Family Resources

Are you ready to break the force – the intermolecular force, that is?! With a few common household items, this episode of STEM Unplugged will explore the chemistry concept of surface tension with two exciting activities that can be done at home.

Do you ever wonder how astronomers study moons and planets that are millions of miles away? By developing models! Even though the moon is out of reach for most people, we can still build models to understand its orbit and rotation. This episode of STEM Unplugged shows students how to build a model of the moon to understand lunar phases.

How does an ancient mathematics principle connect to the sport of golf? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will go back in time to learn how an ancient Grecian principle is used by modern golf professionals when measuring the volume of club heads. Using the Archimedes Principle, golfers can understand how a club head’s volume can affect their swing and overall game.

Do you ever wonder how vitamins and pills actually do their job? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will learn how engineers design pill casings for medicines to deliver a desired effect in the human body through a step-by-step experiment that can be done at home.

Do you ever wonder how engineers build some of the world’s tallest towers? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will learn about a five-step engineering design process that they can use to find solutions to real-world problems. Students will come away with new skills that will allow them to tackle all types of engineering design challenges.

Do you want to learn about the science of candy? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will uncover the chemistry behind rocky candy crystals through a hands-on at-home experiment. Using materials found around the house, students will learn how to make rock candy and get a quick lesson in seed crystals, solubility and supersaturation!

Ever feel like your mind keeps racing? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, we’ll highlight how our brain reacts when we’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed. A quick lesson on the biology of the brain introduces students to the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala while explaining the role they play in keeping the mind calm. Following five easy steps, students will leave the lesson with a mind jar that that will bring them a little peace of mind.

Do you ever wonder how meteorologists predict the weather? With a few common household items, this episode of STEM Unplugged will show you how to make a tool that can help track changes in air pressure to predict the weather at home.

Have you ever really explored the sights, sounds, colors and textures in your environment? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will go on an outdoor exploration of their backyards or neighborhoods and investigate with their senses to dive deeper into the natural environment. All that’s needed is a notepad, a writing utensil, and sharp observation skills!

Have you learned about oil spills and wonder how exactly scientists clean up a mess of that scale and size? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will explore the science behind an oil spill and perform household experiments to understand the various solutions to this real-world environmental hazard.

Curious about what causes those mesmerizing bubbles in lava lamps? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will make their own lava lamp using a few common household items while getting a quick lesson on density and chemical reactions.

Did you know that there is more to color than meets the eye? In this episode of STEM Unplugged, students will take a quick course in chromatography, conducting a hands-on activity that brings together science and art.

Do you want to learn a little chemistry while cooking? In this episode of STEM Unplugged we'll walk students through a quick at-home experiment to show how a simple chemical reaction can lead to some yummy, fluffy pancakes!