Schedule Update for 2022
Starting in 2022, Homeschool Days will be held once a month. Each monthly program will run from 10am-2pm, with Learning Labs at 10:30-11:15am (Kinder-2nd grade), 11:30am-12:30pm (3rd-5th grade) and 1-2pm (6th-12th grade). Here is the updated winter/spring schedule:
Thursday, January 27 – Careers in Energy
Thursday, February 24 – Careers in Engineering
Wednesday, March 23 – Careers in Space Science
Wednesday, April 13 – Careers in Earth Science
Wednesday, May 11 – Careers in Art & STEM
We look forward to exploring STEM careers with you in the months ahead!
Homeschool Day: Careers in Energy
January 27th
“Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another.”
– Albert Einstein
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
Make a Waterwheel
Design and build a working waterwheel from recycled materials. Follow the flow of energy from rushing water to the turning blades of your hydro-turbine, then experiment to see how weight affects the rate of rotation.
Pedal Power
Transform mechanical energy into electrical energy while getting a workout! This bicycle-powered generator demonstrates how energy moves from human to machine to electricity.
DIY Flashlight
Experiment with electricity and see how it flows by building a simple circuit with LED lights. Add a popsicle stick and a little flare to create your own mini flashlight!
Living Mural
Convert your creative energy into an energy-themed artwork for this ever-changing art installation—we’ll reveal its newest form at next month’s Homeschool Day events.
Career Corner
Take home our Career Corner handout featuring careers and skills needed in the field of energy resources, along with links to activities and games to explore at home.
LEARNING LABS
Kinder-2nd Grade
Fossil Fuel Funk – 10:30-11:15am
Fossil fuels take thousands of years to form, but we can create a speedy model with simple materials. Watch “fuels” form, then extract them and see how people put them to work. Investigate the impact of fossil fuels on the environment, explore renewable energy sources and get introduced to a variety of careers in the field of energy resources.
3rd-5th Grade
Wind Wattage – 11:30am-12:30pm
How do engineers transform wind into electrical energy—and what makes that energy “renewable”? Find out by building your own miniature wind turbine! Measure its power output, then think like an engineer to improve your turbine’s design and determine the best position for energy production.
6th-12th Grade
It’s Electric! – 1:00-2:00pm
Spark your electrical engineering and entrepreneurial skills by designing an electric car with Hummingbird robotics and servo motors. Experiment with energy optimization as you test drive your prototype. Can you create a product that uses less energy to complete the course?