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  • Exploring Science Indoors: 5 Rainy Day Projects for Middle Schools Minds

    Exploring Science Indoors: 5 Rainy Day Projects for Middle Schools Minds

    Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

    Here at NSTEM, we understand what a rainy day can do for the morale and mood of your middle school students, and that’s why we compiled a few ideas to help turn those frowns upside down while simultaneously supporting STEM outcomes! Your future scientists can work together to explore the wonders of the hydrological cycle, its influence on weather and climate, its presence on faraway planets, and our innovation of coping mechanisms. 

    1. Water On Other Worlds

    Inspire the next generation of space scientists with a 100-130 minute lesson. This lesson is designed for teachers looking to develop their students’ critical thinking skills while furthering their understanding of the nature of science.  Students will investigate and create evidence-based arguments for water availability on other planets and moons, comparing the abundance, form, and accessibility of water on Ceres, Europa, and Enceladus.

    Link to project: https://whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/buac21-68-sci-ess-waterotherworlds-lp/water-on-other-worlds-lesson-plan/

    2. Learning About Acid Rain

    For this rainy-day indoor experiment, your students will learn through collaborative problem-solving and critical inquiry while observing the influence of acid rain on various objects and materials. In this lesson plan from the Environmental Protection Agency, you will have a choice of experiments (9 in total) relating to the study of pH. While at it, try taking water samples of your local rainwater so your students can learn about their local geographical area in real-time. Each experiment ranges from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on your schedule, and can be a great way to take the monotony out of your rainy day!

    Link to lesson plan: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf

    3. Cape of Storms or Cape of Good Hope?

    This lesson from Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is estimated to take around 70 minutes, and it will help students learn about the nature of science and weather through critical inquiry. Students will study how changes in sea temperature can determine or affect the regional climate. They will use that data to write a persuasive letter for a fictional commercial fisherman, weighing the pros and cons of exploration and its impact on local culture and society.

    Link to lesson: https://orise.orau.gov/k12/documents/lesson-plans/cape-of-storms-lesson-plan.pdf

    4. Modeling Weather Patterns and the Coriolis Effect

    This activity from the California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Lab is estimated to take 30 minutes to an hour, and it will help your students gain critical thinking skills relating to STEM and the nature of science and weather learning outcomes. Students will focus on the Coriolis Effect and how pressure systems affect the environment, using NASA’s ASTHROS radio telescope as a study example before using balloons in groups to study those pressure systems hands-on.

    Link to activity: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/modeling-weather-patterns-and-the-coriolis-effect/

    5. Design an Umbrella!

    This fun and interactive lesson from STEM Education Works will have your students collaborating to create innovative, hands-free umbrella designs. Working in groups, students will develop prototypes culminating in a presentation and group discussion on innovative designs, including ways to improve prototypes for future use. This lesson will cultivate STEM creativity, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration learning outcomes should take around an hour to complete.

    Link to project: https://resources.stemeducationworks.com/sts-design-umbrella

    By Rosalinda Cardoso

     

    At NSTEM, we know the importance of having a contingency plan, which is why each lesson featured today was chosen for its adaptability and flexibility to your schedule and overall budget. These five lessons will strengthen your student’s understanding of the interrelationship between water and their environment.

    At NSTEM, we believe that middle school (Grades 6-8) is where students are transformed, entering as children and emerging as young adults. Project-based learning enrichment can help students connect the dots between STEM and real life, making math and science relevant for them, and keeping them engaged and interested. With a meaningful middle school experience, students are far more likely to focus on STEM disciplines in high school and beyond.  To start your 6-8 middle school chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.

    Do you want more educational resources on rainy day projects? 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. 

  • Learning Through Play: 3 Engaging Activities for Grades K-2

    Learning Through Play: 3 Engaging Activities for Grades K-2

     

    Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

    At NSTEM, we know how important it is to teach students through example to pique and keep their interests, so we have gathered three unique activities designed for students aged 5-8 (or grades K-2). These engaging activities focus on STEM learning objectives and will teach students independently and collaboratively on the subjects of Space, Math, Engineering, and Geology. These activities can be a great way to start introducing students to STEM careers, from astronauts to zoo archaeologists. The possibilities for your future scientists are endless!

    1. International Toys in Space

    This resource activity will allow your students to investigate the behavior of 15 classic toys on Earth while comparing the behavior to different stages of microgravity filmed by crewmembers on the Expedition 5 International Space Station in 2002. Activities include a yoyo, a jump rope, astrojax, a helicopter flipping bear, pecking hens, kendama, a climbing bear, marbles, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, a density wand, a boomerang, or an origami flipper! This lesson plan can also be modified for relevancy and grade level and will introduce students to STEM principles of space and mathematical equations.  The video will take a little over half an hour to watch, but I recommend adding time between each video for students to interact with their toys and talk about their observations.   

    International Toys in Space Video Resource Guide: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/151730main_International.Toys_.In_.Space_.pdf?emrc=500373

    “International Toys in Space” Educational Video (The video link to YouTube is also edited by experiment, so feel free to customize your lesson plan or do all 15 of them!):

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiuUQ9asub3Ru9GIOTbZFRa4f2R_kM0tx

    2. Math is All Around Us

    This lesson from Arizona State University’s STEM Acceleration Project is inspired by Miguel Tanco’s children’s book, “Count on Me.” This series of activities is geared toward Kindergarten students and will demonstrate STEM learning principles of engineering, math, and collaborative design processes by creating a 3D model for a new playground toy. Students will begin this week-long activity by observing the shapes and curves in their own playground or environment, drawing their own unique observations with homemade binoculars, and collaboratively creating a hands-on model in groups before presenting their final ideas to classmates. Although the suggested time for this activity is over five days, you can adapt this activity to take a little over an hour or so alongside the reading “Count on Me.”

    Let’s Share a Story: “Count on Me” Readalong with Miguel Tanco:

    https://whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ll58-count-on-me-video/lets-learn/

    Math is All Around Us Resource Guide:

    https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uidmZt_zlwoaMVuaOr8OatOqUFli7Ite/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115608778930427821694&rtpof=true&sd=true

    3. Exploring Meteor Craters

    In this lesson from the Pacific Science Center, students will create their lunar craters and study the effects of those impacts in under an hour! To begin, you will prepare a baking pan or box that will be filled with flour (recommended at a two-inch depth) and topped with a thin layer of cocoa powder (to make the craters’ unique shapes more visible to students). I recommend using a box instead of a pan, which may provide easier cleanup and a larger surface area. Each student can take turns trying a different impactor and observe those effects alongside aerial photos of our Moon’s lunar craters. This lesson will develop your students’s skills in curiosity and collaboration on real-world applications.  Try using Google Earth to show your students’ impacts on Earth, too. Aerial photos of the Meteor Crater in Arizona or Vredefort in South Africa can be a great way to bring your lesson back to Earth!

    Lunar Crater Activity Guide:

    https://pacificsciencecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cah-crater-creators-K-2.pdf

     

    At NSTEM, we encourage you to customize these lessons to fit the needs of your students, your schedule, and your curriculum. Although these projects require minimal costs for supplies, we encourage you to recycle or reuse materials when possible. If “Count On Me” isn’t available at your local library, donating a copy to your school’s library can give you and future generations of explorers access to the same STEM outcomes! 

    By Rosalinda Cardoso

    Do you want more resources on the topic of STEM games? 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. 

    K-2 is where it all starts with STEM education. The National STEM Honor Society focuses on “From Pre-K to Career, NSTEM from the Start!” To start your K-2 Chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.

  • Beyond the Battlefield: 4 STEM Careers in the Military

    Beyond the Battlefield: 4 STEM Careers in the Military

     

    Photo Courtesy of Envato

    When people think of serving their country, STEM might not be the first field that comes to mind. However, for every missile sent and bullet spent on the battlefield, that piece of ammo and the vehicles that protect soldiers and kits that treat their wounds must first be created and then crafted. The STEM field is undeniably a nerd one. However, the sense of purpose and contribution it provides in the active warzone is unparalleled, offering the two most significant advantages of all: strategy and tactics. So where does one start? Let’s look at four occupations that will allow you to defend your country with STEM science!

    1. Explosives Ordinance Disposal Technician (All Branches)

    Salary: $54,605

    What it entails: Bombs. What’s there not to love? The Explosives Ordinance Disposal Technician, or EOD Technician, is the one that carries everyone else on their back. Because if the driver’s a bit sleepy, the Humvee’s fender gets a scrape. If the EOD Technician is a bit sleepy, cue the world’s loudest alarm clock going off. The position is one of not only technical prowess but also physical and mental prowess as well. If you can handle pressure and that adrenaline rush is what you live for, this one’s the job for you. Just stay away from the red wire. The excitement and challenge of this role will keep you engaged and motivated. 

    Training for this job is complicated. Since it’s ubiquitous across all branches, here’s the Navy’s method: an EOD Preparatory Course, then an EOD Assessment and Selection Course. After that, Diver Training, EOD School, Basic Parachute Training, and a list of advanced training options recruits could take, like Small unit tactics or WMD training. It may look long but don’t worry. It’ll probably be a blast.

    2. Cyber Operations Specialist (U.S. Army)

    Salary: $112,501 (Talent.com)

    What it entails: A Cyber Operations Specialist is a security guard for the Army’s network. A military has, of course, a lot of systems that malicious forces will endlessly try to hijack or disable, so that’s where the Cyber Operations Specialist comes in! They’re trained in counteracting these cyber-attacks, retaliating with their own, and keeping an eye out for future invasions on the computer infrastructure to ensure that the enemy never gets a chance to even try in the first place! A Computer Science and cybersecurity background is ideal, but don’t be discouraged if you’re new to the field—the military provides extensive training to get you up to speed, so give it a shot if you’re on the fence about this.

    3. Aerospace Engineer (U.S. Air Force)

    Salary: $130,720 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

    What it entails: How does a plane fly? What keeps helicopters in the air? Where does a missile’s accuracy come from?

    If these questions intrigue you, becoming an Aerospace Engineer is the path for you to take. Aerospace Engineers are the backbone of a functional military. With their knowledge of keeping things in the sky and also bringing things down out of it, they are the stem of both the “air” and “force” in “The Air Force”. While they may not be the most famous face of this branch (those dang pilots), the paycheck is quite the consolation prize! The best way to go about this career field is to attend the United States Air Force Academy linked above, but should you persevere, the sky’s the limit for you!

    4. Nuclear Engineer (U.S. Navy)

    Salary: $125,460 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

    What it entails: Of all the vehicles crafted by man (as of 2024), there has only been one publicly known form of earthbound travel that uses nuclear energy: ships. Water vessels such as submarines and massive aircraft carriers can harness this explosive power significantly. You could be right there next to them, keeping this marvel of man-breaking atoms! The nuclear engineer must be one of the most vital components of a nuclear vessel. After all, nobody starts running when the cook starts running. But if a Nuclear Engineer starts running…oh boy.

    Nuclear Engineers maintain and operate the reactors that power naval vessels like submarines and aircraft carriers. The training regiment for this one is admittedly fierce, requiring an enlister to go through Officer Development School, training in the Naval Reactors Headquarters, then the Bettis Reactor Engineering School, and then on-the-job training in one of the Navy’s shipyards. But then again, this is also the occupation with more post-service prospects than most, with lucrative military or civilian management positions fairly readily available once the contract is up. Work big, win big!

     

    These are just a few of the many job opportunities out there waiting to be filled! So if none of these strike your fancy, don’t worry! The STEM field encompasses a lot more than any article could cover. Just make sure that, no matter what job you find, it’s one you can learn and grow in. The world needs inventors and creators more and more as the times change! 

    By Noah Moster

     

     

    Do you want more resources on the topic of STEM Careers? 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.

  • Fueling a Future for Critical Thinkers: 5 STEM Lessons for Any High Schooler

    Fueling a Future for Critical Thinkers: 5 STEM Lessons for Any High Schooler

    Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

    Here at NSTEM, we know how difficult it can be to find memorable projects for your high school students that will both inspire and engage your students. We also understand that it’s important to find projects that can help your students work through a range of complex scientific theories and methods in memorable and unique ways. At NSTEM, we believe in creating and cultivating memorable experiences for the next generation of critical thinkers, no matter which path they choose to journey in life! So, here are five exciting STEM lessons that are both engaging and challenging for high school students.

    1. Engineering Art

    This lesson from Arizona State University is perfect for the teacher working through the theories of physics and the electromagnetic spectrum, specifically as they pertain to light and sound. For the teacher looking to break the monotony of these subjects, this refreshing lesson plan will challenge your critical thinkers to explore physics through engineering and art design while supporting STEM critical thinking, innovation, and collaboration outcomes! It is suggested that this experience take 2-3 weeks, culminating in the design and creation of an art piece to be presented by each group. If you have the time, try having your students present their final concepts in a mock art show!

    Link to lesson: https://stemteachers.asu.edu/stem-lesson-plans/engineering-art

    2. What’s In The Water Anyway? 

    In this Oak Ridge Institute for Science & Education lesson, your students will take on the global water cycle, including the different processes, states, and conditions that affect it. This experiment should take no longer than 90 minutes and supports STEM critical thinking, media, and technology literacy outcomes. This lesson can be a great way to introduce theories of environmental health, beginning with the video “When is Water Safe to Drink?” Afterward, students will use Google Earth to consider how biodiversity rates affect clean water systems on local and global levels. 

    Link to lesson: https://orise.orau.gov/k12/documents/lesson-plans/whats-in-the-water-anyway-lesson.pdf

    3. Immortal Cells

    In this lesson from PBS Learning Media, your students will learn to understand fundamental theories of cellular biology, specifically the study of epigenetics, including cell growth, immortality, and how telomeres can affect mortality. This lesson plan is suggested to take around 100 minutes (Two 50-minute sessions), and by focusing on cancerous cell growth, mitosis, and differentiation, your students will gain critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills. This activity may plant a career seed of interest today that inspires your future scientists to discover the next cancer breakthrough tomorrow!

    Link to lesson: https://whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/immortal-cells-lesson-plan/sanford-promise/

    4. Creating Sustainable Solutions With Bioplastics

    This lesson plan from Arizona State University curated a series of experiments meant to challenge students to learn about petroleum-based plastics and bioplastics. It is never too early to introduce students to the global and complex plight of plastic pollution; in this activity, your future environmental scientists will identify the plastic industry’s advantages and disadvantages (including costs and benefits). Students will then work in groups to create an alternative recipe or design to address plastic pollution, which they can pitch to their peers afterward, initiating class feedback and further discussion. This lesson supports STEM critical thinking, innovation, and problem-solving outcomes and is suggested to take 120 minutes (Two 60-minute sessions).

    Link to lesson: https://stemteachers.asu.edu/stem-lesson-plans/creating-sustainable-solutions-bioplastics-part-1

    5. Can You Survive An Asteroid Impact?

    Challenge your future disaster planners to evaluate the long-term effects of a fictional asteroid impact in a range of activities that can take as little as 30 minutes or up to an hour, depending on your schedule and interests.  This STEM Learning project pack includes nine projects supporting critical thinking and scientific inquiry outcomes through collaboration. Using their observational skills during hands-on experiments to study complex theories of light pollution and photosynthesis, students will use that knowledge to problem-solve through their first nuclear winter, collaborating to design telescopes and functional gas masks! 

    Link to lesson: https://www.stem.org.uk/system/files/elibrary-resources/2021/12/STEM%20Clubs%20Asteroid%20Impact%20Booklet.pdf

     

    These projects have been carefully selected for their adaptability and budget-friendly design. Whether you’re exploring the realms of engineering, physics, chemistry, or cellular biology, these projects can be tailored to fit both your budget and the grade level of your students. This flexibility empowers you to customize the projects to the unique needs of your critical thinkers, making you a resourceful and effective educator! 

    By Rosalinda Cardoso

     

    Would you like more resources on the topic of STEM Lessons for Grades 9-12? 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.

  • Top 3 Project-Based Learning (PBL) Resources for College STEM Students

    Top 3 Project-Based Learning (PBL) Resources for College STEM Students

    Photo Courtesy of Envato

    Every college student is familiar with certain universal fears: cramming for a final exam at 3 a.m., running out of sick days right when you actually need them, and, of course, the dreaded 2+ hour lecture. Long lectures can feel outdated, and very few can confess to enjoying a lengthy lecture more than a hearty snooze, especially when modern tools allow us to turn ideas into reality. Fortunately, a recent term has been seeing more and more proclivity in the educational field, that of Project-Based Learning, or PBL. Project-based learning (PBL) offers a more engaging and hands-on approach, helping students truly absorb complex concepts by applying them in real-world scenarios. To better assist students in exploring this type of learning (or more than the insides of their eyelids), we’ve compiled together three PBL websites that bring control into the hands of the learner and allow critical thinking in a more nuanced light.

    1. Instructables 

    A fundamental aspect of PBL is applying real-world solutions to real-world problems. This application doesn’t have to be big-picture stuff like solving global warming or anything huge! In fact, the Instructables website has many different DIY projects that cover just about any scenario, whether crafting your own RGB light for videography or finding a cool new dessert recipe to share with friends! For any enterprising I-can-make-this-at-home-for-half-the-cost types, this is the utopia for you! Just be aware that a lot of these may require a 3D printer, so make sure to track your ingredients if you don’t have ready access to one.

    Link to website: https://www.instructables.com/projects

    2. Hackster.io 

    There are people in the world who can compute and code endless streams of software, transforming the 1s and 0s of our numeric language into space travel and solar energy conversion.

    And then, some people blow up hot dogs in the microwave because they accidentally set the timer for 20 minutes instead of two.

    Hackster.io is an incredible resource for those interested in the intersection of software and hardware. An outsider can see that much care and dedication have been harnessed to create these complicated designs. While it may not be something that everyone will enjoy or understand, it definitely is something someone will enjoy and understand. So if you’re the kind of person who feels at home designing human-following robots or “Getting Started with the SDR Zmod on Eclypse Z7 + GNU Radio”, a language that seems to elude any Google Translate ciphering attempt, Hackster’s got you covered!

    Link to website: https://www.hackster.io/projects

    3. Makezine

    For the last entry here, we’ve got a website similar in scope of Instructables: Makezine. Makezine is a maker-focused community that shares creative DIY projects emphasizing sustainability and improving lives.  However, whereas Instructables had more individual-focused projects, these feature a fair amount of general-use projects that one could use to better others’ lives. Examples include a DIY Mobility Walker, crafting your own Corsi Box Air Purifier, and even a mobile handwash station! There’s certainly something for everyone here.

    Link to website: https://makezine.com/projects

     

    One of the coolest things someone can understand from these websites is the fact that there is truly a passion project for everyone out there. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re looking for, you’ll find something up your alley.

    As different as we may all be, however, humanity shares this fundamental need to explore, to learn and grow. This skillset allows us to venture past the boundaries that have halted all other known species. And the best part is, from the world’s point of view, we’re barely in our first year of progress. These enormous leaps and advancements in technology are the baby steps of mankind.

    So even if it’s just a simple thing, like learning how to cook rice or play racquetball, keep learning. As long as we all do that, we’ll be that much closer to taking our next step in the library of knowledge.

    By Noah Moster

     

    Do you want more resources on the topic of Project-Based Learning? NSTEM’s vast resources database provides thousands of STEM resources that are searchable by category, school level and state. This comprehensive library includes info on enrichment activities, curricula, internships, scholarships and more. Or get an NSTEM membership today to unlock the complete list. 

    When a college/university student achieves membership in the National STEM Honor Society, the recognition, like many colleges, is in a Greek letter format.  For the National STEM Honor Society, Epsilon Theta Mu is the designated recognition for members at the college/university level. Students are distinguished and stand out as a result of this recognition, increasing appealing employment and educational opportunities, click here.

  • Exploring Nature: 5 Outdoor Activities for Grades 3-5

    Exploring Nature: 5 Outdoor Activities for Grades 3-5

    Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

    Here at NSTEM, we encourage teachers, students, and families of all ages to explore STEM through hands-on experience and participatory engagement. For those of you looking to bring the classroom outdoors, we have collected five low-budget outdoor STEM projects that will engage even the most fickle of young minds to engage with the natural world around them!

    1. Create an Observational Field Book for Your School or Neighborhood

    Scientific observation starts with keeping a field book or journal to document all the wonders that cannot be simply captured in a picture. Throughout history, scientists and naturalists have kept field books to document experiences and sensory observations in the field. In this activity, students are encouraged to create personalized diaries before filling them with observations from their school or local community. This Smithsonian project plan also provides guidelines for a range of grade levels.

    Link to activity: https://siarchives.si.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/Create_Fieldbooks_TN2012_0.pdf

    2. Make a Backyard Rain Gauge

    Looking for creative ways to address water scarcity and climate change with your students? Try making a backyard rain gauge, which can introduce students to the early concepts of meteorology, mathematics, and statistics. By collecting and recording rainwater over time, students and teachers can track average rainfall over different times of the year to understand how farmers (and you) can mitigate water scarcity!

    Link to activity: https://www.agfoundation.org/files/AFBFA-AgLit-MAF-191008-RainGaugeActivity.pdf

    3. Build a Future Army of Birders

    Birding is a great method for observing how the living world around us adapts to physical and behavioral changes and the roles that humans and other organisms play within those systems. This project can be an inventive way for students to observe, report, and analyze food systems. In this way, they can be further prepared to understand and contribute to complex engineering concepts like biomimicry. This activity will also be an excellent choice for any school or community looking to contribute toward their local bird population!

    Link to activity: https://www.massaudubon.org/content/download/7014/file/Birds_3-5.pdf?inLanguage=eng-US&version=1

    4. Design, Build, and Test Mini-Rockets

    In this engaging and inexpensive activity, your future NASA scientists will engineer and build a prototype Food Transportation Device (FTD) in the form of a rocket. In teams, students will work together to test a propulsion system and a payload container capable of carrying their payload of 4 raisins. The goal is for teams to have a blast while building a mini rocket that is both aerodynamic and durable enough to withstand impact! 

    Link to activity: https://ucanr.edu/sites/YDResources/files/285355.pdf

    5. Catapult Competition

    For teachers looking to introduce concepts of physics and engineering, we recommend the generous use of catapult technology! This activity tackles the study of kinetic energy in the form of rubber bands and plastic spoons through low-budget design and classroom collaboration. By actively designing, building, and experimenting with catapults and projectiles, students will further seek to understand why and how the world moves and changes.

    Link to activity: https://virtualscienceteachers.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Catapult-Activity-2.pdf

    By Rosalinda Cardoso

     

    These projects were selected to introduce students to concepts of biological science, scientific observation, engineering, and meteorology for Grades 3-5. At NSTEM, we also know the importance of planning for the inevitable, so should emergencies arise, our projects can be printed and easily modified to be used safely indoors!

    Do you want more resources for outdoor biology activities? NSTEM’s vast resources database provides thousands of STEM resources that are searchable 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. 

    Grades 3-5 continue the STEM education journey, where students are interested in the natural world and how things work, responding to stories told by teachers that give purpose and meaning to STEM disciplines, molding them into thinkers, problem solvers, and creators. The National STEM Honor Society sees grades 3-5 as a critical point in the NSTEM journey. To start your grade 3-5 chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.