It’s National STEM Day! Today is a special day to recognize and promote the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This day is all about inspiring curiosity, fostering creativity, and encouraging students to explore the wonders of STEM. Before we jump into some fun ideas, let's explore the history of National STEM Day.
National STEM Day: A Brief History
National STEM Day, established in the U.S. in 2015, serves as a significant annual reminder of the critical role played by STEM education. STEM encompasses science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – the cornerstones of innovation and problem-solving. These fields are at the forefront of progress, addressing intricate challenges and shaping our shared future.
What makes National STEM Day truly remarkable is its spotlight on the abundant opportunities that STEM education offers learners of all ages; it's like an abundant source of knowledge and skills, ready for exploration by curious minds. As educators, you hold the special power to make this day a catalyst for sparking your students' interest and passion for STEM topics and fields.
8 Activities to Celebrate National STEM Day
1. Explore Famous Scientists of the 21st Century
Classroom Activities for National STEM Day
Kindergarten to 2nd Grade
2. Building Shapes with Marshmallows: Get students excited about geometry by giving them marshmallows and toothpicks. Challenge them to construct different 2D and 3D shapes. It's a fun, hands-on way to introduce basic geometry concepts.
3. Catapults and Counting*: Working in groups, students will launch projectiles into a grid marked out in zones 1-10. Then, building the foundation for graphing and data collection, students will place the projectile onto a graph template corresponding to the zone it landed in. To close the activity, they will count and compare how many projectiles landed in each zone.
3rd to 5th Grade
4. Balloon-Powered Cars: In this activity, students can create balloon-powered cars using simple materials like balloons, straws, and wheels. This not only teaches them about the principles of physics but also encourages teamwork and problem-solving.
5. Light Absorbance*: Explore light in a consumer product analysis project. Students will design an experiment to compare the absorbance of light from various sunglasses to determine the most effective ones. They can bring their own sunglasses, hypothesize, and test them using a Labdisc’s light sensor.
6th to 8th Grade
6. Dropsonde Challenge*: In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will research forces affecting flight regarding hurricanes and instrumentation for hurricane data collection. Students will then use their knowledge and the engineering design process to design parachutes for dropsondes that adhere to specific criteria, including surface area.
7. Simple Circuit Experiments: Introduce students to the world of electronics by letting them experiment with simple circuits. They can build circuits to power LED lights, create switches, and learn about the flow of electricity.
8. Explore Nature with a Scavenger Hunt (All Grades)
National STEM Day is the perfect occasion to ignite the spark of curiosity and exploration in your students. These activities are not only enjoyable but also contribute to their understanding of the STEM subjects, preparing them for a future full of innovation and discovery. Make this November 8th a memorable day of learning and inspiration in your classroom. Happy National STEM Day!
*Lessons are available on mystemkits.com.