Summer is here, and while it’s a time to relax, we encourage you to continue sharing science lessons with your child. In between beach days and road trips, your family can spend some time working on interesting projects. Make it a fun time with these STEAM projects that will boost your child’s brain all summer long!
Overnight Crystal Garden
Babble Dabble Do has developed a project that shows you how to grow salt crystals overnight. The materials are easy to find, but the process can be time consuming. The blog suggests making three gardens to compare the different results. No matter what age, your child will be impressed with how it grows!
Materials:
Epsom salt
Clean glass jars
Hot tap water
Measuring cup
Spoon
Pebble or sand
Food coloring (optional)
Microwave (optional)
Instructions:
Use a ratio of 1:1 water to Epsom salt. Add one cup of the salt to your jar.
Heat one cup of water. You can use the microwave for 45 seconds.
If you are using color, add a dash of it to the water, then stir.
Pour the water in the jar with the salt. Stir for up to two minutes until the salt dissolves.
Drop in a pebble or a few grains of sand.
Put the jar in the freezer for 10 minutes, then move to the refrigerator.
Leave the mixture in the fridge overnight, and let it grow. The crystals should start forming in as little as three hours.
Carefully pour the extra liquid out.
Use a magnifying glass for exploration!
Designing Solutions for Cities
Get your budding engineer involved in urban planning with this challenging project that allows your child to identify city issues, including the environment, overcrowding, and transportation. Then, he will be able to design solutions that restore and improve urban infrastructure. For the little learners, you can use LEGOs!
Solar Ovens
In this project, your child gets to construct solar ovens and learn how they work. Learn the societal and environmental impact, as it’s a safe way to cook food in remote or impoverished places. The materials needed are sandwich crackers, melted marshmallows, cake box, aluminum foil, scotch tape, saran wrap, and a wooden skewer. Be sure to do this on a sunny day!
Steps:
Have your child draw the outline for a flap in the box. Then, cut the flap, which will act as the oven door.
Cover the floor, walls, and lid with aluminum foil, and secure with tape.
Place the wooden skewer in the corner of the box. Using tape, attach the other end of it to the top of the lid.
Twist off and separate the sandwich cracker halves. Add a marshmallow to the top of the side with the most peanut butter.
Cover with saran wrap, and place in direct sunlight so the marshmallows melt. It usually takes up to an hour.
Enjoy your tasty treat!
Build a Seawall
For sixth to 12th graders, this project allows students to build a seawall in order to protect a coastline from erosion. To determine what the best materials are for the job, your child will calculate the wave energy. The activity addresses questions about erosion and how much energy is involved with waves. The eight-step procedure is followed by an additional activity on erosion comic strips!
Designs for Disabilities
Your child will get to participate in civic engagement with a project that encourages him to design crutches or wheelchairs for people with disabilities. The activity’s instructions are illustrated in a creative and brilliant comic that includes a brainstorming and design session, a building segment, and a testing process.
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