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The mantra we repeat in our programs is “I may not know, but I know I can figure it out.” Our projects are designed to foster the same “we can do it” attitude, and we encourage you to share this message with your children at home.

6th-8th Grade Projects

Resource 1

Wearable LEDs

An electric circuit is a closed loop of conductive material through which electricity can flow. It consists of a power source (e.g. a battery), a conductor (e.g. a wire), and a load (e.g. a light bulb). The electricity flows from the power source, through the conductor, to the load, and back to the power source, creating a complete circuit.

Today we created a sewable circuit scarf! The scarf lights up using a small battery and conductive thread, which they sewed into the design of the scarf. This project allowed participants to apply what they learned about circuits and conductivity in a hands-on, creative way.

It would be great for your children to share their new knowledge with you at home. To help with this, here are a few follow-up questions you can ask them:

  • What is an electric circuit and what are its components?
  • How does electricity flow through a circuit?
  • What is conductivity and why is it important in electric circuits?

Check out our Rosie Explores activity below to learn more!
Energy

Private: Rosie Explores Electricity

Have fun exploring electricity by making a closed circuit with your friends!

Resource 2

Newton’s Cradles

Today we explored Newton’s Laws of Motion. Newton’s Laws explain how objects move and interact with each other, and are fundamental to our understanding of physics.

We explored these laws in action by creating our very own Newton’s Cradle. This simple demonstration shows how the three laws of motion are at play. The Newton’s Cradle displays the laws by demonstrating the transfer of energy from one ball to the next, showing the First Law of Motion (an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force), the Second Law of Motion (the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied and inversely proportional to the object’s mass), and the Third Law of Motion (for every force, there is an equal and opposite force).

We encourage you to ask your children about their experience building and using their Newton’s Cradle. Here are some follow-up questions that you can use to continue their learning at home:

    • Can you describe the Third Law of Motion and how it applies to Newton’s Cradle?
    • Can you think of any real-life examples that demonstrate these laws?

Check out our Rosie Explores activity below to learn more!

Newton's cradle
Newton's Laws

Rosie Explores Newton’s Laws

Have fun learning about Sir Isaac Newtons and his three laws through this experiment!

Resource 3

Walking Robots

Today we explored balancing rotating objects and the importance of static vs dynamic balance. 

Static balance refers to the stability of an object when it is at rest, while dynamic balance refers to the stability of an object when it is in motion. Balancing rotating objects is crucial to prevent vibration and potential failure in machines, and this is exactly what your children are experimenting with as they build their walking robots.

To continue your child’s learning at home, we encourage you to ask them the following questions:

  • Can you explain the difference between static and dynamic balance?
  • How do you ensure that your walking robot remains in balance while in motion?
  • How does the weight distribution of the robot affect its balance?
  • Can you give an example of how balancing rotating objects is important in real-world applications?

Resource 4

Hot Potato (coding)

We learned that a programming language is used to give very specific instructions to a machine, like a computer, so that it can complete a certain task. Many things around us in our daily lives contain computers and need to be programmed to function properly, including smart phones, washing machines and streetlights. 

We used MakeCode for the Circuit Playground Express by adafruit – a great resource for STEM!

Resource 5

Marshmallow Sorters

Today we explore machine learning and its associated ethics. We explored these concepts with a marshmallow sorter project, where they used a tool called Teachable Machine to create a machine learning model that sorts items (in this case lucky charms cereal and marshmallows) into categories. This project gave them hands-on experience with the basics of machine learning and allowed them to consider ethical considerations in AI design.

To continue the conversation at home, we suggest asking your children the following questions:

  • What is machine learning and how does it work?
  • What ethical considerations should be taken into account in AI design?
  • How do they think machine learning and AI will impact society in the future?
  • What steps can be taken to ensure ethical use of AI?