STEM

Hello GCS Engineers! Here you will find a sampling of STEM activities that will get you to practice IMAGINING, PLANNING, CREATING and IMPROVING as you explore the world around you. Check back for updated activities.

Stop Motion Movie Making

You can create a Stop Motion Movie at home. While it is possible to use the movie making feature to do this, an app can make it easier. "Stop Motion Studio" is one option. There is a free base version and add-ons can be purchased for up to $5.

Here is a link

to a tutorial for making Stop Motion movies

Here is a link to an article

about stop motion movie making
Below are Mr. Weld's first two Stop Motion Movies:

Naked Egg Experiment

Did you know that you can make an egg that can bounce? Learn about membranes after dissolving the shell from an egg.

Click Here to learn more about how to do this experiment!

Movie Editing

Now is your time to create an amazing movie! Create a highlight film of you practicing your favorite sport. Make a how-to cooking film showcasing a recipe you love or art project that you made. Use a Go Pro while biking or jumping on a trampoline. Upload your film into a movie editing program and add sound effects, theme music, title page, credits and special effects.

iMovie

is free and easy to use on IOS devices

Movie Maker MovieStudio is a Chrome Extension

There are many other programs out there!
Surf Turf
Vex_Crossover.mov

Home Science Experiments

Here is a list of some very easy science experiments to do at home for all ages. Scroll through the slides to see each idea.

Home Inventions

Now is the perfect time to exercise your Inventor's Brain! Invent a better pencil; design a new kitchen tool; engineer a peep parachute!

Click Here to visit the Young Inventor's Program YIP@home website for details about these ideas and others.

CODING

NEW: CodeSpark Academy

Email Mr. Weld at rweld@sau50.org to get signed up!Grades K-6

Code.org

Guided lessons and puzzle to learn basic coding skills; all grades.Contact Mr. Weld for your log in information.

Scratch Jr.

Free form coding studio to learn the basics; grades K-3- iPad and Chromebook only. Click Here for specific activities.

Scratch Studio

Free form coding studio with tutorials and sample projects; grades 5 and up.Click Here for more information

Swift Playgrounds

Visually appealing 3-dimensional guided Learn to Code Program; grades 6 and up. IOS only.Click Here for more information.

SELF-POWERED CARS

Build a car powered by simple forces! Take a picture and make a diagram of the parts!

Mousetrap Car:

Harness the spring force of a mousetrap along with a lever to power your car:Link 1 Link 2

Balloon Powered Car

A simple balloon, when used with a mounted nozzle, can make a great car!Link 1 Link 2

Rubberband Powered Car

The tighter and thicker the band, the more tightly you wind it, the further your car will go. Link 1 Link 2

SIGNS OF SPRING

Signs of Spring Nature Journal:

Start a nature journal and record/sketch signs of spring: flowers emerging, leaves budding, insects and birds appearing, etc. Be as specific as your can. Record the date, time, location and weather for each entry.

Signs of Spring Timelapse:

Take a picture of the same subject from the same location each day. Create a slideshow to show the steady march of spring. Time Lapse Creator App for Windows
1 Second Everyday App
Sample (and professional) Spring Timelapse:

SCIENTIFIC DRAWING

Find an interesting plant or part of plant and create a Scientific Drawing.

Include:

  • Date, Time, Location

  • Type of plant

  • Labels of interesting parts and observations

Sci. Drawing Slideshow

Sci. Drawing Video

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Use a teachable machine in order to leverage artificial intelligence to get your computer to recognize sounds and images.

Click Here

Be sure to watch the tutorial videos!


Rube

CHAIN REACTION MACHINE

Use a combination of simple machines to create a complex series of energy transfers to accomplish a simple task. Mr. Weld and his daughter recently made this chain reaction to score 2 points.

Video about Chain Reaction Basics

Video with More Ideas


There are many videos and resources available!