STEAM Teasers

Discover the fascinating world of liquid densities! 

This STEM activity will not only enlighten participants about the principles of sinking and floating but also demonstrate how various liquids can be layered based on their densities. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

Stacking Liquids | STEM Activity (sciencebuddies.org)

Credits for Lesson

Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies

Discover chain reactions with dominoes

This is based upon the more complicated Rube Goldberg Challenge, but uses only dominos. In this activity, participants will collaboratively design and construct a domino chain reaction, exploring principles of physics, engineering, and artistic design. The exercise aims to enhance problem-solving skills, encourage creative thinking, and promote teamwork among senior citizens. The activity is conducted Indoors

• 6 – 200 Participants
• Minimum Duration is 1.5 Hours
• Maximum Duration is 3 Hours

Link to Lesson

https://www.griness.com/the-domino-effect/

• -Extension: One of the world’s most mysterious conceptions combining together to create a domino effect, you can be sure that a Rube Goldberg machine is the right tool to take your team’s problem-solving skills to the next level. https://www.griness.com/incredible-rube-goldberg-machine/

Credits for Lesson

https://www.griness.com/

Experience the captivating Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction activity, This is a dynamic showcase of elastic potential energy. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction | STEM Activity (sciencebuddies.org)

Credits for Lesson

Sabine De Brabandere, PhD, Science Buddies

Discover the concepts behind the center of gravity through these three physics hands-on activities

This series of low budget STEAM activities will explore physics principles around center of gravity in a fun and hands-on way.

Link to Lesson

1. Take it from the Top

2. Balancing Stick

3. Center of Gravity

Credits for Lesson

Exploratorium - a San Francisco based public learning laboratory

Discover the chemistry behind invisible ink!

Have you ever wished to share a confidential message with a friend, reserved for their eyes alone? Delve into the enchanting realm of invisible ink—a remarkable ink variant that conceals your writing, keeping it hidden from prying eyes. Only through a mysterious process does it reemerge, unveiling its contents in a magical revelation. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

Secret Messages With Invisible Ink! | STEM Activity (sciencebuddies.org)

Credits for Lesson

Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies

In this STEAM activity, you are going to have fun making paper rockets. 

You don't need lots of stuff or time. We can start indoors and then go outside or use a hallway to test the rockets. How far can we make a paper rocket fly? Let's find out! Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

Build a Paper Rocket | STEM Activity (sciencebuddies.org)

Modification

Rather than blowing through the straw, you can use a syringe, attached to a straw, to launch a paper rocket. Push the syringe plunger to launch it.

Credits for Lesson

Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies

Through an easy paper chromatography activity, participants get a special look inside markers to see the different colors they're made of. Paper chromatography is something chemists use to separate the parts of a mixture and figure out what's in it. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

Chromatography: Be a Color Detective | STEM Activity (sciencebuddies.org)

Credits for Lesson

Sabine De Brabandere, PhD, Science Buddies

This is a STEAM problem-solving challenge. Meet Sammy, a gummy worm, who's stranded on a boat. The details of how he got there don't matter, but the key is, he can't swim and the boat's upside down. To reach the shore, Sammy needs a life jacket hidden under the boat. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

Saving Sammy (SWS)

Credits for Lesson

STEAMwSeniors Team, and countless others 

The Spaghetti Challenge is a 20-minute STEAM construction competition. It is an activity for beginners in design thinking to practice prototyping in testing and serves as an introduction to the design thinking process, 4C's, growth mindset, innovation, and more. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments.  

Link to Lesson

Spaghetti Challenge (SWS)

Credits for Lesson

STEAMwSeniors Team, and countless others 

 Immerse yourself in a quick and enjoyable journey to gain insights into fundamental concepts of contemporary AI, all while engaging in interactive fun with Google Quick Draw and more. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

AI and Drawing (AI4ALL)

Credits for Lesson

AI4ALL Open Learning Team, a Creative Commons Lesson

 In this project, you'll make your own Scribble Bot that will make art. It's a motorized robot with markers as its "legs" that wobbles on paper and makes drawings as it moves. You can also change how it draws to make it your own. Play with circuitry and explore design thinking. Encourage uniqueness and originality in all designs/experiments. 

Link to Lesson

Art Bot: Build a Wobbly Robot That Creates Art Science Project (sciencebuddies.org)

Credits for Lesson

Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies and Ceceri, K. (2012). How to Build an Art Bo

 In this project, experience the Cup Stack Challenge, a unique and engaging activity where teams stack cups using only simple materials like cups, a rubber band, and strings - no hands. Teams work through 6 challenges!

Link to Lesson

Cup Stack Challenge

Credits for Lesson

LIZ BELASIC at https://middleschoolscience.com/