STEM After School Academy 2013-14
Weekly Investigations-Third Trimester
Weeks 1 & 2 - The Eye and The Camera
In this two-week investigation, students will assemble a 3D model of the eye to learn its principal parts and their functions. Students will dissect a cow eye to see these parts in a real specimen. After learning about the eye, students will reverse engineer a disposable camera, comparing its structures (and their functions) to those of the eye.
Weeks 3 & 4 - The Electromagnetic Spectrum/Light & Color
Students will learn about the incredible breadth of the electromagnetic spectrum, and they will investigate its components to better understand the immense differences in wave lengths, how they manifest in the world, and how people put them to use in communication, optics, medicine, and cooking!
Light from the visible spectrum will be explored, and stem students will learn how invisible but damaging UV rays are detected. Light will be compared to color using a number of hands-on methods of mixing them and separating them.
Light from the visible spectrum will be explored, and stem students will learn how invisible but damaging UV rays are detected. Light will be compared to color using a number of hands-on methods of mixing them and separating them.
Week 5 - Materials Engineering for the 21st Century
This week's look at materials engineering focuses on some of the newest substances to play a large role in product development and design. Students will perform some hands-on activities that reinforce the reasoning behind engineering at the nano scale to increase material strength. Students will investigate the science behind substances such as memory metal, liquid crystal, and ferrofluid and learn what some of the uses for these products are.
Week 6 - Snap Circuits Light
To study light from a different perspective, powering lights with electricity, students will work with the latest in a popular series of electrical kits--Snap Circuits Light. Students will have the opportunity to see how fiber-optics work and how they are related to an insect's compound eye. Students will see how to create circuits that conduct current to power lights, create movement, and they can even try their hand at music-light synchronization.
Week 7 - Lasers and Laser Maze
From cutting paper in greeting cards to excising cancerous cells in surgery, lasers are finding more and more uses in our world. Students will learn about lasers and what they are in terms of light and energy. To become familiar with some of the unique properties of lasers, and to challenge their logic and thinking skills, students will work with a kit called Laser Maze. Using mirrors, splitters, and other devices, students will create a pathway that leads their laser beam through a maze. Several dozen maze patterns provide a variety of challenges to students teams.
Week 8 - The Physics of Flight
Our exploration of flight physics begins with some demonstrations that illustrate the forces of lift, drag, thrust, and gravity. Students will then build a number of different types of aircraft to better understand the physics of flight, Newton's Laws, and aerodynamic (hydrodynamic) design.
Week 9 - Robotics/Programming
STEM After School Academy 2013-14
Weekly Investigations-Second Trimester
Week 1 - Reverse Engineering 2
Students will reverse engineer an assortment of electronics to identify the important parts and circuitry, and investigate how they work together to perform varied functions.
Weeks 2 & 3 - Brain Dissection & Podcast Production
Students will dissect a sheep brain to investigate its anatomy and physiology. Students will video-record the dissection, and they will use their segments to create a podcast about the brain.
Weeks 4 & 5 - The Chemistry of Reactions
Students will investigate some of the many ways in which chemicals react when they are mixed together.
In preparation for the CSI activities, students will examine how a reaction is used to determine human blood type. (NOTE: A kit will be used that mirrors the reactions of human blood types. No actual blood will be used in these studies.)
In preparation for the CSI activities, students will examine how a reaction is used to determine human blood type. (NOTE: A kit will be used that mirrors the reactions of human blood types. No actual blood will be used in these studies.)
Week 6 & 7 - CSI Crime Scene Investigation
Students will investigate some of the methods used by crime scene investigators to determine information about a crime and its perpetrators. Studies will include: preserving the crime scene and evidence, collecting evidence, analysis of fiber, soil, and other trace evidence, collecting DNA samples, fingerprint analysis, and blood typing and analysis. Students will be challenged with a series of 'crime scenes' for which they must determine the perpetrator.
Week 8 - Engineering a Catapult
This week students are given several materials, and they are challenged to build the catapult that will hurl a marshmallow the greatest distance. The following link shows many examples of catapults built with materials similar to those our students will use.
Week 9 - Robotics
Students will work in teams to create a robot from one of the Ollo Robotics kits. Students may choose from varying levels of difficulty, and they will need to work as a team, dividing responsibilities, to assemble the robots.
STEM After School Academy 2013-14
Weekly Investigations-First Trimester
Week 1 - Reverse Engineering 1
Students will relate structure and function in living and non-living systems. Mechanical and systems design will be investigated by reverse engineering plant parts and toys.
Weeks 2 & 3 - Frog Dissection
Students will study anatomy and physiology of a frog's major organ systems. Systems engineering will be applied to a living organism. Students will photograph the frog's internal anatomy using iPads, and the images will be used during a later class on programming to create a virtual dissection.
Weeks 4 & 5 - Chemistry of Photosynthesis & Respiration
Students will learn how to make and use a pH indicator solution to differentiate acids and bases. Students will perform and study neutralization reactions. Using Elodea aquarium plants and germinating beans, students will investigate photosynthesis and plant respiration as evidenced by pH change.
Week 6 - Tissue Regeneration & Stem Cells
Students will examine cell division microscopically and investigate stem cells through a study of regeneration in planaria.
Week 7 - Engineering a Simple Electrical System
Students will build a simple, battery-operated robotic toy in order to investigate the relationship of power, wiring, and switches.
Weeks 8 & 9 - Scratch Programming/Virtual Dissection
Students will use images obtained during their frog dissection (Weeks 2 & 3) to create a virtual dissection using Scratch programming.