Pre-K – 2nd Grade

Binary Code Bracelets

How do computers work? In this activity, students will learn about binary code and how to write their names in binary code via beads on a bracelet. Computers use binary code to transmit and send information. Each character is represented by its unique byte when working with letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, the letter "A" represents the byte "0100 0001." This code is all based on a system known as ASCII (as-kee), which stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII was developed in the 1960s to standardize the way that computers communicate. Each character you see on your keyboard has its designated byte represented by ASCII.

Doodle Noodle Robot

Students will learn how waves, which are regular motion patterns, can be seen. Students will create a robot using a piece of pool noodle, markers, rubber bands, eyes, pipe cleaners, and other decorating materials. Once the robot is created, a battery-operated toothbrush will be placed in the middle of the noodle and turned on. It will cause the robot to vibrate, and the markers will draw a picture. Students will keep the robots and drawing but return the toothbrush.

Structures & Building with Sponges

In this activity, students can learn about balance, force, and motion through building structures with sponge blocks.

3rd – 5th Grade

Balsa Wood Airplanes

Students will learn about forces, motion, and the principles of flight by building their balsa wood airplane. This activity can dive deeper into physics depending upon the age of the student group.

Binary Code Bracelets

How do computers work? In this activity, students will learn about binary code and how to write their names in binary code via beads on a bracelet. Computers use binary code to transmit and send information. Each character is represented by its unique byte when working with letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, the letter "A" represents the byte "0100 0001." This code is all based on a system known as ASCII (as-kee), which stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII was developed in the 1960s to standardize the way that computers communicate. Each character you see on your keyboard has its designated byte represented by ASCII.

Delving into DNA with Strawberries

Students can extract strawberry DNA and learn about cells, plants, animals, and bacteria with only a few items. DNA is the molecule that controls how cells perform within an organism, like a list of instructions.

Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg Machine, named after the American Cartoonist Rube Goldberg, is a chain reaction machine designed to perform a simple task. It is a fun way to teach kids the fundamentals of STEM through problem-solving build activities, project-based learning, and the engineering design process. Examples would be using materials to roll a marble into a cup from a distance.

Simple Machines

Students will learn about the fundamentals and applications of mechanical engineering. This step-by-step activity with a manual guide helps students build and learn about each type of simple machine. Some examples of simple machines include levers, inclined planes, and pulleys.

6th – 8th Grade

Drone Discovery

Drone Discovery explores the engineering design and flight principles of drones. The activities demonstrate how drones and remote sensing can be used to solve real-world problems. The Drone Discovery Challenges are designed to take approximately two hours (time can be shortened or lengthened).

Fingerprinting Forensics

Students will dive into a hands-on activity of criminology. At crime scenes, investigators collect physical evidence to tie a suspect to a crime scene. Physical evidence is any material at the scene that provides information about the crime. Impressions such as shoe prints, tool marks, tire marks, and fingerprints can be valuable clues. A good investigator knows how to spot physical evidence at the scene, preserve it, and transport it to the lab.

Geospatial Science

Spatial thinking encompasses space representation and reasoning. Popular web mapping applications such as GoogleEarth, VirtualEarth, and ArcGIS Explorer have captured the imagination of youth and adults as they view their world from a new perspective. All activities within this guide will encourage students to predict what will happen, test their theories, and share their results. They'll be introduced to geospatial science vocabulary and learn the basics of using handheld GPS units and maps.

Incredible Wearables

If you've ever wondered how wearable technology like the Fitbit or the Apple Watch works, this challenge is for you! Incredible Wearables: the challenge will have students work together as an engineering team to build a functioning health monitor using a small computer and low-cost sensors. Not only will students build the monitor, but students will be able to analyze the information gathered on a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.

Rockets to the Rescue

This is a multi-lesson activity. The activity organizer can choose one, two, or all activities based on the student size. Activities include stomp rockets, paper rockets, and lunar rovers. The activities center around the fundamentals of aerospace engineering. In one of the lessons, students will create a rocket with a nosecone, body, and fins. They will place their rocket on the PVC rocket launcher and use the bike pump to launch it.

Participants will keep the rocket that they designed.

Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg Machine, named after the American Cartoonist Rube Goldberg, is a chain reaction machine designed to perform a simple task. It is a fun way to teach kids the fundamentals of STEM through problem-solving build activities, project-based learning, and the engineering design process. Examples would be using materials to roll a marble into a cup from a distance.

Simple Machines

Students will learn about the fundamentals and applications of mechanical engineering. This step-by-step activity with a manual guide helps students build and learn about each type of simple machine. Some examples of simple machines include levers, inclined planes, and pulleys.

Snap Circuits

Students will be introduced to the basic properties of electricity and electronics. They will learn the fundamentals behind circuitry and how circuits are used in all the technological devices we use today. Students can create circuits of various functionalities, such as shining a light bulb, spinning a motor, or both. They can manipulate these circuits and create their own circuits using the components provided in the snap circuit kit.

9th – 12th Grade

Drone Discovery

Drone Discovery explores the engineering design and flight principles of drones. The activities demonstrate how drones and remote sensing can be used to solve real-world problems. The Drone Discovery Challenges are designed to take approximately two hours (time can be shortened or lengthened).

Fingerprinting Forensics

Students will dive into a hands-on activity of criminology. At crime scenes, investigators collect physical evidence to tie a suspect to a crime scene. Physical evidence is any material at the scene that provides information about the crime. Impressions such as shoe prints, tool marks, tire marks, and fingerprints can be valuable clues. A good investigator knows how to spot physical evidence at the scene, preserve it, and transport it to the lab.

Geospatial Science

Spatial thinking encompasses space representation and reasoning. Popular web mapping applications such as GoogleEarth, VirtualEarth, and ArcGIS Explorer have captured the imagination of youth and adults as they view their world from a new perspective. All activities within this guide will encourage students to predict what will happen, test their theories, and share their results. They'll be introduced to geospatial science vocabulary and learn the basics of using handheld GPS units and maps.

Incredible Wearables

If you've ever wondered how wearable technology like the Fitbit or the Apple Watch works, this challenge is for you! Incredible Wearables: the challenge will have students work together as an engineering team to build a functioning health monitor using a small computer and low-cost sensors. Not only will students build the monitor, but students will be able to analyze the information gathered on a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.

Rockets to the Rescue

This is a multi-lesson activity. The activity organizer can choose one, two, or all activities based on the student size. Activities include stomp rockets, paper rockets, and lunar rovers. The activities center around the fundamentals of aerospace engineering. In one of the lessons, students will create a rocket with a nosecone, body, and fins. They will place their rocket on the PVC rocket launcher and use the bike pump to launch it.

Participants will keep the rocket that they designed.

Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg Machine, named after the American Cartoonist Rube Goldberg, is a chain reaction machine designed to perform a simple task. It is a fun way to teach kids the fundamentals of STEM through problem-solving build activities, project-based learning, and the engineering design process. Examples would be using materials to roll a marble into a cup from a distance.

Simple Machines

Students will learn about the fundamentals and applications of mechanical engineering. This step-by-step activity with a manual guide helps students build and learn about each type of simple machine. Some examples of simple machines include levers, inclined planes, and pulleys.

Snap Circuits

Students will be introduced to the basic properties of electricity and electronics. They will learn the fundamentals behind circuitry and how circuits are used in all the technological devices we use today. Students can create circuits of various functionalities, such as shining a light bulb, spinning a motor, or both. They can manipulate these circuits and create their own circuits using the components provided in the snap circuit kit.