K-8 STEM

Think like a structural engineer to design a stable and strong candy structure.

Student Quotes -

• “Oh, the gumdrops candies add more stability to the base."

• “Okay, let's blow on our structure to see if it sways."

• “We need to add diagonal braces across our walls."

Think like a chemist by measuring and mixing different solutions together to make a chemical reaction.

Student Quotes -

• “Look! The oil and water are completely separated.

• “Wow, the baking soda and the vinegar caused all the bubbles.

• "What will happen if we shake it up? Let's try!"

Think like a hazmat trainer and build a protective breathing mask that could keep you safe in a hazardous situation while filtering your air flow.

Student Quotes -

• “The toxic air passes through the cotton ball filter.”

• “My mom works in a hospital and has been trained by a hazmat trainer.”

• “I could totally run into a hazardous situation with this thing on”

Think like a photographer to manipulate the amount of time a camera shutter stays open to take a long exposure picture.

Student Quotes -

• “We need the lights off so that the camera does not take it too much light."

• "Look, I can see myself blurred in the background."

Try to understand how dolphins use their blubber to stay warm. Design a system to keep your hand warm when submerged in ice water

Student Quotes -

• “Dude, I am telling you layers make a difference. Let’s add another glove and grease.”

• “The side of my hand with more grease definitely feels less cold than the other side. That’s so crazy!!!”

Think like an architect to creating a floating house boat. Consider what materials are waterproof and buoyant.

Student Quotes -

• “I am so surprised our interior stayed completely dry during the water test.”

• “Using water bottles for the buoyancy was smart because it kept our house boat high out of the water.

Think like a product inventor to make a sustainable chewing gum.

Student Quotes -

• “I am going to chew this piece of gum I made forever.”

• “I cannot believe that this gum base came straight from a tree.

• "This is sooooo sticky!"

Think like a physicist to create a catapult that launches an object in to the air with the correct trajectory to hit a target.

Student Quotes -

• “We need to add more tension on the release to get ours to fly further.”

• “We made our catapult capable of launching at different angles for optimum performance.

Think like a bone doctor and design comfortable, strong, supportive bone cast.

Student Quotes -

• “I would wear this beautiful cast even if I didn’t have a broken bone.”

• “Our cast is definitely better designed for protection.”

• “Let’s settle this debate with a drop-test!”