STEM in the Middle YearsEarthEd Centre, Ballarat

Activities that encourage science, technology, engineering and maths

learning

What is STEM?

• The acronym stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, but it is more then the sum of its parts

• Not just a collection of content areas, but a transdisciplinary approach that provides authentic contexts for modern learning

• The focus is on developing skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, problem solving and effective communication

The STEM process

• Ask – Research, define the problem, what’s the brief?

• Imagine – Generate ideas, brainstorm• Plan – Choose a solution • Create – Construct and develop a prototype• Evaluate – test and troubleshoot• Improve – Refine and adjust• Communication - Results

STEM activities

• STEM activities can range from very simple, low-cost, low tech (for example, cardboard, paper or plastic straw construction) to high-tech gadgetry such as 3D printing, robotics and drones.

• You don’t need a state-of-the-art MakerSpace or expensive electronic equipment to start making!

Geodesic sphere

• A geodesic structure is strong, light and based on triangles.

• Challenge students to create a dome or sphere using just plastic straws.

Tallest structure from playing cards

• Which team can construct the tallest structure using just playing cards and no tape, glue or other fixings?

• The world record is 7.71 metres!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgrJuW_uKgI

Spaghetti marshmallow challenge

• How tall can you make a tower from just spaghetti and marshmallows?

Paper chair for teddy

• Using only paper and tape can you build a chair that supports a stuffed toy?

Paper aeroplane

• Using an A4 page, fold a paper plane

• Decide what is the ‘best’ paper plane – is it the one that flies the furthest or the highest?

• Test and improve

Bridge Challenge

• How much weight can a bridge bear?

• What is the span length?

• There are four types of bridge – beam, arch, suspension and cantilever.

Bridge Challenge

A bridge challenge can be suitable for a variety of ages and take from 15 minutes to many days!• Icy-pole sticks and glue (from 50 to unlimited)• Straws and skewers• Spaghetti and marshmallows• Playing cards and tape• Paper and string

Shadow puppets

Ice cube challenge

• Design a container to keep an ice cube frozen for the longest time.

Car launch

• How far can you get a model car to travel without pushing it or applying external force?

• Use ramps and gravity to launch your vehicle.

• Measurement, ordering decimals, angles, forces

Marble Drop

• Design a maze for marble or table-tennis ball

• Can be attached to the wall

Rube Goldberg Machines

• Unnecessarily complex devices that achieve simple tasks, often involving domino falls, rolling balls, ramps, tubes, levers and wheels.

Create a Hologram

3D Google Glasses – Virtual Reality

Soft Circuits

Wearable Tech

• Clothing and accessories with integrated circuits

• FitBits, light-up shoes, GPS in AFL, smart watches

• Smart helmets that monitor heart-rate etc• Boxing gloves that track performance• Backpacks with inbuilt solar panels• LEDs and sensors on your fingernails

3D printing

• Useful for custom design, such as prosthetics and prototypes.

• Students can use programs such as Google SketchUp to create their designs and then 3D print them in plastic.

• “Moat Boat” is a challenge to make your rubber-band powered boat travel the longest distance.

Moat Boats

3D printed paddle boats – how far can a boat powered by a rubber band travel?

Robotics

• Kibo – early years• BeeBots and BlueBots - primary• Sphero – rolling robots• Ozobots – tiny light-sensing robots• Dash and Dot – programmable with drag-and-

drop coding

‘Sphero’ rolling robots

Drones

Can you control a drone?

Makey-Makey

Coding Resources

• https://code.org/• Hour of Code: https://code.org/learn• Unplugged:

https://code.org/curriculum/course2/1/Teacher

• Computer Science Unplugged: http://csunplugged.org/

• Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/