50 more stem labs - peertopia...50#stem#labs#+#second#edition (c) 2017 andrew frinkle &...

50#STEM#LABS#+#SECOND#EDITION

(C) 2017 Andrew Frinkle & 50STEMLabs.com

Science Experiments for Kids50 MORE stem labs

Created & Designed by Andrew Frinkle

50 hands-on project ideas for kidssupports engineering & design processpromotes critical thinking & problem-solving skills

Science * Technology * Engineering * Mathematics



Table of Contents.......................................................................................................2

How to Use this Book.................................................................................................3

Mission Listings.......................................................................................................4-8

50 More STEM Labs..............................................................................................9-59

Resource Pages...................................................................................................60-70

About the Author......................................................................................................71

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

All materials and designs contained within this volume are protected by copyright laws and are the property of Andrew Frinkle & MediaStream Press (C) 2015-2017, with the exception of the graphics, which are from public domain sites, primarily openclipart.org and vectoropenstock.com

The materials within may only be reproduced for your classroom or at home for educational use. These materials may not be resold for any reason. They may not be hosted on public databases or websites for any reason either. For questions & comments, please contact me at www.MediaStreamPress.com

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. All of the labs within this volume promote learning within these four fields. You might also find the acronym STEAM being used. STEAM is the addition of Art to the other four STEM fields.

Learn more about STEM & STEAM and this book series at www.50STEMLabs.com.

WHAT are STEM AND STEAM?

COPYRIGHT:

in this volume



This book contains 50 different STEM lab activities. You will find a strong emphasis on designing a project, testing it, measuring the results, and reflecting upon what worked and did not work, which might lead to a redesign and retesting process. Technology can easily be incorporated by recording and documenting the process and creating reports and projects about the topic(s) afterward. Presentation and sharing of results is key to cooperative learning. Journals and log books should be kept as a record of the learning process.

There are some general suggestions and guidelines for each project, but it has deliberately been left without too much detail to allow the projects to be adapted to your classroom’s individual needs. These are not recipes to follow to make a project or activity. These projects require critical thinking and problem solving skills.

There is no intended order to these projects, nor is it expected that you will do each project. It is highly recommended that you pick the ones you find to be most interesting or appropriate for each learning group, which might have to be slightly modified, depending on the learning and experience levels you are working with.

You will find some similar projects within this volume and in the additional volumes of the 50 STEM Labs Series. Attempting similar projects helps students build on previous learning experiences while making them adjust to new expectations and rules or materials in the new project. Many instructors have great success with thematic units or quarterly units on bridges, towers, or other sets of related projects.

Another key part of this series is the idea that learning science should not break the bank. Most projects are done with common and inexpensive school supplies, office supplies, or household objects. Students can even scavenge and recycle supplies for some projects.

Since this is an educational volume, graded assignment suggestions are provided, although your exact scoring will vary too much to provide an easy grading rubric.

general suggestions:

how to use this book



You and your team have been selected to make balloon-powered boat that goes as fast and as far as possible.

bayou fanboats01You and your team have been selected to make a kite using tin foil!

ben franklin’s kites02

You and your team have been selected to make a cable car that can hold as much weight as possible.

cable cars 1 - weight03You and your team have been selected to make a cable car that can hold as much water as possible.

cable cars 2 - water04

You and your team have been selected to make the longest cantilever possible from just tape and paper.

cantilever catastrophe 105You and your team have been selected to make the longest cantilever possible from just tape and plastic straws.

cantilever catastrophe 206

You and your team have been selected to make the longest cantilever possible from just tape and pipe cleaners.

cantilever catastrophe 307You and your team have been selected to make the longest cantilever possible from just toothpicks, popsicle sticks, tape, and glue.

cantilever catastrophe 408

You and your team have been selected to make the longest cantilever possible from just foil and tape.

cantilever catastrophe 509You and your team have been selected to make a the tallest tower possible from clay.

claymore tower10

mission listings



You and your team have been selected to make the strongest bridge possible.

clean sweep11You and your team have been selected to make a device that sorts 3 types of coins into different containers.

coin collections12

You and your team have been selected to make an excavator machine to transport objects.

construction chaos 113You and your team have been selected to make an crane to lift and move objects.

construction chaos 214

You and your team have been selected to make an forklift machine to transport objects.

construction chaos 315You and your team have been selected to make the longest, trickiest course in which to deliver a penny to its final destination. The longer and trickier the better.

copper road16

You and your team have been selected to make a device that can throw a coin as far as possible.

discus17You and your team have been selected to make a flying disk that can fly as far as possible.

frisbees18

You and your team have been selected to make a boat from pipe cleaners and plastic wrap to help your marshmallow family cross a lake!

glass bottom boats19You and your team have been selected to design a paper arch that is as tall and wide as possible.

golden arches 1 - paper20

mission listings



You and your team have been selected to design a plastic straw arch that is as tall and wide as possible.

golden arches 2 - plastic straws21You and your team have been selected to design a foil arch that is as tall and wide as possible.

golden arches 3 - foil22

You and your team have been selected to design a pipe cleaner arch that is as tall and wide as possible.

golden arches 4 - pipes23You and your team have been selected to design a wooden arch that is as tall and wide as possible.

golden arches 5 - wood24

You and your team have been selected to design a clay arch that is as tall and wide as possible.

golden arches 6 - clay25You and your team have been selected to make the longest, trickiest course in which to deliver water to its final destination. The longer and trickier the better.

the irrigator26

You and your team have been selected to make a variety of kites using different materials.

kitetrastophe!27You and your team have been selected to design a device that can sink a ping pong ball. The device must be as small as possible.

lead sinker28

You and your team have been selected to make a the tallest tower possible from spaghetti noodles and marshmallows.

leaning tower of pasta29You and your team have been selected to make a parachute that slows a weight down as much as possible, taking the longest time to reach the floor from the drop point.

look out below!30

mission listings



You and your team have been selected to make a device that sorts marbles and ping pong balls into different containers.

lost your marbles31You and your team have been selected to make a device to throw a water balloon as far as possible.

making rain32

You and your team have been selected to make a device that can crush marshmallows as flat as possible.

marshmallow mayhem33You and your team have been selected to make a rolling vehicle that can protect a marshmallow family as it goes down an obstacle course or track. Track conditions MAY vary.

marshmallow pileup34

You and your team have been selected to make a device that cleans water.

nice cold drink35You and your team have been selected to design a ping pong ball raft that can hold the most weight without sinking.

old swimming raft36

You and your team have been selected to make a device that can pop balloons.

pin the tail on the balloon37You and your team have been selected to make the longest, trickiest course in which to deliver a ping pong ball to its final destination. The longer and trickier the better.

ping pong madness38

You and your team have been selected to make a mortar launcher for a ping pong ball.

ping pong mortar39You and your team have been selected to make a the tallest tower possible from pipe cleaners.

pipeworks40

mission listings



You and your team have been selected to make an air-powered cannon for a ping pong ball.

pneumatic cannon41You and your team have been selected to make the strongest possible book holder out of paper tubes and glue.

pump you up42

You and your team have been selected to make a device to throw a marble as far as possible.

rain marbles down on them!s43You and your team have been selected to make a water wheel that turns with moving water and performs one or more actions.

splashing around44

You and your team have been selected to make the strongest possible trampoline with plastic wrap!

tear the trampoline 145You and your team have been selected to make the strongest possible trampoline with wax paper!

tear the trampoline 246

You and your team have been selected to make the strongest possible trampoline with tissue paper!

tear the trampoline 347You and your team have been selected to make the strongest possible trampoline with paper!

tear the trampoline 448

You and your team have been selected to design a delivery device that can take a ping pong ball across the room and drop it into an open container.

tubular balls49You and your team have been selected to make a rotating ferris wheel that is powered by rubber bands.

wheel of fortune50

mission listings



Mission Title with topic tags

Mission goals

Mission guidelines & expectations

Suggested materials

Grading suggestions & follow-up assignments

Each of the 50 projects contains:

Science Experiments for Kids

50 more stem labs



* balloons * boats * buoyancy * distance * speed * water *

You and your team have been selected to make balloon-powered boat that goes as fast and as far as possible.

• Scoring based on results compared to other teams

• Blueprints & design diagrams for your project

• A reflection on your experiences with this project

• A follow-up project about types of boats, especially jet boats, fan boats, etc...

MISSION BRIEFING:

REQUIRED MATERIALS:• Troughs, rain gutters, or

a large pool of water• A string strung across

the body of water, anchored at one side, held taut during tests

PARTICIPANT MATERIALS:

• String

• Tape• Glue

• Balloons• Notecards

• Plastic straws

• Tape measure

MISSION SUPPLIES:1. You will design a boat that is balloon-powered and

attached to a string. The rocket ship must slide along the string to cross the body of water.

2. Your boat must be built from a single balloon, a straw, tape or glue, notecards, and other teacher-approved materials.

3. You will work with a single partner. Teams may not be of more than 2 people.

4. The straw will be used to slide along the line that is strung horizontally above a body of water. Both ends will be secured during tests. Inflated balloons will be attached to the balloon boat. Letting air from the balloon should propel the project across the water as fast and far as possible.

5. If your boat does not clear the distance with one use of the balloon, your teacher has the option of measuring the distance traveled or keeping the clock running while you refill the balloon as many times as needed to clear the course.

MISSION Guidelines:

MISSION debriefing:

bayou fanboats01



* FLIGHT * FOIL * HEIGHT * STRING * WIND *

You and your team have been selected to make a kite using tin foil!




• A follow-up project about kites, lift, and flight

MISSION BRIEFING:

REQUIRED MATERIALS:• Aluminum foil

• String

PARTICIPANT MATERIALS MAY INCLUDE:• Bamboo skewers

• Zip ties• Ribbon

• Tissue paper

• Cardboard

MISSION SUPPLIES:1. You will design a kite.

2. You will work with one or two partners. Teams may not be of more than 3 people.

3. The kite must be built using foil as your primary building material. It is up to your teacher how much and what kind of other materials are allowed.

4. Teams are encouraged to make non-traditional designs. Diamond-shaped kites will not get full points! Kite research is strongly recommended.

• SAFETY NOTE: Obviously, this should not be done in poor weather. :)

MISSION Guidelines:

MISSION debriefing:

BEN FRANKLIN’S KITES02



* CABLE CARS * MATERIAL STRENGTH * STRING * WEIGHT *

You and your team have been selected to make a cable car that can hold as much weight as possible.




• A follow-up project about cable cars, how cables are made, or suspension bridges

MISSION BRIEFING:

REQUIRED MATERIALS:• Fasteners to hook to a

wall or anchor• String or Fishing line

PARTICIPANT MATERIALS:• Plastic straws

• Notecards• Tape

• Glue

• Paper cups• Paperclips

• Other approved materials

MISSION SUPPLIES:1. You will design a cable car that is attached to a string with

a sliding plastic straw. The cable car must attach to the string, but it does not have to slide.

2. Your cable car must be built from a plastic straw, tape or glue, notecards, and other teacher-approved materials.

3. You will work with a one or two partners. Teams may not be of more than 3 people.

4. Your device must have a cup or receiver for weights to be placed in. If the cable car breaks or if your cup is full, no more weight will be added and the test will be over.

• TEACHER’S OPTIONS: Suggested weights are pennies, paper clips, sand, or graduated weights. For the line, heavy fishing line is suggested, anchored and tied on one end. The other end should be tied and retied for each test. Some sort of eye-bolt or carabiner might help. You might need to put all the straws on the line FIRST, and then tie it. Cable cars would then be designed in place.

MISSION Guidelines:

MISSION debriefing:

CABLE CARS 1 - WEIGHT03



* CABLE CARS * CAPACITY * MATERIAL STRENGTH * STRING * WATER *

You and your team have been selected to make a cable car that can hold as much water as possible.




• A follow-up project about cable cars, how cables are made, or suspension bridges

MISSION BRIEFING:

REQUIRED MATERIALS:• Fasteners to hook to a

wall or anchor• String or Fishing line

• Water

PARTICIPANT MATERIALS:

• Plastic straws• Notecards

• Tape

• Styrofoam• Glue

• Paper cups• Paperclips

• Foil

• Other approved materials

MISSION SUPPLIES:1. You will design a cable car that is attached to a string with a

sliding plastic straw. The cable car must attach to the string, but it does not have to slide.

2. Your cable car must be built from a plastic straw, plastic, styrofoam, foil, tape or glue, notecards, and other teacher-approved materials.

3. You will work with a one or two partners. Teams may not be of more than 3 people.

4. Your device must have a cup or receiver for water to be placed in. If the cable car breaks, leaks, or your cup is full, no more water will be added and the test will be over.

• TEACHER’S OPTIONS: Keep a bucket under the test projects or test outside. For the line, heavy fishing line is suggested, anchored and tied on one end. The other end should be tied and retied for each test. Some sort of eye-bolt or carabiner might help. You might need to put all the straws on the line FIRST, and then tie it. Cable cars would then be designed in place.

MISSION Guidelines:

MISSION debriefing:

CABLE CARS 2 - WATER04



* CANTILEVERS * length * materials strength * paper *

You and your team have been selected to make the longest cantilever possible from just tape and paper.




• A follow-up project about cantilevers and their uses

MISSION BRIEFING:

• Paper• Glue

• Tape• Rulers

MISSION SUPPLIES:1. Your cantilever must between 2 and 6 inches wide, and 2 to

12 inches tall, but as long as possible. If you are outside these height and width measurements by more than 1/2 inch, you will be penalized.

2. You will work with one or two partners. Teams may not be of more than 3 people.

3. You must only use paper and glue, and tape for your project.

4. The cantilever may be taped to the desk or table on one end.

5. A beam of sorts will project away from the table horizontally as far as possible. The beam distance will only be counted as far as it goes out from the table edge, provided it does not drop more than 2 inches below the table’s surface. The distance will only count up to the point in the beam before it descends the acceptable level.

• TEACHER’S OPTION: For a more difficult task, add a small weight to the end of the beam, like a penny or large paper clip.

MISSION Guidelines:

MISSION debriefing:

CANTILEVER CATASTROPHE 105



blueprints

data collection

graphing

reflection

science journals

reusable forms and pages:

GRAPHS, PLANNING PAGES, & REPORT PAGES

resource pages



WRITING AREA

NAME:

journaling sheet



PLANNING AREA

NAME:

planning sheet



design area

NAME:

blueprint sheet



data record area

NAME:

data sheet



drawing & writing area

NAME:

observations sheet



DATA GRAPH

single trial data sheet

graphing sheet

LEGEND



test 1

multiple trial data sheet

graphing sheet

test 2

test 3



about the author

MediaStream Press currently operates and maintains the following sites:www.MediaStreamPress.com

• www.50STEMLabs.com• www.AndrewFrinkle.com• www.common-core-assessments.com• www.littlelearninglabs.com• www.underspace.org

Purchase his books and educational materials from one of the following sites:www.amazon.com/author/andrewfrinkle/www.amazon.com/author/veleriondamarke/www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Velerion-Damarke

Andrew frinkleAndrew Frinkle is an award-nominated teacher and writer with experience in America and overseas, as well as years of developing educational materials for big name educational sites like Have Fun Teaching. He has taught PreK all the way up to adult classes, and has focused on ESOL/EFL techniques and STEM Education.

With two young children at home now, he's been developing more and more teaching strategies and books aimed at helping young learners, as well as games and activity books for primary grades.

Andrew Frinkle is the founder & owner of MediaStream Press LLC. He also writes fantasy and science fiction novels under the pen name Velerion Damarke and writes/illustrates children's fiction as Andrew Frinkle. Additionally, he is working on educational music albums.

about the author:

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www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Velerion-Damarke

www.mediastreampress.com

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Science Experiments for Kids50 more stem labs

Get those same 50 great labs, with updates like:• suggested Materials Lists for each project!• improved wording and directions!• More teachers’ options suggestions!• graded Assignments Suggestions instead of simple rubrics!• reproducible journaling and data collection pages!• New artwork and graphics!• New layouts and designs throughout!• NOW IN full Color!

WHAT’S NEW?

50 more stem labs - peertopia...50#stem#labs#+#second#edition (c) 2017 andrew frinkle &...

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