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Archives for June 2024

Innovate and Inspire: 5 Top Science Fair Project Ideas for High Schoolers

 

Photo Courtesy of Envato

The science fair is an excellent place for those curious about our world’s composition to demonstrate their educational prowess for others to enjoy. However, it can also be quite daunting for someone who may not know where to start or what would navigate that middle ground between a passionate subject and a physical construction in said area of expertise.

Where can one find ideas for this task? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Here are five ideas to get you thinking about what you’re looking for in a science fair project! If none of these catch your fancy, they were all taken from ScienceBuddies.org, and there are plenty more experiments to choose from if you feel obliged to give them a look.

 

 1. Extracting DNA from Strawberries

Link to Project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/BioChem_p015/biotechnology-techniques/strawberry-dna

Let’s get down to the basics, such as DNA. There isn’t much to be said about DNA that hasn’t been extensively researched, but that’s also why it is a great project to work with. This example is simple and cost-effective but allows students to become a biotechnological engineer for a day and condense a strawberry into its purest form: its genetic composition.

To simplify the process so that the average person (or blog writer) would understand it, you use a chemical (dishwashing liquid, so nothing dangerous) to crack the cells open. Then, you attract the DNA with salt to group close to one another, and you separate the whole mixture with rubbing alcohol to show your audience what the biological instructions (DNA) for creating strawberries look like! It’s relatively easy but still pretty cool.

2. Musical Straws

Link to Project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Music_p016/music/do-re-mi-with-straws

Music is something that everyone inherently understands, but only some ever try to comprehend. How does good noise come from wooden and metal sticks, like clarinets and flutes? Sounds like the perfect idea for a science fair project! In this experiment, the student doesn’t need much more than the materials they likely already have at home: straws, a tape measure, and some sort of tuning app or musical instrument.

This project entails cutting the straws into a roughly “reed” shape, similar to the device an oboe uses to create its distinct timbre, and snipping off the other end to produce differing pitches of said instrument. While simple in theory, in concept, it can be pretty tricky to find exactly the perfect note, and if you’re off by a couple of cents, the band kids will likely notice! This project would pair well with some graphs explaining how sound travels through the air in wavelengths, with the straws acting as a visual aid rather than the explanation itself.

3. Homemade Wind Meter

Link to Project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Weather_p008/weather-atmosphere/how-does-a-wind-meter-work

Those weather forecasts…one moment, they tell you it’s sunny, and next thing you know, you’re knee-deep in rainwater. With this experiment, you can be wrong about the weather, too! (or right, preferably).

Anemometers are measuring devices that meteorologists use to measure wind speed, and surprisingly, they’re not that complicated. For this experiment, you’d need the standard office supplies (scissors, stapler, pencil, etc.) with some paper cups, straws (which is, let’s face it, the most versatile DIY material out there), a pin, and a fan with different speeds. Following the instructions on the website will grant you a homemade anemometer of your own, and once you add in a description of wind’s role in the formation of weather, you’re set to go for this week’s science fair!

4. Recognizing Faces with Neural Networks

Link to Project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/ArtificialIntelligence_p016/artificial-intelligence/facial_recognition

Recognizing faces is something that most humans innately do instinctively, but it’s a whole different story regarding computers. It takes a ton of software, hardware, and lots of years in college to get your laptop to differentiate different humans by appearance…right?

Apparently not, because it’s on this list of high-school science fair ideas! While there is more prep work than previously mentioned projects, it’s fairly technical but straightforward.

The simplest explanation is this: You’ll take a bunch of pictures from person A and tell the machine, ” This is the person I want,” designating one as an “anchor image.” The machine will take this “anchor image” and these “positive images” and note the details that make up the person’s face (e.g., “they have a mole on their left cheek” or “their eyes are always blue”).

Then, you’ll continuously show it “negative images,” pictures of person B, C, D, and so on, and tell it, “This is not the person I want.” With each pass, you’ll train it to identify the person you want and the people you don’t want until this computer can reliably tell you from any picture of a human that “the picture is/is not person A.”

ScienceBuddies.org provides a more in-depth explanation for this process, but what can be certain is that this is a worthwhile project to explore for any computer geeks out there.

5. DIY Phonograph

Link to Project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Music_p032/music/make-a-phonograph

This project is likely the most physically complex, and for that, it’s the last on this list. The student will need tin cans, aluminum foil, rubber bands, sewing needles, scotch tape, latex balloons, scissors, and a plastic funnel. Here’s the kicker: three volunteers and a turntable or lazy Susan will be needed. These can be hard to find, so ensure you can acquire them head-on before entering this project.

The overall concept is that you can remove the tops and bottoms of the cans and keep the balloon (or foil, as it is an alternative material) on one end with the rubber bands and the needle taped an inch from the edge of the balloon/foil side. Then, someone will rotate the lazy Susan or turntable with a record on top, the needle of the can sticking into one of the ridges of the record, and you’ll record the sound quality for each can combination.

This project provides an exemplary view of the different parts that play into a phonograph and how it operates. It’s a great visual and auditory aid. Hearing the differences in action will definitely surprise other participants and the audience!

 

There are many ways to go about creating something for a science fair. As shown above, they come in all shapes and sizes, difficulties and costs. But at the end of the day, every teacher can attest that what matters is that the students learn something and have fun while doing it! Hopefully, these ideas can spur an excitement for an exciting field of study that’ll push forward long after a science fair. If not, then a fun little experiment will have to do. Either way, something of value will have been gained; that much is guaranteed.

By Noah Moster

 

Do you want more resources on the topic of Science Fairs? NSTEM’s vast resources database provides thousands of searchable STEM resources by category, school level, and state. This comprehensive library includes info on enrichment activities, curricula, internships, scholarships, and more. Check out a free sampling here. Or get an NSTEM membership today to unlock the complete list.

Project-based learning enrichment provides high school students with college and career readiness. It gives them real-world relevance, transforming students into collaborators and imaginative problem solvers. They will gain the upper hand in a global landscape, stemming from enhanced confidence and grit. NSTEM provides these young STEM enthusiasts with a close community of like-minded fellow students and educators.  To start your 9-12 Chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.

3 Science Books Every High Schooler Should Read

 

Photo Courtesy of Envato

In high school, a stigma can often be found regarding reading material: science stuff is dull and flat, and fictitious stuff like fantasy is fun and creative. That stigma is evidently untrue, and there are no better sources to disprove that claim than these three books! Each one contains elaborate plots and high stakes yet still maintains an integral importance in the STEM field and demonstrates that dragons and magic aren’t the only things that can keep us on the edge of our seats! 

1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card 

Ender’s Game is a book that, by this point, almost speaks for itself. It’s received a movie and countless accolades, yet despite these accomplishments, it hasn’t been read that much. Without giving too much detail, it follows the experience of the titular Ender and his thoughts as he is drafted into a futuristic military academy for gifted children. Inside, he learns how to fight the alien insects known as the Formics that had devastated the human species multiple times before, how to lead a company of soldiers in both small- and large-scale engagements, and most importantly, the price of leadership and intellect among one’s peers. While the premise may imply a more action-focused narrative, the novel covers prominent elements in the realities and philosophies of war and a realistic view of what space combat could look like in the future. It’s approximately 352 pages long but a fantastic read for anyone wanting a rounded education in the mind and brain sciences.

2. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Before there were computers, there were “computers.”

Hidden Figures is, to start, a perfect example of how a compelling story doesn’t need explosions or fictitious elements. It follows Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden as they enabled the possibility of space travel through hard work and intricate calculations, all while bearing the brunt of both racism and sexism in 1940s-1960s America. This novel is valuable as a remarkable tale of human perseverance and an essential story of scientific history and the achievements these women accomplished in space travel. The book is around 384 pages long and will undoubtedly provide an educational yet gripping tale for those seeking role models in patience, pride in oneself, and STEM excellence.

3. The Martian by Andy Weir 

Ender’s Game takes place in the future, and Hidden Figures takes place in the recent past. It’s only natural to end on The Martian, a novel set in humankind’s imminent but not yet actual reality.

The Martian, while being science fiction, grounds itself in a staunchly non-fictitious premise: Mark Watney, an astronaut on a space crew charged with the Ares 3 Mars mission, gets left behind after a sandstorm forces the Ares 3 team to abandon their research and quickly leave the planet. While getting aboard the vessel to evacuate, Mark is hit by debris from the weather, which separates him from the rest of the group and causes them to assume his death. Miraculously, Mark survives this impact and now has to navigate the hostile terrain conditions of Mars and ensure his survival in a base meant to be operated by an entire crew in the hopes that if he plays his cards right, he might just escape.

The Martian is around 333 pages long and offers a much more casual reading experience, as the book’s format takes place in log entries instead of the more traditional omniscient perspective science fiction often takes. Even though the reading is quite digestible, the material itself branches into the technical sphere enough to provide enjoyment in both creative and logical elements. Also, the humor that Mark brings to the bleak situation juxtaposes the stakes of his fate entertainingly. The Martian is technical but not complex. It’s perfect for a high school read.

These three books are just the tip of the iceberg regarding the many different “scientific stuff” series. Something else of note is that all three of these novels have movie adaptations. So if you enjoyed reading any of them, you can watch the story in a visual format as well! And if three books aren’t enough to sate your curiosity, it’s never a bad idea to ask your librarian what new collections have arrived. They’re an infinitely valuable resource, and chances are, they’ll be more than happy to help you find other promising reads! And above all else, just keep learning. Often, the choice that separates a villain from a hero in a narrative is whether or not they learn from their accomplishments, mistakes, etc. Anyone can be a hero so long as they learn and grow.

By Noah Moster

 

Do you want more resources on the topic of Science Books? NSTEM’s vast resources database provides thousands of searchable STEM resources by category, school level, and state. This comprehensive library includes info on enrichment activities, curricula, internships, scholarships, and more. Check out a free sampling here. Or get an NSTEM membership today to unlock the complete list.

Project-based learning enrichment provides high school students with college and career readiness. It gives them real-world relevance, transforming students into collaborators and imaginative problem solvers. They will gain the upper hand in a global landscape, stemming from enhanced confidence and grit. NSTEM provides these young STEM enthusiasts with a close community of like-minded fellow students and educators.  To start your 9-12 Chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.

Play & Learn: 3 Fun Educational Apps for K-2 Students

Photo Courtesy of Envato

At first glance, the STEM field can be daunting for those just starting to learn in the world around us. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math aren’t initially concepts that one would introduce in the same vein as learning the alphabet. But that’s the beautiful thing about learning: there is no failure, only success, and experience gained. Additionally, with the advent of mobile devices, lessons don’t have to be taught solely in the classroom. Students are free to grow wherever they’d like to. With that in mind, here are three education-based apps suited for K-2 students that require only a smartphone and an eager brain!

1. PBS Kids Games

The Public Broadcasting Station is always a phenomenal educational resource for students of all ages and types, so they’re never the wrong choice regarding mobile learning for younger audiences. PBS Kids Games creates many games covering various topics: Alaskan Native culture, nature, space…they’ve got it all! There’s even an app specifically for STEM-based learning: The Cat In The Hat Invents. When it comes to quantity alone, no other option bests PBS.

2. ScratchJr

What’s more fun? Getting a fully built Lego set or assembling the construction yourself? The answer is often, of course, the latter. In that same respect, ScratchJr doesn’t provide a story or game to follow. It lays out the tools in the form of “graphical programming blocks” (in other words, characters, objects, and places controlled by computer language in the visual style of puzzle pieces) so that students can tell their own narratives instead! “Imagination” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering the STEM field. Still, ScratchJr blows that stereotype out of the water by merging creativity and formulaic learning to round out the ideal schooling service.

3. Duck Duck Moose

Duck Duck Moose, similar to PBS Kids Games, is a collection of games rather than one app in particular. While it doesn’t have the immense variety of topics that PBS hosts, the advantage of Duck Duck Moose is that it has a tighter target audience, ages 2-10. Whereas other app companies may employ a wide net, this one caters to the focus group by covering grounded topics such as math, reading, and storytelling. If all else fails, it falls to the classic point of interest for kids: trucks and princesses (not in one app, unfortunately). It’s simple and sweet.

In a world where the smartphone stays with us any day for longer than our wallet, shoes, or even the clothes we wear, it often remains surprisingly unutilized in many cases when it comes to helping children increase their awareness of the vast biome they reside in! The phrase “kids and their dang phones” gets thrown around semi-frequently, and there is undeniable merit in seeing the world through one’s eyes. But if this technology is going to saturate the world as we know it (which it has already accomplished), the best option is to wield these computers to the advantage of the rising generation. There’s an empire of knowledge at their fingertips, and these three apps are merely the stepping stones for a wealth of success and experience gain.

By Noah Moster

 Do you want more resources on the topic of educational STEM apps? NSTEM’s vast resources database provides thousands of searchable STEM resources by category, school level, and state. This comprehensive library includes info on enrichment activities, curricula, internships, scholarships, and more. Check out a free sampling here. Or get an NSTEM membership today to unlock the complete list.

Project-based learning enrichment provides high school students with college and career readiness. It gives them real-world relevance, transforming students into collaborators and imaginative problem solvers. They will gain the upper hand in a global landscape, stemming from enhanced confidence and grit. NSTEM provides these young STEM enthusiasts with a close community of like-minded fellow students and educators.  To start your K-2 Chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.

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