Google+ Hangout

Join Girlstart’s first partner Google+ Hangout with National Geographic‘s emerging explorer and Google Science Fair judge TH Culhane at his laboratory in Germany for a do-it-yourself event.

What could you make with a scouring pad, a paper towel, drain cleaner, and an aluminum can tab?

Find out what supplies you’ll need to participate in our build-along event: http://on.natgeo.com/Tx3p3H.

Click Continue Reading below to watch our first Google+ Hangout with National Geographic inventor TH Culhane. Check out this backgrounder about National Geographic scholar TH Culhane at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/culhane-thomas/

3, 2, 1…Blast off! Engineer a stomp rocket with PVC pipe, plastic tubing, water bottle, and duct tape. Use your custom launcher to watch your rocket soar! Be creative has you decide how to most effectively launch your paper rocket across the room. Does changing the launch angle, stomp pressure, or rocket design help?

Click here for a deSTEMber activity!

 

 

 

 

 

Activities for the week of December 2nd-8th

We are very excited for our first week of DeSTEMber!

Each Sunday we will post the materials list for the upcoming week:

12.1 – Crazy Crystals

12.2 – Stomp Rockets

12.3 – Partner Activity from National Geographic

12.4 – Google+ Hangout with San Diego Zoo

12.5 – Partner Activity from AccuWeather.com

12.6 – Get to Know Girlstart Google+ Hangout & Flight Path Activity

12.7 – Candy Chromatography

12.8 – S’mores

12.1 – Crazy Crystals
Borax detergent
Food coloring (optional)
Large jar
Pencil
Pipe cleaner
String
Water

12.2 – Stomp Rockets
2 ft. PVC pipe 1/2” diameter
3 ft. of plastic tubing 1/2” diameter
1 empty water bottle
Clear tape
Duct tape
Fun targets
Index cards
Markers or crayons
Measuring tape
Scissors
White copy paper

12.3 – Partner Activity from National Geographic
1. Super Simple Electric Motor
C cell battery (any battery will do, AA, or AAA or D, but C is easy to hold)
A dry wall screw
A round neodymium magnet (get the big one, splurge, they only cost 3 bucks but they spin better)
A piece of wire

2. Lemon Battery
A penny (for copper)
A nail (for zinc)
Alligator clips
Various low voltage LEDs
A voltmeter

3. Joule Thief
A Blue or White LED (Other colors are fine, too)
2N3904 Transistor or equivalent
1k Resistor (Brown-Black-Red)
Toroid Bead
Thin wire, two colors (magnet wire works, .6mm)
Alligator clips and/or a breadboard

4. Electricity From a Soda Can Tab
Aluminum can tab (or aluminum foil)
Stainless steel scouring pad
A paper towel or a thin cleaning sponge to separate the stainless steel and the aluminum
Some drain cleaner

12.4 – Partner Google+ Hangout with San Diego Zoo

12.5 – Partner Activity with AccuWeather.com
Glass bottle (glass milk bottles and carafes work well)
Hard-boiled egg (peeled)
Matches
Paper towel

12.6 – Get to Know Girlstart Google+ Hangout & Flight Path

Flight Path
Sheet of paper
9” Styrofoam plate
Scissors
Pen
Tape
Penny
Airplane template

12.7 – Candy Chromatography 
6 toothpicks

Aluminum foil
A tall glass
Coffee filter
Empty two liter bottle with cap
One of each color of M&M’s (or Skit- tles)
Pencil (a pen won’t work)
Scissors
Ruler if preferred
Table salt
Water

12.8 – S’mores
Graham crackers
Chocolate pieces
Marshmallows

 

How Crystals Form

Diamonds, gems, snowflakes, and borax?! Kick off deSTEMber by making beautiful crystal decorations for your home. Channel your inner crystallographer — a scientist who studies the forms and structures of crystals —and discover the unique, repeating  patterns that borax crystals make.

Click here for a deSTEMber activity!