STEM PROJECTS 2021
GUIDELINES
- Spend 2-3 hours.
- Use the resources first.
- Do the project--read through all the pages first.
- Feel free to break the mold, get creative, be inspired, use other materials and ideas or a different project idea inspired by something you learned or saw.
- Do a field journal.
Sept. 1: Roller Coasters
Sept. 8: Trebuchet
Sept. 15: Hovercraft
Sept. 22: Automata
Sept. 29: Motorized Robots
Oct. 6: More Robots
Oct. 13 (SKIP)
Oct. 20: Spaghetti Bridges (Civil Engineering)
Oct. 27: Spaghetti Bridges Take 2 (Civil Engineering)
Nov. 3: DNA Extraction
Nov. 10: Making a Double Helix
Nov. 17: Project brainstorm; outline; materials list or research list
Dec. 1: Project work day
Dec. 8: Project work day
Dec. 15: Project presentations
- How This Guy Built a Roller Coaster In His Backyard | WIRED (10)
- Engineer Explains Every Roller Coaster For Every Thrill | A World of Difference | WIRED (20)
- The amazing engineering behind roller coasters (8)
- Roller coaster energy
- 14 Fun Facts about Roller Coasters Smithsonian
- Virtual Roller Coaster Rides (Mrs. C's old stomping grounds)
- Project: Build a paper roller coaster Don't be afraid to experiment with other materials around the house!
Sept. 8: Trebuchet
- Energy transfer in a trebuchet (4)
- How to Build a Trebuchet | MythBusters (3)
- How Trebuchets Work | How Things Work with Kamri Noel (3)
- Outlaw Dogs Giant Trebuchet: Daily Planet (6)
- Project: Build a mini trebuchet
Sept. 15: Hovercraft
- Blue Sky Science: How do hovercrafts work? (3)
- Build Your Own Hovercraft | I Didn't Know That (3)
- Explore for 30 minutes (Aerospace): https://nm.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/aeroeng/
- Project: Build a balloon hovercraft
Sept. 22: Automata
- What is an Automaton and How do They Work? | Tinker Crate (3)
- Shooting Archer LEGO Automaton (4)
- Automatons: Original Robots (2)
- Skip Around: 29 automata in 6 minutes
- Project: Make Cardboard Automata
Sept. 29: Motorized Robots
- Meet Mechanical Engineers (6)
- How to Make a Robot out of Cardboard (Very Simple ) (5)
- Maker Workshop - Miniature Robots on Make: television (9)
- Project: Make your own art robot (or dig around in our stuff and make whatever you want)
Oct. 6: More Robots
- Make more robots with the supplies we have. Get creative.
Oct. 13 (SKIP)
Oct. 20: Spaghetti Bridges (Civil Engineering)
- Video: What makes bridges so strong? (yes, I know, but watch it anyway)
- Video: How bridges are built over water?
- Project: Watch the video here & read about it on the page. Use what we have to make this experiment work for you (ask Mom for spaghetti). Try one design today.
Oct. 27: Spaghetti Bridges Take 2 (Civil Engineering)
- Video: How Are Suspension Bridges Made? | How Did They Build That? | Spark
- Go to last week's website and scroll down to find examples of several types of bridges. Choose a new type of construction to try. Draw/write and compare your new results.
Nov. 3: DNA Extraction
- Project: Watch the video, then follow the materials and instructions page. Use frozen strawberries & thaw them first. I have a mesh bag you can use for the cheesecloth. Extract Strawberry DNA.
- Video: Amoeba Sisters | DNA, Chromosomes, Genes, and Traits: An Intro to Heredity
- Video: Amoeba Sisters DNA vs RNA (Updated)
Nov. 10: Making a Double Helix
- Project: Follow the project instructions.
- Video: DNA Structure and Replication: Crash Course Biology #10
- Video: DNA, Hot Pockets, & The Longest Word Ever: Crash Course Biology #11
Nov. 17: Project brainstorm; outline; materials list or research list
Dec. 1: Project work day
Dec. 8: Project work day
Dec. 15: Project presentations
OTHER RESOURCES
- Engineering Games and Projects from Titlemax.com (Thanks Bria!)
