“STEM activities in middle years Science”

SASTA conference18th and 19th April, 2015

Britt Gow, Hawkesdale P12 College

What is STEM?

• The acronym stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, but it is more than 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 benefits

• Planning is a key skill• Activities promote curiosity• Creativity and innovation is valued• Critical thinking and problem solving are

necessary to construct and improve• Teamwork and collaboration are practised• Communication of results is required• Engagement in hands-on tasks • Sometimes a competitive element

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!

Low-tech challenges

• Inexpensive and easily available materials• No electrical power required• Individual or small group work• Encourage the research and planning stage by

requiring a list of materials and a labelled drawing

• Can be timed and competitive or unlimited• Sharing on completion with a reflection and

evaluation is important

Geodesic sphere

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

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

Geodesic Dome

Create a frame that a person can fit inside, using newspaper.

Geodesic dome challenge

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?

• Variations: Use spaghetti and string to support a marshmallow at the highest point or use skewers and playdough

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• Require a fixed width and length

Float a boat

Construct vessels from tinfoil, straws, icy-pole sticks and a plastic bag - which can hold the most marbles?

Balloon car

Model Hovercraft

A working hovercraft made from a CD, pop-top bottle lid and a balloon.

http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/DIY-Hovercraft/

Cartesian Diver

•Using a bottle of water, a soy sauce ‘fish’ and a metal washer, create this device to demonstrate buoyancy and pressure.

https://www.profbunsen.com.au/uploads/3/9/9/8/39983841/sushi_diver.pdf

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 maze

• Create a marble maze using lego, cardboard, straws, icy-pole sticks or on a pegboard with wool.

• Measure the distance travelled.

Marble Drop

• Design a maze for marble or table-tennis ball

• Can be attached to the wall or free-standing (constructed in a cardboard box)

Pinball machine

• Use cardboard, tubes, CD’s, plastic cups and tape to make a pinball machine

Catapult capers!

Using icypole sticks, rubber bands and a hot glue gun, how can you create a catapult?

Which catapult has the greatest accuracy?

Which can launch an object the furthest distance?

Rube Goldberg Machines

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

Level 3 and 4Chemical Sciences:• A change of state between solid and liquid can be caused by

adding or removing heat• Natural and processed materials have a range of physical

properties; these properties can influence their usePhysical Sciences:• Heat can be produced in many ways and can move from one

object to another; a change in the temperature of an object is related to the gain or loss of heat by the object

Design and Technologies:• Technologies contexts • Creating Designed Solutions

Level 5 and 6Chemical Sciences:• Solids, liquids and gases behave in different ways and have

observable properties that help to classify them• Changes to materials can be reversible, including melting,

freezing, evaporating, or irreversible, including burning and rusting

Physical Sciences:• Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed,

reflected and refractedDesign and Technologies:• Technologies contexts • Creating Designed Solutions

Solar Cooker

Ice cube challenge

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

• Temperature, conduction, insulation.

Medium tech

• May include mobile electronic devices with apps

• Simple circuits - Batteries, wires, globes• Constructing inventions from basic

components

https://babbledabbledo.com/steam-project-tiny-dancers-homopolar-motor/

Tiny Dancers

Construct a torch

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cDmh9bJYhOMCNzdLNpI5N_3eIMPTwf9Tl2Ydl3KDysw/edit?usp=sharing

Create a Hologram

http://www.wired.com/2015/08/new-viral-craze-create-holograms-smartphone/

3D Google Glasses – Virtual Reality

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

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

Makey-Makey

High Tech

• Requires more expensive investment in ready-made technology

• Can be used to learn coding/programming• 3D printing• Robotics• Drones

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?

‘Sphero’ rolling robots

Drones

Can you control a drone?

Direction, distance, cartesian co-ordinates.