February 3rd and February 19th
Careers in Engineering
New schedule! February’s Homeschool Day will be offered 10am – 2pm on two days: February 3 and February 19. Both days will include the same activities.
All young learners are welcome to join Homeschool Day, including learning pods and those with asynchronous school schedules.
Career Table
Video runs continuously from 10am-2pm
Video presentation:
Patrick Asiedu, Principal / CEO of Kings E360
Patrick Asiedu is the Principal / CEO of Kings E360, a structural engineering firm located in Round Rock, TX. A U.S. Navy veteran, Patrick holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-Kumasi, an M.S. in Structural Engineering from Old Dominion University and an MBA with a specialization in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.
Hands-on Activities
Stations run continuously from 10am-2pm, unless otherwise noted
DIY Robotic Hand:
Inspired by bioengineering and the Mill's Colossal Robotic Hand, this life-sized model uses strings and straws to simulate tendons and bones. Make your creation’s fingers wiggle—can it pick anything up?
Topple-proof Towers:
How do engineers build structures that can stand up to earthquakes? Experiment to find the secret mix of strength and flexibility, then put your tower to the test on our "shake table!"
Rocket Racers:
Create a custom balloon-powered racer using recycled materials. Then head to the starting line to see how "equal and opposite reactions" (thanks, Sir Isaac Newton!) make for a speedy race.
Learning Labs
Please note: For February’s Learning Labs, students will be assigned to work in pairs. Masks are required for all participants.
Kinder-2nd Grade
Coasting Comparisons - 10:30-11:15am
Explore the forces that make things go (gravity) and slow (friction) by creating a race track. Send different objects down the track to compare how far they go, and see how adding hills affects speed and distance.
3rd-5th Grade
Marble Coaster Challenge - 11:30am-12:30pm
Your challenge: Engineer a roller coaster with at least one loop and one jump. Take your coaster to new heights to see how potential energy becomes kinetic energy with the help of gravity.
6th-12th Grade
Roller Coaster Tycoon - 1:00-2:00pm
We're looking to hire a roller coaster designer, someone who can deliver at least TWO loops and one jump. Plan your budget, build your track and test with three different "riders" to see how friction and gravity affect their trips. Will your design come out on top or go off the rails?