Static Electricity

Pinspiration:  STEM Bored Jar

I've pinned this one before, but we have since used more ideas from this post.  The author claims to have 48 STEM activities to prepare in 5 minutes or less.  This is true... as long as you have the materials on hand.  Most of the items can be found on hand, if you are remotely crafty, but really, you need to plan ahead if you want to be able to make good on any activity they pull out of the jar.

The kids really enjoyed putting the butterfly together, and using the balloon to make him fly.  (It did work!) However, this activity only occupied my kiddos for about 2 minutes.  If you really want to give your kids something to occupy their time with a rich learning activity while you cook dinner, you will need to find a different activity.

Happy STEAMing!

Squishy Circuits

Inspiration: 7th Grade Practice PARCC Test

As you know I am a middle school Math/STEM teacher in Ohio which means we are busy preparing for the infamous PARCC test (I have my opinions about that test as I'm sure you do too.  I respectfully request that you please leave them out of your comments).  Anyway, as a staff we were looking at the research portion of the practice PBA for 7th grade.  At one point, the students watch this short TED talk about Squishy Circuits.  It was AWESOME!  I had to get them for my kiddos.  Take a few minutes and watch the video!  You will not regret it, I promise!

This is how we spent our snowy Saturday morning:

Warning:  There is NO NEED to double the recipe for two kids.  We have a TON of conductive dough!

The kiddos enjoyed playing in the dough before I brought out the circuit materials.

Let the fun begin!  I knew the boy would enjoy this activity. We got the chance to discuss important terms like conductive dough, insulating dough, polarity, and positively and negatively charged wires.  It's amazing what 3 year old's can know and do when you give them a little credit.  It was also awesome to see the look on my electrical engineer husband's face when he came in from shoveling snow to hear his son excitedly explain polarity.

But I didn't anticipate how much my 1.5 year old would enjoy them!  She doesn't quite have the concept of sticking the LED wires into two different pieces of conductive dough, but when she did get it right, her excitement was infectious.

The negative side of Squishy Circuits, our battery pack does not work consistently.  I think there is a poor connection with one or both of the wires.  Also, the mechanical buzzer does not work at all.  I have sent a message to the Squishy Circuit people.  Hopefully we can get this resolved.  I'll keep you posed.  

Until next time, happy STREAMing!