Saturday, May 30, 2020, we had over 30 students to participate in our virtual Scout STEM Event, doing hands on activities across multiple age groups. Along with the different girl and boy scouts, we had educators and leaders in the meeting as well. We had a great time getting to know the students and their favorite subjects in school. We definitely have some engineers in training!
The morning started off with a session for the younger scouts, Daisys and Cubs with a Circuit Card activity. It was great seeing the students get excited about their LED lighting up and teaching them about circuits. One 1st grader even knew that copper tape is a good conductor of electricity all on his own! Many thanks to the lead activity volunteer Kyleni Rivers for her dedication and support during the event.
During the second session, our lead activity volunteer, Andrea Poosikian, did an awesome job of leading the students through the NASA Robo Arm activity and making the connection to how the robotic arm is used in outer space. The students really enjoyed putting the pieces of cardboard together and making it move with the string. They asked lots of questions and accepted the challenge of picking up a cup with their rob arm.
The Rocket Racers activity, for the juniors, just so happen to line up, unknowingly with the space rocket launch today. It was pretty awesome to make the connection during the activity about rockets…how they get off the ground, the basic laws of motion and the engineering design process and an actual launch going on at the same time. Students became very committed to coming up with different designs for the base of the rocket car and how to create more force to make it move. Leteshia Lowe led this session, which was super fun!
The last session of the day was lead by our very own president, Amy Gelsinger, who’s background aligned perfectly with the activity, Hydraulics! Amy was able to use her prior knowledge and experience in helping the students to build their Hydraulic Elevator with popsicle sticks, which is quit a task, using copper wire and tape. Both the students and their parents were very engaged in trying to get their elevators to lift off the ground and it was great to see the teamwork amongst them. Amy did a wondering job answering questions and even showed the students a video of hydraulics in action.
Many, many thanks to all of the volunteers that assisted in today’s STEM event, what a great way to end my term in this position. We have already received kudos from parents and Scout leaders on how they are very thankful for the sessions today. We appreciate Ms. Vernita J. from the Girl Scout Troop 3412, for working to organize this event with us and all the leaders that participated today in support of their students.
Sessions
Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 1: Circuit Card Activity
Girl Scouts: Daisies + Boy Scouts - Kinder & 1st Grade
Description: Circuit Card Activity - Making paper circuit cards is the perfect union of science, technology, art, and design. Students will create simple paper circuitry using only copper tape, a coin cell battery, a light-emitting diode (LED), making a light-up card.
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Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 2: Robo Arm
Girl Scouts: Brownies + Boy Scouts - 2nd & 3rd Grade
Activity Description: Robo Arm Activity - The goal is to design and build a robotic arm that can lift a cup off a table using cardboard, string and straws.
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Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 3: Rocket Racers Activity
Girl Scouts: Juniors + Boy Scouts - 4th & 5th Grade
Activity Description: Rocket Racers Activity - Individual students construct racing cars from Styrofoam food trays and power them with the thrust of an inflated balloon. The rocket racer is an excellent demonstration of Newton’s third law of motion.
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Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 4: Hydraulic Elevator
Girl Scouts: Cadettes, Seniors, & Ambassadors + Boy Scouts - 6th-12th Grade
Activity Description: Hydraulic Elevator Activity - Students will use the principles of hydraulics in building a working model of a hydraulic lift, using jumbo sticks, wire and wooden skewers.
Thanks!
Leteshia A. Lowe
Society of Women Engineers Houston Area Section
Vice President – Outreach FY 20
vp_careerguidance@houstonswe.org
The morning started off with a session for the younger scouts, Daisys and Cubs with a Circuit Card activity. It was great seeing the students get excited about their LED lighting up and teaching them about circuits. One 1st grader even knew that copper tape is a good conductor of electricity all on his own! Many thanks to the lead activity volunteer Kyleni Rivers for her dedication and support during the event.
During the second session, our lead activity volunteer, Andrea Poosikian, did an awesome job of leading the students through the NASA Robo Arm activity and making the connection to how the robotic arm is used in outer space. The students really enjoyed putting the pieces of cardboard together and making it move with the string. They asked lots of questions and accepted the challenge of picking up a cup with their rob arm.
The Rocket Racers activity, for the juniors, just so happen to line up, unknowingly with the space rocket launch today. It was pretty awesome to make the connection during the activity about rockets…how they get off the ground, the basic laws of motion and the engineering design process and an actual launch going on at the same time. Students became very committed to coming up with different designs for the base of the rocket car and how to create more force to make it move. Leteshia Lowe led this session, which was super fun!
The last session of the day was lead by our very own president, Amy Gelsinger, who’s background aligned perfectly with the activity, Hydraulics! Amy was able to use her prior knowledge and experience in helping the students to build their Hydraulic Elevator with popsicle sticks, which is quit a task, using copper wire and tape. Both the students and their parents were very engaged in trying to get their elevators to lift off the ground and it was great to see the teamwork amongst them. Amy did a wondering job answering questions and even showed the students a video of hydraulics in action.
Many, many thanks to all of the volunteers that assisted in today’s STEM event, what a great way to end my term in this position. We have already received kudos from parents and Scout leaders on how they are very thankful for the sessions today. We appreciate Ms. Vernita J. from the Girl Scout Troop 3412, for working to organize this event with us and all the leaders that participated today in support of their students.
Sessions
Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 1: Circuit Card Activity
Girl Scouts: Daisies + Boy Scouts - Kinder & 1st Grade
Description: Circuit Card Activity - Making paper circuit cards is the perfect union of science, technology, art, and design. Students will create simple paper circuitry using only copper tape, a coin cell battery, a light-emitting diode (LED), making a light-up card.
----------------------------------
Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 2: Robo Arm
Girl Scouts: Brownies + Boy Scouts - 2nd & 3rd Grade
Activity Description: Robo Arm Activity - The goal is to design and build a robotic arm that can lift a cup off a table using cardboard, string and straws.
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Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 3: Rocket Racers Activity
Girl Scouts: Juniors + Boy Scouts - 4th & 5th Grade
Activity Description: Rocket Racers Activity - Individual students construct racing cars from Styrofoam food trays and power them with the thrust of an inflated balloon. The rocket racer is an excellent demonstration of Newton’s third law of motion.
----------------------------------
Topic: Virtual Scout STEM Day Event - Group 4: Hydraulic Elevator
Girl Scouts: Cadettes, Seniors, & Ambassadors + Boy Scouts - 6th-12th Grade
Activity Description: Hydraulic Elevator Activity - Students will use the principles of hydraulics in building a working model of a hydraulic lift, using jumbo sticks, wire and wooden skewers.
Thanks!
Leteshia A. Lowe
Society of Women Engineers Houston Area Section
Vice President – Outreach FY 20
vp_careerguidance@houstonswe.org
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