The science of simple machines is simply everywhere—in our homes, on the playground, at school, in our doctor’s office, and countless other places. We live with simple machines, often without even knowing it.
It’s a scene you don’t often see in a science class: 13- and 14-year-olds flailing their arms about wildly like crazy aliens. It’s only Day One of the activity and they’re hooked by the goofiness allowed. That’s just one of the reasons why I look forward to my Alien Fluids unit every year. It also really sharpens students’ investigative skills and calls on them to think critically and logically.
But how was I to conduct this days-long experimentation activity remotely this year?
How do you make online learning interactive? I wrestled with that question when my classroom became a computer screen. Science is everywhere, but we seldom take the time to stop and think about it.
With holidays approaching, it’s time to make up my list (and check it twice) of the loved ones I’d like to celebrate with gifts. Sure, some ambitious folks may already have their holiday shopping “in the bag,” so to say. But for the rest of us, here are some unique ideas for science-based gifts.
When you think of spaghetti, what comes to mind? Delicious swirls of long pasta coated with your favorite sauce? Or… bridges? Yes, bridges! Creating a spaghetti bridge is a tried-and-true engineering challenge that can be done by students of all ages. The opportunities for variables—and STEM learning—are (nearly) endless!