Fun STEM Challenges

We will be working on basic engineering concepts cycle every 12-weeks then restart the same cycle. This class is fun and there are many things that you can learn while playing and experimenting during the week. Projects covered include Cars, Animals, Lifts, Catapult, Bridge, Boats, Windmill, Robots, Maze, Rides, Rockets, and a Rube Goldberg Machine. 

Week                  		 Projects                           Topics

1/17/23 - 1                              Car                             Wheel and Axles
1/24/23 - 2                             Animals                      Hinge
1/31/23 - 3                             Lifts                            Pulley
2/7/23 - 4                              Catapult                     Leavers
2/14/23 - 5                             Bridge                        Compression and Tension
2/21/23 - 6                             Boat                           Buoyancy
2/28/23 - 7                             Windmill                    Kinetic Motion and Newton's 3rd Law
3/7/23 - 8                               Robots                       Various depending on students build
3/14/23 - 9                             Maze                          Gravity and Friction
3/21/23 - 10                           Ride                            Gravity and Inertia
3/28/23 - 11                            Rocket                        Air Resistance and Drag
4/4/23 - 12                             Rube Goldberg         Various depending on students build

Typical classes consist of:

Welcome - Introduction of Concept

Review - Students share projects from previous class, discuss challenges and successes, and Q and A wrap-up.

Main Topic - Slides, and video clips will be used to cover major concepts of the lesson.

Design and Build - Students will decide on materials, sketch ideas, and start building. While building students can share what they are doing, what is working and not working the way they envisioned. 

Testing - Students will test their design and record results.

Redesign and Rebuilds - *Students can do this in class and outside of class.* If time allows students can work on a new design of a project in class.  

Closing - Wrap-Up and Q and A.
 
Depending on students' speed we usually get through one design, 1st test, and sometimes a redesign during class. In order to get the most of this class students will need to work outside of class and record their results. If students can't keep their projects up all week until the next class; I recommend they add pictures and/or videos to the class website so everyone can learn and share what they have done. 

There will be short educational videos and clips that will cover concepts of different simple machines and physics students will watch during class. These topics include but are not limited to wheels, axial, levers, pulleys, gears, gravity, tension, and other physics concepts. This is to help students understand the different concepts they will be using to create projects. 

This is an inclusive class and welcomes students of all abilities. Everyone is welcome to participate in whatever way they are able. I want to have a place where everyone feels comfortable to fail because some of the best learning happens when you fail. Through the use of the scientific method, trial and error, testing, and redesign students will have fun while learning. If you have any questions or need accommodations please don't hesitate to contact me.

This class is not associated with or sponsored by Lego or any other brand of building blocks.