAM Day

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Mini Challenges

NATIONAL S.T.E.M./S.T.E.A.M. DAY is celebrated on November 8, but you can create STEM and ART all year long!

Check out a few of these STEM/STEAM related experiments that you can do to celebrate the national day dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Secret Agent Ink

Magic Tie-Dyed Milk

Striped Holiday Tower

Slime Monster

 

1. Choose the one that is most interesting to you

2. Collect the materials you need. Contact the EY coordinator in your building via email if you need help with this step.

3. Take pictures from your experiment

4. Create a one paragraph summary about your project

5. Submit your work to your teacher the EY coordinator in your building.

**********ALERT************

Completing one of these experiments, taking a few pictures, and a writing a summary of your project will allow for you to earn the DYI Superstar Badge. Check it out on the digital badge page

 

Post adapted from https://projectmc2.mgae.com/#/experiments

 

#65 What’s a smartphones made of?

Full STEAM Ahead, Math Minute, Mini Challenges
Everyone seems to have one and my 7th grader is sure he’s the only middle schooler without one!  What is it?  A smartphone!

How can you spend your Math Minutes this week?

 

image taken from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smartphone_icon.svg

Spiders and Webs

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges

Spiders are master builders, and the webs built by these tiny creatures can be used as a source of inspiration                                      for scientists.

 

Start by reading this article at the Nonfiction minute. Record 5 details as you read.   Article Link 

Now learn more about the strength of the spider silk by reading this article from  Ask an Entomologist. Record 5 details as you read.  Article link

This webpage discusses how a business,Kraig Biocraft Laboratories,  is setting its goals on genetically engineering a super strong fiber.Record 5 interesting details as you read. Webpage Link

Create an illustration, poster or infographic showing what you have learned. Include one or two products on your visual that would be made better with the technology you read about.

 

 

 

 

Science Related Art & Writing

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges, Other Events & Contests
Stone Soup is in the process of gathering work for their September issue which will be science themed.  Check out the many types of work you can submit:
  • write up a science fair project or experiment for Stone Soup readers to try
  • write a short essay about any area of science that fascinates you (i.e. comets, dinosaur coloration, the geology of a place near where you live, something about the weather, etc.)

Check out more details here.  All entries are due July 1, 2018.

Engineering Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges
Are you up for a challenge that can win you lots of fame and money?  If so, don’t continue reading.  This challenge is not for you.  However, if you’re interested in an engineering challenge just for the fun of it, read on!

Step 1:  Watch this video that gives an overview of the engineering challenge.

Step 2:  Draw out different designs/ideas on paper.

Step 3:  Work with 1-2 other people to decide on the best design.

Step 4:  Gather materials (listed below) and build your design.  Test, modify, test again, modify.  Repeat as needed.

  • Large (approx. 18 oz) paper or plastic cups (10)
  • Small (approx. 9 oz) paper or plastic cups (20)
  • Aluminum foil; cut a larger roll into pieces no larger than 10.75 by 12 inch sheets
  • Popsicle sticks (50)
  • Scotch® tape (1 roll)
  • Approx. 12 mm or 1/2 inch diameter wooden or plastic beads (10)
  • 1 liter (or 32 oz) plastic water bottle
  • Tap water
  • Metric ruler
  • Large, shallow plastic tub to catch water if you are doing the project indoors, or an outdoor area where it is OK to spill water.

View designs here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/fluor-challenge

If you need help gathering materials, check with your classroom teacher or the EY Coordinator at your building.  Make sure to send a picture of your final design to the EY Coordinator at your building so we can post them on our Student Showcase.

Finio, B. (2017, July 28). Follow the Flow. Retrieved October 5, 2017 from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/CE_p025/civil-engineering/water-flow-system

The Fascinating Physics of Everyday Life

Full STEAM Ahead, Mini Challenges

image taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P_physics.svg

Physics is the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy.  Learn more about Physics by checking out the following resources.

Watch the Fascinating Physics of Everyday Life video.  Answer the questions below by posting a comment and/or try some of the “toys” Dr. Czerski mentions in the video.

  • What is the law of conservation of angular momentum?
  • How does something not touching anything (i.e. Hubble Telescope) know where it is?
  • What are two important things to know about science?

Go to the PHYSICS4KIDS website and learn about one of the topics.  Create a presentation about one of the topics.

Check out Physics for Kids Overview on ducksters.com.  Create 10 trivia questions for your classmates to answer.

Toy Hackers

Enrichment Links, Full STEAM Ahead

There will be new episodes and DIY videos every week! Watch now @ https://youtu.be/64O_3lsn4Yw

Try this yourself! Collect the supplies and create! Snap a picture of your speakers and send it to the EY coordinator in your building.

If you liked this project, check out Toy Hackers. Toy Hackers is a new web series for the next generation of inventors! In the first weekly show, Goldie & the gang will help kids turn toy boxes into toolboxes.

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Animal Olympians

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities

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Welcome to the Animal Olympics, where species compete daily in the wild to thrive and survive.  Different species have adapted different athletic abilities to succeed in their respective environments, from running fast to chase prey to swimming great distances in search of food and safety. Animals are amazing athletes and their performances in the wild are of often above and beyond Olympic caliber.

And the medals go to………. Animal Olympic Medal Winners

Read through each of the animal award winners, and then choose your own animal to research.  After you have gathered new information about your animal, create an award for your animal similar to those at WWF. Share your project with the EY coordinator in your building.

 

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