Day 1 – Energy and You
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Potential Energy of Marbles
For each group:
o paper-towel tube
o meter sticks, two
o marbles, three of different sizes
o ruler
o masking tape
o books with different thicknesses
Activity: Electric Light
For each group:
o 2 D batteries
o 2 paper clips
o 5 ten to 14 inch pieces of insulated copper wire, stripped of insulation one to two inches on each end
o 3V flashlight bulb
o small block of wood
o 4 thumbtacks
o clothespin
o small nail, safe for plaster or drywall
o electrical tape
2-3 small hammer (depending on class size)
Recess
o Balloons
Engineering Challenge
Provide each team with a “Tool Box” of the following materials
· marbles of assorted sizes
· ruler
· masking tape
· duct tape
· scissors*
· utility knife*
· modeling clay
· rubber bands
· assorted paper clips
· assorted binder clips
· string
· push pins
· pencils
· wire
· small light bulb
· small light bulb base
· Discovery Dollars
Set up a “store” with the following materials for teams to purchase with their Discovery Dollars. Be sure to have enough of each for multiple teams.
· boxes of various sizes
· plastic bins of various sizes
· plastic/paper cups of various sizes
· wide craft sticks
· balloons
· candles
· matches*
· pipe cleaners
· Slinky
· funnels
· straight pins
· plastic CD cases
· cardboard tubing
· poster board
· pipe insulation tubes
· pool noodles
· straws
· mouse traps*
· spatulas
· aluminum foil
· plastic wrap
· thread spools
· compressed air
· springs
· various magnets
· Matchbox cars
· assorted pulleys
· assorted jingle bells
· bicycle bell
· 16oz bottles of water
· 3% hydrogen peroxide
· yeast
· baking soda
· white vinegar
*Adult supervision with these materials is recommended.
Day 2 – Energy From Atoms, Biomass and Fossil Fuels
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Drilling for Oil
For each group
o ruler
o small box
o 4 different colors of modeling clay
o box of clear, plastic drinking straws
o cooking oil for lubricant
o paper towels
Activity: Nuclear Chain Reaction
For each group
o ruler
o dominos
o flat table that won’t shake or floor space
Activity: Marble Chain Reaction
For each group
o 24 marbles
o Hula hoop
o Double stick tape
Activity: Energy from Garbage
For each group
o 60 dried beans or peas that have been soaked in water overnight
o six zipper locked sandwich sized bags
o sharpie marker for marking the bags
o dark, shady and sunny places for storing the bags for a few days
Day 3 – Wind and Solar Energy
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Setting the Stage
· fan
· extension cord
· pinwheel toy
Activity: Blowin' in the Wind
For Each Team of 2-4 Students
· aluminum pie tins
· corrugated cardboard
· 2 pencils with erasers
· 2 straight pins
· coffee stirrer
· tape
· glue
· toothpicks
Materials Needed Per Class for Testing Wind Turbines
· stop watch
· pencil
· one toothpick
· foam block (approximately 15 cm x 15 cm x 5 cm)
· electric fan
Activity: You Are Getting Warmer
For Each Team of 2-4 students:
· shoebox with no lid
· thermometer
· aluminum foil
· pieces of cloth (white, black, gray)
· scissors
· tape or thumbtacks
· light bulb
· heat lamp (if performing the activity outside is not an option)
Day 4 – Hydroelectric and Geothermal Energy
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Waterwheel
For each group of 4
· stiff cardboard or foam core, about 15” by 15”
· push pins or strong glue (hot glue preferred)
· pencil
· protractor, 6” in diameter
· wood skewer, dowel or straw
· scissors
· ruler
· large basin, bucket or sink
· pitcher of water
Activity: Energy Trapped in the Earth
For each group of 4
· access to a hot plate with a pot of boiling water
· rock approximately the size of a golf ball
· tongs
· large stryrofoam cup with lid
· second stryofoam cup the same size without lid
· thermometer
Activity: Engineering Challenge
For each group of 4
· Discovery Dollars
· cardboard
· Styrofoam boards
· 2-liter bottles
· aluminum foil
· 1-gallon Ziplock bags
· construction paper, various colors
· glue
· paint, various colors
Tool kit for each group
· duct tape
· thermometer
· stop watch
· graph paper
· scissors
· paint brushes
· permanent markers
Day 5 – Your Effect on Energy
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: The Greenhouse Effect
For each team
· Large Mason jar
· Thermometer that fits inside jar
· Outside sun or heat lamp or regular lamp with incandescent bulb
If you are ordering the materials kit from our vendor, below is a list of resources NOT included in the kit.
Day 1 – Energy and You
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Potential Energy of Marbles
For each group:
o paper-towel tube
o meter sticks, two
o masking tape
o books with different thicknesses
Engineering Challenge
Provide each team with a “Tool Box” of the following materials
· masking tape
· duct tape
· scissors*
· pencils
· Discovery Dollars
· boxes of various sizes
· plastic bins of various sizes
· matches*
· plastic CD cases
· cardboard tubing
· poster board
· pipe insulation tubes
· pool noodles
· mouse traps*
· spatulas
· aluminum foil
· plastic wrap
· compressed air
· bicycle bell
· 16oz bottles of water
· yeast
· baking soda
· white vinegar
*Adult supervision with these materials is recommended.
If you are ordering the materials kit from our vendor, below is a list of resources NOT included in the kit.
Day 2 – Energy From Atoms, Biomass and Fossil Fuels
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Drilling for Oil
For each group
o small box
o cooking oil for lubricant
o paper towels
Activity: Nuclear Chain Reaction
For each group
o flat table that won’t shake or floor space
Activity: Marble Chain Reaction
For each group
o Hula hoop
Activity: Energy from Garbage
For each group
o six zipper locked sandwich sized bags
o sharpie marker for marking the bags
o dark, shady and sunny places for storing the bags for a few days
If you are ordering the materials kit from our vendor, below is a list of resources NOT included in the kit.
Day 3 – Wind and Solar Energy
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Blowin’ in the Wind
For Each Team of 2-4 Students
· corrugated cardboard
· 2 pencils with erasers
· tape
· glue
Materials Needed Per Class for Testing Wind Turbines
· electric fan
Activity: You Are Getting Warmer
For Each Team of 2-4 students:
· shoebox with no lid
· aluminum foil
· scissors
· tape or thumbtacks
· light bulb
· heat lamp (if performing the activity outside is not an option)
If you are ordering the materials kit from our vendor, below is a list of resources NOT included in the kit.
Day 4 – Hydroelectric and Geothermal Energy
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: Waterwheel
For each group of 4
· stiff cardboard or foam core, about 15” by 15”
· pencil
· scissors
· large basin, bucket or sink
· pitcher of water
Activity: Energy Trapped in the Earth
For each group of 4
· access to a hot plate with a pot of boiling water
· tongs
Activity: Engineering Challenge
For each group of 4
· Discovery Dollars
· cardboard
· Styrofoam boards
· 2-liter bottles
· aluminum foil
· 1-gallon Ziplock bags
· construction paper, various colors
· glue
· paint, various colors
Tool kit for each group
· duct tape
· graph paper
· scissors
· paint brushes
· permanent markers
If you are ordering the materials kit from our vendor, below is a list of resources NOT included in the kit.
Day 5 – Your Effect on Energy
STEM Camp Notebook
Activity: The Greenhouse Effect
For each team
· Outside sun or heat lamp or regular lamp with incandescent bulb