Nova Counselor Training Task 4

The Well-Prepared Traveler of the Universe

Objective of the Training Task:

Get participants to think about connections of STEM to everyday life.

Materials:

  • Six paper lunch bags with printed labels.
  • Inside each bag a folded slip of paper with questions about the contents.
  • Items for the bags: a towel, roll of toilet paper, roll of duct tape, paracord bracelet, mini-coat hanger (make one out of 16-gauge wire or cannibalize a regular wire coat hanger to make a mini version), flashlight

Procedure:

  • Divide the participants into as many as 5 groups.
  • Explain that you will hand each group a bag with an object in it that can be connected to STEM.
  • For each object there is a list of uses of the object and a list of questions that connect that object to STEM.
  • Your job is to come up with another use for that object and another question about that object.

Questions to Participants:

  • So, some of the uses given for these objects are deliberately silly and definitely not the original intent. How much progress occurs as a result of rethinking how to use something?
  • Did you find it hard to come up with a question that helps illuminate how your object is connected to STEM?

You never know when you might need a towel! Towels can be:
  • Wetted for use in hand-to-hand combat
  • Waved as a distress signal in an emergency
  • Worn as a superhero cape
  • ______
/ Towels and STEM
  • Why are towels absorbent?
  • What technology is used to make towels?
  • ______

You never know when you might need toilet paper! Toilet paper can be used to:
  • Make Halloween mummy costumes
  • Make origami cranes
  • Make a wedding dress
  • ______
/ Toilet Paper and STEM
  • What is this made of?
  • Why is some toilet paper 2-ply and other toilet paper is 1-ply?
  • ______

You never know when you might need duct tape. Duct tape can be used to:
  • Hold together shoes that are falling apart
  • Make a hammock
  • Remove lint from your clothes
  • ______
/ Duct Tape and STEM
  • Why was duct tape invented?
  • Why is duct tape so strong?
  • ______

You never know when you might need a paracord bracelet. Paracord bracelets can be used to:
  • Help identify identical twins.
  • Wrap a luggage handle for easy identification
  • Wrap your ear bud wires to keep them from tangling
  • ______
/ Paracord Bracelets and STEM
  • Why is paracord so strong?
  • How can we keep paracord from fraying?
  • ______

You never know when you might need a metal coat hanger. A metal coat hanger can be:
  • Turned into a marshmallow roaster
  • Turned into a bubble wand
  • Turned into a shoe hanger
  • ______
/ Coat Hangers and STEM
  • How are wire thicknesses measured? (gauge of wire)
  • What is an alloy?
  • ______

You never know when you might need a flashlight. A flashlight can be used to
  • Make shadows on the side of a tent
  • Signal ET to come back
  • Play a nighttime game of Capture the Flag
  • ______
/ Flashlights and STEM
  • What kind of a bulb does it have, LED or incandescent?
  • How long does it take the light travel from its source to what you are illuminating?
  • ______

Bag Labels

The well-prepared traveler of the universe always has… / The well-prepared traveler of the universe always has…
The well-prepared traveler of the universe always has… / The well-prepared traveler of the universe always has…
The well-prepared traveler of the universe always has… / The well-prepared traveler of the universe always has…