Virtual Home Activities
Sometimes a high-tech laboratory or an expensive workbench isn't right around the corner. However, that doesn't mean that students aren't able to learn the principles of STEM. The CSTEM Family has gathered a handful of DIY projects that cover the basis of STEM, check out for information below!
Electromagnets
Materials
- Nail
- 6V/9V Batter
- Copper Wire
- Alligator Clips
Electromagnets electromagnets act just like permanent magnets, but if you turn them off, their magnetic properties disappear. Electromagnets are an important part of many electronic devices, like motors, loudspeakers, and hard drives. You can create an electromagnet with a simple coil of wire and a battery. In this project, you will explore whether the strength of an electromagnet changes with the number of turns in the magnet's coil.
The Sun’s Heat Powers These 5 Fun Science Experiments!
Jojo uses the sun's heat to power a parabolic reflector, Crooks radiometer, Peltier Device, Stirling Engine and we also cook an Egg. Some experiments will require adult supervision.
Phases of the Moon
Materials
- Moon Journal Worksheet
- Pencil
- Journal
Students will create their own moon phase calendar from the data they got and saved in their daily journal. Use the journal pdf file to keep track of the phases of the moon. Purpose for this activity is to explain the solar system representing the life cycle we currently live in. Additionally, students will understand the 28th-day lunar, and explain the positioning of certain planets. The phases of the moon will depend on the amount of light reflected off while orbiting around Earth. When the moon is closer to the sun, it will appear a face that is completely dark. Students should be able to notice the waxing crescent, 1st quarter, waxing gibbous, and Full moon shows a full lighted surface. The cycle will continue to waning gibbous, 3rd quarter, waning crescent and back to the new moon. The phases of the moon will cause tides because of the gravitational pull towards Earth. These bulges of water will be nearer to the moon which is important to know.
Moon Craters
Materials
- Baking dish
- Flour
- Cocoa Powder
- Sifter
- Marbles/Tennis Ball
- Ruler/meter stick
- Box
Throughout the years the Moon has been hit with asteroids or meteoroids, and with this activity students will create their own craters using flour as the surface and marbles/tennis balls to represent asteroids. Since there is no atmosphere on the Moon, erosion will not occur. This implies that the wind will not cover the craters on the Moon since there is no signs of weather, plants, nor wind. The moon will attract a few rocks from space, but it is unable to do anything after its been hit.
Rusting Out: How Acids Affect the Rate of Corrosion
Materials
- Drying agent- white rice
- Salt Water
- Water and air
- Water and oil
- Air
- Water bottles
- Pennies,nails
- Paper
- Pencils
In this activity students will identify the agent, that will result the nail to oxidize or to rust. Students will add the nail into water with oil, water with air, empty bottle, salt water, and rice and leave it until changes appear. Purpose for this experiment is for the Students to visually learn the term, Oxidation
Identify bases, and acids
Materials
- Bleach
- Caustic Soda
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Water
- 6 Cups
- A filter
- Papers
- Blow Dryer
- Cabbage
- Knife
- Scissors
In this activity students will identify the pH levels of household products. Students will also create their own pH indicator strips with paper and cabbage. The video will provide with more directions on how to proceed this. The purpose for this experiment is to list the pH levels in order from the most acidic to the most basic. Acids and bases are important to know in organisms because some acids and bases will help maintain proper pH for enzymes to work, such as the digestive system. The stomach and the small intestines will have a certain pH level to breakdown the molecules and with this activity the students will be able to identify household liquids.
Straw Rocket
Materials
- Paper
- Pencil
- Tape
- Straw
- Glue
- Meter Stick or Measuring Tape
- Data Log
Students will create a jet propulsion using household materials. They will understand the engineering sections and how air causes the plane to shoot up and move. They will learn how to calculate standard deviation, mean, average and range. Students will gather the data from the distance the plane flew. The wings create high pressure than the air from while the above wings have lower pressure. The aerodynamics of the plane will require to have drag and go against gravity. The force of lift and thrust is what also helps it fly. The force that causes an airplane to move is the thrust engine, but in a paper airplane it would be a straw and air. The thrust will help the paper airplane move forward and defying against gravity. However, in a paper airplane model, the lightweight paper airplane will eventually fall to the ground since there are not stable.
DNA Visualized
Materials
- Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
Students will create their own double helix and learn how to attach the bases to its complementary strand. They will require some materials to create their own model of DNA. DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule composed of pyrimidines and purines bases, nucleotides. It has three main parts such as a phosphate group, sugar group and nitrogen bases. In order to form a DNA it will require a pyrimidine and one purine to attach to each other by a hydrogen bond. In other words, the DNA will need the other strand of DNA to be complementary to it. Nucleotides are composed of Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Adenine. The base Adenine will attach to Thymine, and Guanine will attach to cytosine. DNA is part of a nucleic acid macromolecules that is important for replication and crossing over within the cell in the nucleus. DNA is responsible for genetics that is passed down from both parents. Each parent will pass down 23 chromosomes resulting an offspring with 46 chromosomes gained
Gel Electrophoresis and Forensic Science
Materials
- Stainless Steel Wire (24-18) Gauge
- Small Rectangular Plastic Box
- Wire Cutters
- 9 Volt Battery (5)
- Alligator Clip Leads (2)
- Styrofoam Tray
- Kitchen Scale or Measuring Spoons
- Baking Soda
- Bottled Water
- Agarose Powder (Available Online)
- Microwave
- Food Coloring Dyes, 3 colors
- Graduated Cylinder or other measuring instrument
In this activity you will create your own model gel electrophoresis and observe its fragments separate using dye. This will demonstrate DNA fragments break and separate from the wells and determine many DNA segments..
Colorful Melting Ice Ball Patterns
Materials
- Water Balloons
- Water
- Freezer
- Small Plates
- Table Salt
- Glass
- Water Dropper or Syringe
- Food Coloring
- Flash Light (Optional)
Some Key concepts to know are Ice, Melting, and freezing point depression. In this activity you will use water balloons to create ice balls and watch how they melt.
10 Easy Science Experiments - That Will Amaze Kids
These 10 experiments are quick, entertaining and easy to do with your common household items. If the items you are looking for are not readily available feel free to read the full article here.
Make a Mechanical Flower: Biomechanics Engineering Activities for Kids
Kids, parents, and teachers can try this fun STEM educational activity to explore biomechanics, a field of engineering that studies how living things move. Find more projects and classroom resources, lesson plans, and videos at The Curiosity Machine
COVID-19 Explained and What You Should Know
Given the recent outbreak of the virus COVID-19 and the decision for multiple governments across the globe to issue a quarantine lock down. It's important to stay well informed of the symptoms and causes of the Coronavirus. Content creator, Kurzgesagt, offers an insightful video over everything we should know about the disease at hand as well as ways to prevent it and symptoms we should watch out for.
In order to be up to date on the global crisis make sure to visit the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) website, they offer daily updates on the status of the virus as well as general public health information
Paper Rockets
Materials
- Paper
- Straws
- Scissors
- Tape
Want to learn about propulsion, air pressure, engineering and even a little bit of arts and crafts? Check out the Paper Rocket video to see how you can build your own rocket!
Cotton Ball Launcher
Materials
- Short Pencil
- Thin Rubber Bands (2)
- Toilet Paper Tubes (2)
- Duct Tape
- Scissors
- Single Hole Puncher
- Cotton Ball
The Cotton Ball Launcher offers yet another propulsion device that involves using the property of resistance within the rubber bands to propel a cotton ball across the air. Check out the Cotton Ball Launcher video to see how you can build your own rocket!
Kruskal's Card Game
Materials
- Standard Deck of Cards
- Marking Token
Find the mystery path to the token in the Kruskal's Card Game, watch out there might be more than one path, can you find them all?
25 Matchstick Puzzle
Materials
- Box of Matchstick
No worries, this activity doesn't involve the lighting of any matches, but it does offer a burning puzzle, are you able to solve it? Check out the video above for more instructions.