Up, Up, and Away! Rockets and Helicopters! Connecting with Ingenuity and Mars!

Toby Swaford, CSU Extension

Up, Up, and Away! Rockets and Helicopters!

Blast off with the basics of flight as you create and test out a rocket and helicopter through a series of fun and challenging hands-on activities.

SUPPLIES: You will need scissors and tape! All other supplies will be provided!

Guest Expert: Toby Swaford, CSU Extension

Presentation Description: Is it a liquid? A solid? A gas? Let's experiment and see!

K-2 (10:30 - 11:00); 3-5 (11:15 - 12:00)

Matter exists in different states, mainly solid, liquid, and gas. What happens to change water from a liquid to a solid like ice, or a gas such as steam? Interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities will help you explore these changes and see their effects.

Toby prepared a sack of supplies for Shepardson STARS so you could join in on the hands-on experiment. If you didn't pick up the bag of supplies, here is what you will need for the experiment.

Supplies provided in bag:

Ziploc bag

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Citric Acid

Small paper cup

You will need:

Water

Large Bowl or Bath Towel

Note: If you missed STEM Friday and want to try the experiment on your own, Mrs. Woodcox still has some of the bags that Toby prepared. Check with her if you would like one!

Guest Expert: Katlyn Murphy, CSU Engineers Without Borders

Hello! I'm Katlyn Murphy and I'm a student at CSU! I am studying microbiology and anthropology with hopes to go into the field of public health one day. I am also part of Engineers without Borders, a club dedicated to helping improve the quality of life in communities around the world with creative and collaborative engineering projects! We have water distribution projects, community outreach projects and more!

Presentation Description: Earthship-style Buildings

K-2 (10:30 - 11:00); 3-5 (11:15 - 12:00)

Learn about a sustainable form of Civil Engineering that combines whimsical architecture with recycled materials. Earthship style buildings may sound alien but they are anything but, using natural and recycled materials like old tires and glass bottles. Earthship style buildings are a form of passive solar construction using solar power and other ingenious ways to heat the building using only building materials and placement. These homes are completely off the grid while being like a piece of art. Learn more about how earthship buildings are made and how a group at CSU is using this method to construct a community center while also creating your own earthship inspired piece!

Supplies YOU will need! (Note: Katlyn will demonstrate two projects. You may choose to do both projects, or one of them. Or you can watch along and try the projects later on your own!

Earth Filled Tires

• Glazed donut

• Cookies, like oreos or hard chocolate chip cookies

• Plastic sandwich bag

Recycled Bottle Art

• Baking soda

• Paint

• Bowl

• Glass or Plastic Bottle

• Paint Brush

Guest Expert: Dr. Lisa Schlein, CSU Veterinarian

I am a veterinarian and pathologist working at CSU on my PhD. I study comparative oncology, in which we use dogs as a natural, large animal, model of rare cancers to better understand how to treat these diseases. The best part about my job is knowing that the work I do can help both animals and people. As a pathologist, I help other veterinarians interpret test results for their patients.

Presentation Description: Pet Dectective with Dr. Lisa Schlein

K-2 (10:30 - 11:00): Animals can’t use words to tell us what’s wrong when they are sick, so how does a veterinarian figure out what’s wrong with a patient? We’ll talk about some of the tools we use in the clinic to help decide which treatments to use, and will work through a case together.

3-5 (11:15 - 12:00): When an animal is very sick, it’s important to find out what’s causing the problem quickly. We will talk briefly about major organs and their functions so that we can understand how different diseases can affect them. Then, we will look at real lab data from patients and solve “mystery cases” together.

Guest Expert: Dr. Elizabeth Houston, CSU Veterinarian, Comparative Medicine

I am a veterinarian in the Comparative Medicine program who takes care of all kinds of animals at the University, from mice to cows. I’m doing research about pain medications for rats and still taking classes; I’m in the 22nd grade now! I grew up around horses and loved pets, that’s how I knew I wanted to become a vet. I moved across the country to go to vet school, where I studied all kinds of animals, but focused on pigs and how to keep them healthy.

Presentation Description:

K-2 (10:30 - 11:00 a.m.) Join me for an introduction to anatomy, with a focus on some of the unique characteristics that different animal species have. Learn where hamsters keep their snacks, what happens in a cow’s really big tummy, and how the veterinarian listens to a snake’s heart. This talk will highlight all of the animals I get to take care of, and what it’s like to have tiny puppies for patients as well as big horses.

3-5 (11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.): Join me for a conversation about comparative anatomy and focus on what is similar and different between animals and humans. This presentation will tell why hamsters have cheek pouches, how a sheep walks like we do, and some diseases that animals get just like us. I’ll talk about animal anatomy and how it relates to people, what it’s like to be a veterinarian, and learning from the things animals do.

Guest Expert: Dr. Devin Wahl, CSU Neuroscientist (Brain Scientist!)

I am a neuroscientist (brain scientist!) working at Colorado State University. I study why our brain gets older, and how this is not a good thing because it can cause things like memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. I hope to find treatments or cures for this memory loss. One of the best parts about my job is that I get to help older people and study ways that they can live healthier and help their memory. I look forward to talking to you and sharing the ways by which I study the brain!

Presentation Description:

K-2 (10:30 - 11:00 a.m.) Hop on the brain train! Why do older people not remember very well, and what can we do to help them remember better? Have you ever heard of Alzheimer’s disease? In this talk, I will discuss why some older people may not remember very well. I will also talk about some ways, like eating a healthy diet and exercising, can be good to help you remember!

3-5 (11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.): Hop on the brain train! What is Alzheimer’s disease, and why is it so common in older age? Have you ever noticed that some older people may not remember very well? I will discuss brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease and why memory loss occurs in older age (and with Alzheimer’s disease). I will also show you some photos of techniques that I have used in my research to study the brain. Finally, I will discuss ways that I have studied to improve brain health during aging, and reduce our risk for getting Alzheimer’s disease.

Guest Expert: Dr. Heather Hodges

I am a chemical biologist working at CSU in a microbiology lab studying the sugars mycobacteria make. Other than eating sugars, cells decorate their surfaces with sugars and this is very important for how cells recognize themselves and others and can influence, for example, how our immune system responds to bacteria. My talk will focus on how microbes help us make and enjoy foods we love (which definitely involves sugar)!

Presentation Descriptions:

K-2: Bacteria Cafeteria

Let's chat about all the food microbes help make, like bread, yogurt and pickles. Thanks bacteria!

You might be surprised to learn how microbes (bacteria and fungi) make some of your favorite foods. I’ll tell you about some examples and explain a bit how the microbes help.

3-5: Bacteria Cafeteria

Let's chat about all the food microbes help make, with an emphasis on cheese; bacteria are very important for making cheese, they help the cow, make the cheese, and then help you digest the cheese. Thanks bacteria!

We will discuss the types of foods microbes (bacteria and fungi) help us make, how they contribute to the process and then we will switch gears and talk about how the commensal microbes that are inside you help you digest your food and get nutrition.

Guest Expert: Toby Swaford, CSU Extension

Presentation Description: How are magnets and electricity related? Do opposites really attract? Answer these questions and others during this interactive STEM program.

Supplies YOU will need:

• 2 Rubber Balloons (Ziploc or plastic shopping bags may be substituted for the balloons)

• String

• Empty Aluminum Drink Can

• Tissue Paper (Facial or bathroom tissue)

Kindergarten and 1st Grade - Sounds of Science

Guest Expert: Toby Swaford, CSU Extension

Explore the world of sound, including how we make it, how it's transmitted, and how to hear the secret sounds of some everyday items.

Supplies YOU will need:

• Plastic or paper cup

• String

• Metal spoon

• Toilet paper or paper towel tube

• Rubber band

• Wax paper or aluminum foil

• Scissors

2nd - 5th Grade - 11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - No More DIRTY Water! Filtering Water

Meet our Guest Expert! Katlyn Murphy - CSU Engineers without Borders

Hello! I'm Katlyn Murphy and I'm a student at CSU! I am studying microbiology and anthropology with hopes to go into the field of public health one day. I am also part of Engineers without Borders, a club dedicated to helping improve the quality of life in communities around the world with creative and collaborative engineering projects! We have water distribution projects, community outreach projects and more!

Presentation Description: Let's filter some water! Have you ever wondered why filtering water is so important and why access to clean water is too? Come learn about a parasite that lives in water and grows outside of peoples feet! Looking at the near eradication of Guinea Worm we'll learn how important access to clean water and education are to living a healthy life. And don't worry, we'll filter some dirty water while we're at it too!

Supplies YOU will need:

• Empty water bottle or 2-liter soda bottle

• A bottle or jar of dirty water (combine some water and dirt, sand, grass, leaves - whatever will give you some yucky, dirty water!)

• One piece of copy paper (to make into a funnel)

• Coffee Filter

• Cotton Balls

• Filter material: such as mesh, netting, small rocks or pebbles, fabric (or use your imagination to see what you have around your house)

• Plastic or newspaper to cover your workspace (Might be a little messy!)