Cut the screen time while you #stayhomewithSTEM! TRSA is #alonetogether with families practicing social distancing by teaming up with local partners to bring STEM in a Bag kits to grab-and-go food distribution sites.
Can't make it to a site? No problem! Each kit is designed to use household materials. Browse the list below to find your next project!
Flying High
How does something as big as an airplane stay up in the air?
Materials
- Paper
- Umbrella, blanket, or similar large, lightweight object
- 2 balloons
- 2 pieces of string
- Timer (optional)
Water Filter
Design and create a water filter that will purify a polluted water sample so it's clear enough to read text through.
Materials
- 16 oz. plastic water bottle
- 2 clear plastic cups
- Pitcher or bucket of polluted
water. - Variety of materials to make a
filter. Examples: coffee filter,
paper towels, fabric, cotton
balls, aquarium charcoal,
marbles, etc. - Magazine, newspaper, or book
that contains text of varying
sizes - Rubber bands or tape (optional)
- Paper and pencil
Designing Tessellations
Create a piece of art using a tessellation pattern.
Materials
- Index card
- Scissors
- Tape
- Sheet of paper
- Pen or pencil
- Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
Storm Shelter
Construct a storm shelter prototype that can withstand Vidal Sassoon dryer force winds.
Materials
- Hair dryer or fan
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Empty cereal box or cardboard
- Tape
- Plastic wrap or bubble wrap
- Other building materials (toothpicks, straws, string)
- Pencil and paper
Leaf Sort
Leaves come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Take a walk outside and see what you can find.
Materials
- An area with trees
- Tree ID field guide (optional)
- Nature field guides (optional)
- Bag to hold items (optional)
- Notebook (optional)
Fabricated Fossils
Create three trace fossils that represent a marine life organism, a plant organism, and a land organism.
Materials
- Baking dish, shoe box, large bowl, or other container
- Spoon or craft stick for stirring
- 3 objects to make imprints
- Sediment: You can use Plaster of Paris and water or follow the attached recipe
Fishing with Magnets
Can you guess what will stick to a magnet?
Materials
- Magnet
- Pencil or stick
- String
- Tape or glue
- Simple household objects
Hand Pollinators
Design, create and test a hand pollinator to transfer “pollen” from one “flower” to another.
Materials
- 2 paper plates or sheets of paper
- Powdery substance (pepper, baking soda, glitter, etc.)
- Building materials (cotton balls, balloons, foam stickers, erasers, paper towels, aluminum foil, etc.)
- Tape
Hoop Glider
Learn about aerodynamics by constructing and flying a hoop glider.
