STEM Modules

Ramps and Pathways
Young children engage in reasoning about physics when they try to figure out how to achieve an exciting result by building structures with pathways for marbles and other objects that roll.  The workshop will provide participants the opportunity to experience a physical science activity that is appealing from ages 3 to 83!

Bubbles
Bubbles are a great way to get children to experiment.  Can you hold a bubble?  Can you make a square bubble?  Can you blow a bubble using a fork?  Participants will engage in bubble-blowing activities as they attempt to answer these questions and learn how making many types of bubbles promotes reasoning.  Bubble recipes will be shared.

Cooking
Young children love to cook!  Cooking is a grown-up activity that engages children in science, math, and literacy.  Participants will explore the value of cooking from an educational point of view, use child-tested recipes, and see how children can use simple kitchen appliances to produce tasty learning!  Safe and practical chemistry for young children.

Physics of Sound
A great way to learn about the physics of sound is through experimenting with making musical instruments.  Using everyday objects such as tin cans and rubber bands, children learn how to control different aspects of sound such as pitch, loudness, timbre, and duration.  Participants will experience making their own musical instruments and will learn how to foster children’s interest, experimentation, and cooperation.

Water Movement
Water activities can be more than just play. Children can experiment and learn about the movement of water, such as how size and placement of holes in cups affect flow. Participants will experiment with water materials and will learn how to inspire children’s investigation into the characteristics of water.

Air Dynamics
Can you move an object across the table without touching it?  Can you make a ping pong ball levitate? Teachers can give these challenges to teach about air dynamics. Participants will explore dynamics of air and learn how to facilitate children’s experimentation and scientific inquiry.