NATIONAL DAY CLASSROOM
National STEM/STEAM Day on November 8 provides the ideal platform to introduce students to the variety of careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. These sectors are growing and changing rapidly. Their young, innovative minds will help create the future of tomorrow.
EXPLORE THROUGH EXPERIENCE
Each activity below is a simple classroom project to encourage exploration of science, technology, engineering, art and math.
DISAPPEARING EGGSHELL
Ingredients
1 egg
1 – 2 cups vinegar
1 container or cup (clear is best to observe the egg)
Submerge the egg in the vinegar and set aside to let the vinegar do its work. Because the egg is made up of mostly calcium carbonate, when you place the egg in the vinegar a chemical reaction will begin. The acetic acid in the vinegar will react with the calcium carbonate in the shell releasing the carbon dioxide.
After about 24, hours most of the shell will be gone. Gently drain the vinegar from the container and rinse any residue from the egg. Add more vinegar to the container to continue the reaction if any shell remains.
Downloadable PDF for Disappearing Eggshell Experiment
IF-THEN BACK YARD PROGRAMMING GAME
This creative technology game from Left Brain Craft Brain can be tailored for any age group. Simply put, this game is Simon Says for techies!
DISCUSS
Consider how quickly technology changes. Now, look at the language we use to describe that technology. How many words do we use today that didn’t exist when your students were born. As technology changes, the language we use also becomes a part of the jobs of the future.
See how many words your students can come up with that exist today that didn’t exist just a few years ago. Here’s a list to get you started.
selfie
photobomb
retweet
hashtag
geotagging
cybercast
There are careers behind these ever-growing new words. Some of the latest additions to the job pool are cognitive computing engineer, social media manager, and drone operator. Can you name more?
As technology changes, the demands for new kinds of specialists will be needed.
What new careers do you think will be created in the future?
What kinds of skills will be important to be successful in these future science, technology, engineering, art and math jobs?
Do you have a dream job that fits into the S.T.E.A.M. area of study?
If so, what is it and why?
