Category Archives: Full STEAM Ahead

#10: Benefits of Fire

Full STEAM Ahead, Learning Opportunities, Uncategorized

Why would anyone want to start a forest fire on purpose? In this STEAM mini spark you will find out the answer to this question along with many more ideas about this topic.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #10: Benefits of Fire

2. Find the answers to these questions using the sources below.

  • How can you conduct a controlled burn/prescribed burn?
  • What types of scientists/professionals work in this field?
  • What components of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) are important to the controlled burn process?

Research Links: While reading/watching each resource, record information that is new to you, is interesting, or sounds important.  

National Geographic article, Controlled Burning.

Firefighter from Florida interview question 1, “How has a place like Florida been shaped by fire?”

Firefighter from Florida interview question 2 “What does it mean to do a prescribed fire or controlled burn?”

Fontenelle Forest Website page, Prescribed Fires

Smokey Bear Website page, Benefits of Fires

National Geographic article, The Ecological Benefits of Fire

3. Record your answers to the 3 questions on your recording sheet.

4. When you are finished researching and answering the 3 questions, display your learning somehow.  Push yourself to try a new app or a new way of showing your learning.  Here are some examples:

  • Write a letter Fontenelle Forest
  • If you could interview a restoration biologist, what questions would you ask?
  • Make an infographic with terms, images, and details about the topic.

5. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Natural Disaster Reporter badge at the EY website.

#9: Science Experiments

Full STEAM Ahead

Kids can learn a lot about science by watching and doing fun experiments! When you try out experiments, you get to discover things about chemistry, biology, and physics in a hands-on way. While having fun, you also build important skills like solving problems, doing research, and making decision.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #9: Science Experiments

2.  Check out this rainbow test tubes science experiment. Before you start the video record the title on your recording page. Pause the video after Steve shows you the materials. Decide what will happen and record that on your recording sheet.

3. After watching the video one time through, go back and watch it again. Record all of these items on your recording sheet: title, materials, procedures and results.

2. Look over the other 5 videos in the Science Minute™ Video Collection

3. On your recording page, list the 3 videos that you want to watch.

4. Watch 3 videos. For each video watch it all of the way through one time. Then watch a second time, record the title, materials, procedures and results on your recording page.

5. Choose one of the experiments and display what you learned in a creative way (Pic Collage, Explain Everything, iMovie Trailer, Apple Clips, Canva, your choice).

6. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

OPTIONAL: If you wanted to try any of these experiments at home, that is great! Take pictures to share with your EY coordinator. If you need help gathering supplies for an experiment you want to try, talk to your EY coordinator.

# 8: Binary Code: Numbers

Full STEAM Ahead

To talk to computer your need to speak its language.  One such language, or code, is binary.  It works by using a system of 2 symbols, base 2, often made up of 0’s and 1’s.  In this 2nd binary code STEAM mini spark learn about binary code: numbers 

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #7: Binary Code: Numbers

2. The base 2 number systems (binary) requires you to be familiar with the powers of 2. Copy these two charts on to your recording page.

3. Watch this teaching video to 3:37 to get started reading numbers written in binary. Pause the video at 1:28 and write the chart on your recording sheet.  He does the addition for you, but still write down all of the numbers as he goes and add them together to make sure it is 155.  Scroll to the bottom of this post to see that you have all of the correct numbers.  Watch until 3:37, taking a few more notes as you watch.

4. Make a table like this on your recording sheet. Then look up at the top to find age on the graphic for this mini spark. Fill in this table with the 1s and 0s.  You can put 0s in for 128 and 64 or just leave them blank.

5. Use the process that the teacher used in the video. What birthday is the person celebrating? Record all of your math on your recording page.

6. Scroll to the bottom of this post to check your answer. If you have the answer correct, put a star on your recording sheet. Correct your work if necessary.

7.  Watch this video to see how to write base ten numbers in base 2. Pause at 27 seconds and draw the horizontal table on your recording page.  Then follow along with the teacher and fill in your chart. What is 347 in binary?

 

8. Learning the process of converting from base ten to base 2 and base 2 to base 10. This STEAM mini spark was an introduction. OPTIONAL: If you want to learn more and practice you can visit the Khan Course-Binary Numbers.

9. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out STEAM Mini Spark # 7: Binary Code: Names

 

From step 3: You should have 128 + 16 + 9 + 2 + 1 = 155

 

 

#7: Binary Code Names

Full STEAM Ahead

To talk to computer your need to speak its language.  One such language, or code, is binary.  It works by using a system of 2 symbols, base 2, often made up of 0’s and 1’s.  In this 1st binary code STEAM mini spark learn about binary code names.  

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #7: Binary Code Names

2. Check out first part of  this article on binary code. Write your name using UTF-8 binary code. Record your Code Name on your recording sheet.

3. Using the chart from the article, determine the person’s name from the name tag at the top of this mini spark. Record it on your recording page.

4. Watch this video and take detailed notes on your recording page.

5.  Start looking at binary codes that represent numbers.  At this site you will see numbers from 1-100. Choose 10 numbers to recordon on your recording page. Write about what you notice and any patterns you see.

6. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out STEAM Mini Spark # 8: Binary Code Numbers

#6:Cardboard Arcade Challenge

Full STEAM Ahead

What arcade games can you make out of cardboard? Using a cardboard box, some paper, a few around-the-house items, and a little bit of engineering, you can create your own pinball machine. You could also make a plan for a marble maze. Use cardboard and some tape so you can and guide a marble around a cardboard track. Ring Toss. DIY Bowling. Household Mini Golf……so many choices!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #6:Cardboard Challenge

2. Caine’s Arcade is where the idea first started. Watch this video. On your recording sheet, write down some of Caine’s ideas that impressed you.

3.  Set up your recording page with these three sections.

Ticket Grab Game

Labyrinth Game

Cardboard Games

4. When you are watching each of the videos, record ideas, details, and examples of creativity on your recording sheet.

Ticket Grab Game:

5. Write about a game that you would like to create.  Record the materials you would use, draw an sketch of the game and give it a name.

6. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Do you want to make your own cardboard game? Check out the Cardboard Challenge badge at the EY Website

 

#5: Paper Airplanes

Full STEAM Ahead, , ,

Here are some resources to get you thinking about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math as they relate to Paper Airplanes!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #5: Paper Airplanes

2.  Watch this video. On your recording page, write a summary.

3.  Go to this site, 10paperairlplanes.com which explains how to make…you guessed it…10 paper airplanes. Look over the choices. On your recording page, choose 3 that look interesting to you.

4. Check out TED-Ed video about flight.  This video examines the principles of flight physics and reveals how aerodynamic lift creates the necessary force for airplanes to soar. Record 8 details from the video on your recording page.

5. Watch this video on Lift, Weight, Thrust, Drag & Design by Wesley Fryer.  Build one of the paper airplanes demonstrated in the video and try it out!  Have a friend help you record a video of your plane flying.

6. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page and your video with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Plane Builder Badge at the EY Website.

Optional:

Organize a class Paper Airplane Flying Competition.  After researching and designing the perfect paper airplane, you can judge the competition in a variety of categories like longest flight time, most artistic design, farthest flight, etc.  Create a table to organize the data and summarize the results.  Take pictures/video of the top airplanes in each category. Talk to your teacher/EY coordinator about this option.

 

#4: Papel Picado

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized
Papel Picado means “pierced paper” in Spanish.  In Mexico, artists use special tools to pierce through many layers of paper at once. In Mexico, people create Papel Picado banners to celebrate holidays and different occasions.
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #4: Papel Picado

2. Set up your recording page with these sections

WHAT IS PAPEL PICADO?

PRE-COLOMBIAN PAPER

CULTURAL INFLUENCES CHINA

CULTURAL INFLUENCES SPAIN

GENERATIONAL FOLK ART

2. Read the lesson pages.  On your recording sheet write a few sentences for each section.

3.  Watch this instruction video. On your recording page write the supplies you will need.

4. Ask your EY teacher to help you find paper and string for your project.

5. Ask your teacher to use this template and print it on the colorful paper for you.

6. If you want to use the template to get started, and then create your own design that is great.

7. Create a simple Papel Picado following the steps from the video. If you want to print out this instruction page you can

8. Take a picture of your project and add it to your recording page.

9.  Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#3:The Physics of Playing Guitar

Full STEAM Ahead, Uncategorized

Guitar virtuosos have the ability to manipulate sound waves, crafting melodies from inspiration and vibration. Explore the science behind guitar playing, explaining how materials like wood, metal, and plastic come together to create rhythm, melody, and music from the initial strum to the ultimate shredding chord.
Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your STEAM mini spark recording page: #3:The Physics of Playing Guitar

2. Watch this STEAM education intro. Record the STEAM topics on your recording sheet

3. Find out about the Physics of Playing Guitar by watching the video below.  What components of STEAM are discussed in this video?  What’s something new thing you learned?  Add your responses to your recording page.

4. Share your STEAM mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Music Love badge at the EY Website

#2: Nano Details of Our World

Full STEAM Ahead

Nanotechnology pertains to extremely small entities. Nano Art focuses on exploring and highlighting the aesthetic appeal of structures, both natural and synthetic, that are sized in nanometers. Learn about both in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Full STEAM Ahead recording page: #2: Nano Details of our World

2. Look over this chart as a reminder of what the measurement prefixes mean.  Record the prefixes for the smallest 4 on your recording sheet. Also record the symbols for these smaller measurements.   

A micrometer symbol is μm.   A nanometer symbol is nm. A picometer symbol is pm and a femtometer symbol is fm. 

3. Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Visit this site and record the details on your recording page. Zoom in so you can also see the information on the visual.

3. Watch this video and find out about nanotechnology. On your recording sheet, make a list of 10 examples from the video.

4. Learn about nano-art at this site. Scroll through the gallery. On your recording page,  write about your favorite images.  Notice the symbols on each of the images. Some of them are micrometers and some are nanometers.

5. At the bottom of the site there are two paragraphs. What is nanoart? and How small is a nanometer? Read each one and record details on your recording page.

6. Share your Full STEAM Ahead recording page  with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the Science Mini Spark Nanotechnology

Check out the Lesson on Nanotechnology Badge at the EY website

 

 

 

 

 

#1: Strandbeests

Full STEAM Ahead

Artist Theo Jansen demonstrates the amazingly lifelike kinetic sculptures he builds from plastic tubes and lemonade bottles.  His creatures are designed to move – and even survive – on their own.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your language Full STEAM Ahead recording page: #1: Strandbeests

2. Read this quote from Theo Jansen. “Every spring I go to the beach with a new beast. During the summer I do all kinds of experiments with the wind, sand and water. In the fall I grew a bit wiser about how these beasts can survive the circumstances on the beach. At that point I declare them extinct and they go to the bone yard.”

3. On your recording page, write about what you think a Strandbeest is like.

3. Watch this video. and gather more information.

4. Set your timer for 3 minutes. On your recording page explain a Strandbeest to someone who has not seen one before.

Screen Shot 2015-08-09 at 9.54.18 PM

5.  Watch this TED talk: Theo Jansen: My creations, a new form of life. On your recording page record 5 takeaways from the talk.

6. Visit Theo Jansen’s website.  Click on “Strandbeest” and then “Genealogy” in the menu to explore the photo gallery. In detail, choose one of the structures to describe on your recording page.

7. Write about what you you learned.  How does what Mr. Jansen create relate to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM)?

8. Share your Full STEAM Ahead recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.