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STEM Superstars

This week’s challenges are under Personal Growth.

 

Patrol Challenge: Droning On

Drones are increasingly being used in our everyday lives, as well as for new scientific and technological developments. It’s great for us to understand how drones work. This challenge is to make your own drone. This activity involves using motors and hot glue, so get an adult to help you. Access the instructions here.

Resources Required:

  • 2x Popsicle sticks
  • 4x 6 by 15 mm DC motors with 1 mm shafts
  • 4x Mini plastic propellers for 1-mm motor shafts (2 Clockwise and 2 Counter Clockwise)
  • 30 AWG stranded wire
  • Electrical tape
  • AA battery holder with cover and switch
  • 3x AA batteries
  • Drinking straw
  • Scissors
  • Wire strippers
  • Hot glue gun
  • Ruler
  • Wooden dowel (about 5mm)
  • Something to keep the wooden dowel vertical, such as:
    • Block of wood with a hole drilled in it
    • Duct tape

Individual Challenge #1: Catching Rays

This challenge is to make a sun-catcher from salt. See the instructions here. Please note this activity will take about a day to fully dry.

Resources Required:

  • Salt
  • Clear plastic lids e.g. yoghurt lids
  • Water
  • Empty jar
  • Bowl or glass measuring cup
  • Fork
  • Microwave (Optional)
  • Tray
  • String
  • Pin

Individual Challenge #2: Tower Away

This challenge is to build the tallest tower you can. At least 50% of the structure must be building blocks.

Resources Required:

  • Lego/Duplo/Other building blocks

 

Individual Challenge #3: Make Fizzy Lemonade

Who doesn’t like lemonade! This challenge is to make your own fizzy lemonade using the recipe below.

Recipe:

  • Squeeze and strain the juice from the lemons into the glass
  • Add bicarbonate soda
  • Give mixture a stir (Watch what happens!)
  • Add some of the sugar to the water and mix into the lemon mixture
  • Taste your lemonade!

Resources Required:

  • 1-2 lemons
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
  • Cold water equal to or greater than the amount of lemon juice
  • 1-2 teaspoons sugar, to taste
  • Juicer
  • Glass
  • Measuring spoon

 

Individual Challenge #4: More S’mores Solar Oven

This challenge is to cook s’mores using a solar oven you make yourself.

Instructions:

  1. Measure a rectangle 5cm from the sides on the top of the pizza box, cut three sides with a straight edge.
  2. Line all surfaces of the inside of the box with foil, add black paper to the bottom with tape.
  3. Line the top of the box on the inside (where the opening is) with cling wrap, as tight as you can get it. Attach the skewer to the top of the box to prop open the lid.
  4. Now, load up your oven with s’mores, just like if you were cooking them in the oven in your house. Put the oven in direct sunlight. Set a timer and see how long it takes to cook them. Then, enjoy your s’mores!

Resources Required:

  • Pizza box (or similar)
  • Scissors
  • Foil
  • Black paper
  • Cling wrap
  • Tape
  • A skewer
  • Biscuits
  • Chocolate
  • Marshmallows

 

Evidence Submission:

To enter the running for this week’s individual prize, a Rocket Science kit and a Microscope set, upload a photo of you completing one or more of the individual challenges to the JotForm. Upload a photo of your patrol attempting the patrol challenge to go in the running for the patrol prize.

 

 

Week 7 Submissions

Congratulations to our week 7 winner – Piper Dahlitz from Ridgehaven Cubs!

Check out the other wonderful individual and patrol challenge submissions below.