Activity 1: BINARY CODE BRACELETS

Background Information: Computer coding is what creates all the software, apps, and websites that we use. A code is a set of instructions that a computer can understand. Computer coders write these instructions to program all sorts of things. Coding is its own language. Binary code is a system that only uses two digits—0 and 1. Computers operate in binary, meaning they store data and perform calculations using only zeros and ones.

STEM Career Connections: Computer programmers create, modify, and test the code, forms, and script that allow computer applications to run.

Materials Needed: pony beads, (a lot of 2 colors for the 0s and 1s, and fewer of a third color), pipe cleaner or string, Binary Alphabets Image (right)

Activity 2: CREATE A ROLLING CAR

Background Information: A simple machine is a device that makes work easier by magnifying or changing the direction of a force. There are six simple machines: lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, and screw. A wheel and axle is made up of a wheel with a rod attached in the middle as an axle to help it to lift or move loads.

Cars are an important part of daily lives for many people. Cars are machines that help people do everyday tasks more quickly and easily, like getting to and from school and work and other errands. Most cars have two pairs of wheels and axles.

STEM Career Connections: Automotive engineers are involved in the entire process of creating a car, from initial concept to testing of the finished product. They are concerned with the safety, fuel efficiency, and comfort of their designs.

Materials Needed: 1 straw, play dough or clay, 2 cotton swabs,4 bottle caps of the same size, 2 spring-style clothes pins, scissors, tape, ruler

Directions:

  1. Cut two 1.5-inch pieces of straw.

  2. Clip the front ends of the two clothes pins to one of the pieces of straw and wedge the other piece of straw into the back end of the clothes pins. Tape the straws in place as needed.

  3. Put one cotton swab into each straw so that the cotton ends are sticking out of the pieces of straw.

  4. Divide the clay into four equal-sized pieces and roll into balls.

  5. Push one ball of clay into each of the four bottle caps.

  6. Push one clay-filled bottle cap onto the end of each cotton swab. The bottle caps are the wheels and the cotton swabs are the axles for the car.

  7. Test the car to see how well it rolls by pushing the car across a smooth surface (table, floor, etc.) or rolling it down a ramp.

  8. Modify the car so that it rolls straighter, more smoothly, or more quickly. Be creative and have fun!

Activity 3: HOOP GLIDER

Background Information: There are four forces of flight that act on an object that is moving through the air. Thrust is a force that moves a projectile or flying object in the direction of the motion. It is created with a propeller, engine, rocket, or push. Drag is the force that acts opposite to the direction of motion. It tends to slow an object. Drag is caused by friction and differences in air pressure. Weight is the downward force caused by gravity. Lift is the upward force that holds a projectile or flying object in the air.

STEM Career Connections: A pilot is a person who drives a vehicle (form of transportation) such as an airplane, spacecraft, or boat. All types of pilots must pass a number of tests and obtain a license before they can operate the vehicle. Pilots must have knowledge and skills to help them safely operate the vehicle they drive.

Materials Needed: Paper, ruler, pencil, scissors, tape

Activity 4: MAKE AN INSTRUMENT

Directions:

  1. Pick the word you want to create in binary code. The word should be 6 letters or fewer.

    2. Find the first letter and use the beads to write the code for that letter. Use one color bead for 0 and another color for 1. Choose a 3rd color for a space.

    3. Write the code by threading the correct sequence of beads on the pipe cleaner or string. Be sure to place a spacer bead between the beads representing each letter.

    Example: A is 01000001 so you would use red, green, red, red, red, red, red, green to represent the letter A.

Directions:

  1. Draw two rectangles onto a piece of paper - one about 1/2 inch tall & 7 inches long, and the other about 1/2 inch tall & 3 1/2 inches long. Cut the two rectangles out.

  2. Tape the short ends of each rectangle together to form hoops.

  3. Tape one hoop to each end of a straw as shown.

  4. Hold the hoop glider by the straw and launch it.

  5. Test the hoop glider by launching it. Observe the flight of the hoop glider. How is each force of flight (thrust, drag, gravity, and lift) affecting the glider?

  6. Make a change to your hoop glider and retest it. How does the change affect the hoop glider’s flight?

Background Information: A musical instrument is any device created and used to make sound. The first musical instruments date back about 50,000 years. Musical instruments can be simple or complex and can make sound in a variety of ways. Some instruments work by forcing air through them, like flutes, saxophones, trumpets, and organs. Other instruments work by shaking, strumming, or hitting them, like maracas, guitars, and drums.

STEM Career Connections: A musician is someone who composes, conducts, or performs music. Musicians include songwriters who write both music and lyrics for songs, conductors who direct a musical performance, or performers who perform for an audience.

Materials Needed: Plastic egg that opens or another small container with lid, filling (dry rice, pasta, beans, beads, seeds, etc), rubber bands, small cardboard box, scissors, tape

Activity 5: TOOTHPICK TOWERS

Directions:

Egg Shaker:

  1. Open a plastic egg/small container.

  2. Fill most of one side of the egg/container with some dry filling: rice, beans, pasta, sugar, oats, popcorn kernels, pebbles, beads, paper clips, etc.

  3. Close the egg/container. Tape or glue the egg/container to secure it.

    Note: You may have to cover holes in the eggs with tape if the filling is small enough to fit through

  4. Gently shake the egg/container. How does it sound? How do eggs/containers filled with different materials sound?

Cardboard Strummer:

  1. Carefully cut one face off of a small cardboard box.

  2. Use tape to hold together or reinforce sides as needed.

  3. Place rubber bands around the box.

  4. Strum the rubber bands. How does it sound? What do you notice about the sounds made using different size rubber bands and/or different size boxes?

Background Information: A tower is a structure that is taller than it is wide. Towers can look different and be made of different materials, but all towers are free-standing structures that are taller than they are wide.

STEM Career Connections: Buildings and structures take careful planning in order to ensure that they don't collapse or fail in any way. Structural engineers analyze and study the way in which buildings support loads and use the engineering design process to design, create, test, and improve buildings, towers, and other structures.

Materials Needed: Play dough or clay, toothpicks, paper plate, ruler

Directions:

  1. Look at pictures of famous towers around the world. What do you notice? How are they similar? How are they different?

  2. Use the play dough/clay and toothpicks to design and create a tower that is free-standing and fits on the paper plate.

  3. When your tower is constructed, measure the height and width of the tower to show that it is taller than it is wide.

  4. What can you do to improve the tower to make it taller or sturdier? Give it a try.