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Our "STEAM" (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Mathematics)
STEAM is the integration of these disciplines by way of providing opportunities for students to learn through real world challenges, problems, and projects while infusing in 21st century skills as well.
Our middle school offers a unique experience for ALL of our students to have exposure to STEAM. Teachers offer STEAM activities all students sign up for, where they participate in their chosen activity. STEAM days will take place on Wednesdays and students are in their selected activity for six Wednesdays in a row. Our first STEAM rotation will begin October 16th, 2024. Sign ups for these activities will be done through Flex and communicated via Schoology and the website prior to sign-ups, as first-come-first-serve basis.
STEAM at the middle school by Rebecca Mauser
STEAM Activity & Rotation #1
Signups will be held in school October 10th using Flex.
Fall 2024 STEAM Activities
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8th Grade Activites
STEAM Golf - Students will design and develop the layout for a par 3 golf hole. Students will play the course at the end of the rotation.
Styrofoam STEAM Character Design - By applying principles of design, engineering, and problem-solving, unleash your creativity and explore the intersection of art and STEAM with this exciting project! Using in-depth brain power, you will transform ordinary styrofoam eggs into unique characters, using math skills, your imagination, and a variety of materials and techniques. Students will apply scientific principles such as understanding the properties of styrofoam and the effects of different materials. You will also engage in engineering design, problem-solving, and critical thinking to create your characters.
What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? - Statewide video//advertising contest promoting a local manufacturing business and manufacturing careers in general.
STEAM Wars - May the force be with you! Tie science explorations in with Star Wars STEAM adventures. Connect with favorite characters, epic movie scenes, Star Wars lore, and more with hands-on learning.
Magnetic Cars - Students will build and race their own magnetic cars. They will research a current Formula One team team and design their car to match it. They will time their car in race trials. Finally, they will race their car on a track against other teams' cars.
Won in a Million - Have you always wanted to start your own business? Or become a millionaire? See if you have what it takes in this STEAM activity where you'll create your own business and present it to an official panel of judges. A prize will be awarded to the winning team.
Egg Drop Challenge - Explore the world of physics by competing to build the best egg drop design with your group. You will compete against other groups to see which design is the best! The only catch is...your design has to survive a drop from the middle school's roof!
Paper Roller Coasters - Constructing a gravitationally functional and sturdy marble track…then a paper roller coaster.
Mystery Bag Challenge - For those that are brave enough to accept the challenge, you will be presented with a bag full of goodies, and a challenge to construct the best of the best! There will be three different challenges with mystery supplies and a different item to engineer each time. Can you think on your feet and win the Mystery Bag Challenge?
Spaghetti Bridge Challenge - Is spaghetti the strongest pasta in the world? Can a bridge made purely of spaghetti and hot glue support FIFTY pounds without breaking? Bring your curiosity, building skills and love of pasta to find out.
Theater Design - This activity is for anyone interested in analyzing musical theatre scripts and working on designs for theatre! Students may work individually or in small groups to design props and miniature sets for our shows this year!
Brick by Brick: Lego Innovators Lab- Welcome to the ultimate LEGO design experience! Over the course of six exciting sessions, you and your team will dive into a world of creativity, problem-solving, and engineering fun. In this challenge, you'll have 40 minutes each session to tackle as many innovative building challenges as you can. From designing sturdy bridges to creating complex moving machines, each task will test your imagination and engineering skills. Work quickly but carefully, as every build brings new twists and challenges that will push your thinking to new heights. The more challenges you complete, the more points your team will earn. Who will rise to the top as the Master Builders? Get ready to stack up your skills and let your imagination soar!
sTEAM WORK - A series of challenges that require students to work together as a team. Each challenge has limitations on materials and expectations which make collaboration essential.
STEAM Archery - Learn about the science taking place while shooting archery. Create your own compound bow to create artwork and target shoot.
Build It - Fly It - Float It - A series of competitive activities in which students will design and build planes, towers & bridges, and boats.
3,2,1, BLAST OFF: Bottle Rockets - Get ready to ignite your creativity and scientific curiosity with an exhilarating STEAM adventure: Design, Build, and Launch Your Own Bottle Rockets! 🚀 Embark on a journey that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in a hands-on, explosive way.
Stop Motion Animation - Students will use a variety of objects to plan, create, and take photos. The photos will then be used to create an animation.
Genius Hour: Technology Skill Style - Design thinking meets digital magic! Unleash your creativity and tech skills. Design, code, animate - there are 6 ways to showcase your technological talents. Win scholarships, boost your resume and take your chances by entering your genius hour project in the PA Media and Design competition. More info: https://mediadesigncompetition.org/
Myth Busters: Nazareth Area Science Fair - Are you a curious mind? Are you ready to create and carry out your own science experiment? Do you love to solve problems? Be a myth buster and join this STEAM and explore the world around you! This will be an opportunity to be mentored in creating a project for the Nazareth Area Science Fair. Your project will be entered in the fair, taking place in March, 2025. More info: https://sites.google.com/nazarethasd.org/nazarethareascienceproject/home
7th Grade Activites
Sequence: Order Matters and Matter is Ordered - Don’t let the title of this activity keep you away. The buzz in the Middle School is that this STEAM about sequences is interesting, challenging, and enjoyable, in no particular order, if you give it a chance.
Brains & Brawn - Design an Outdoor Fitness Trail - Do you have the right mix of brains and brawn? Find out by joining this STEAM activity! Challenge yourself to design an outdoor fitness trail that will push you to your max efforts of both fitness and intellectual ability. Students will design stations that incorporate athleticism and physical tasks along with brain teasers and challenges. Students will work with a team to not only create but also complete the fitness trail in record time all while encouraging their teammates to make it to the finish line!
Travel Agency: Dream Vacation - Do you love to travel with your family? Students can plan their dream destination vacation from the perspective of a travel agent. Dream vacation allows you to choose your ultimate vacation destination for you and your family. You will have an opportunity to pick out your favorite vacation spot and plan it out on a pre-determined budget.
The Canva Olympics Triathlon Challenge - The Canva Olympics Triathlon Challenge: Do you love to read books, watch movies, or play video games? Do you love art and drawing? Do you love using Canva for graphic design? Then, this is the STEAM Challenge for you! You will compete in a series of three events for gold, silver, and bronze medals! The first event will be using Canva to design a special limited edition cover for your favorite book, movie, video game, or tv show! The second event will be using Canva to design the official t-shirt for you favorite book, movie, video game, or tv show! The third and final event will be using Canva to create the official advertising poster for your favorite book, movie, video game, or tv show! After completing all three of the Canva Olympics Triathlon events, the overall Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists will be recognized. The Gold medal winner will win a professionally made copy of his or her official t-shirt!
Cookie Clash- Students will work in teams while using their culinary design skills to design a cookie from mystery ingredients while competing with others for the top cookie.
Coding Game Challenge - Create and design your own game! Learn how to solve problems in coding to control your game elements. Share your game with classmates to play.
Creation Stations -In this STEAM course, students will experience the design process by creating products and packaging that fit the needs of specific "clients." After designing, students will share finished projects with peers to gain feedback and improve the product. Projects include making slime, keychains, and greeting cards.
Design the House of Your Dreams - In “Design the House of Your Dreams,” students will spin the “Budget Wheel of Fortune” to determine their allotment for building their home. Students will create a blueprint of their dream house based on their budget and make adjustments to their home design as needed to stay within their budget. Students will then partake in a gallery walk of these glorious home designs as they will be displayed in the hallway.
Stop Motion Animation - Students will use a variety of objects to plan, create, and take photos. The photos will then be used to create an animation.
Sudsy Soap - Step into the enchanting world of soap making in this interactive "Sudsy Soap" activity. Join us for a unique experience that combines creativity and relaxation where you will be creating your very own luxurious handmade soap.
Dream Cabin - Who loves hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, or just the outdoors in general? Who wants to purchase their own recreational property when they are older so they can partake in any of these activities at their leisure? Who is into construction, engineering, and building things? With this steam we will research properties across the United States, select a property that fits our leisure activities that we would like to purchase, and design our very own cabin to build on our dream recreational property. This will give you an understanding of the expenses, as well as the designs for purchasing properties and building in the future. *Please note: The focus will be on hunting/fishing properties, but all future recreational property owners are welcome:)
Blue Eagle Championship Series - The Blue Eagle Championship Series is a 6-day sports study that breaks down a professional organization from the owner to marketing to creating team logos, to drafting players to evaluating player performance and beyond. During this STEAM activity, students will be creating a new franchise from the ground up. Each time we meet, students will explore different aspects of the team from a business perspective as well as from a performance standpoint. At the conclusion of our STEAM, students will be comparing franchises and reflecting on improvements they can make to their own.
Theater Design - This activity is for anyone interested in analyzing musical theatre scripts and working on designs for theatre! Students may work individually or in small groups to design props and miniature sets for our shows this year!
Outdoor Conservation & Fly Fishing - Do you enjoy fishing and have you always wanted to learn how to fly fish but never knew where to start? This is the STEAM activity for you as you will learn how to cast with a fly rod, create your own fishing ties that will help you catch fish, learn about the entomology of insects, wildlife conservation, and lots of other fun activities!
The D.A.B. Makers - Do you like engineering? In this STEAM you will design different structures to be put through various tests checking for safety, stability, and strength.
STEAM Boat Race Challenge - Attention all creative minds and adventure enthusiasts! It's time to unleash your inner engineer by joining the thrilling STEAM Boat Race Challenge! Imagine the excitement as you design and construct your very own seaworthy vessel using only a few supplies and a splash of imagination. Dive into the ultimate challenge as you race your creation across the pool, navigating waves of fun and friendly competition. This isn't just a boat race; it's an opportunity to test your ingenuity, teamwork, and aquatic prowess. So, grab your cardboard, muster your crew, and set sail for an unforgettable aquatic escapade – because in this race, the only limits are the ones you set for yourself! Are you ready to make waves and leave a lasting splash in the history of cardboard boat conquests? Anchors aweigh!
Genius Hour: Technology Skill Style - Design thinking meets digital magic! Unleash your creativity and tech skills. Design, code, animate - there are 6 ways to showcase your technological talents. Win scholarships, boost your resume and take your chances by entering your genius hour project in the PA Media and Design competition. More info: https://mediadesigncompetition.org/
Daring Dirigibles - Don't crash like a lead balloon. Design a remote controlled airship using repurposed materials. Once built, you will guide your airship through a floating obstacle course.
Myth Busters: Nazareth Area Science Fair - Are you a curious mind? Are you ready to create and carry out your own science experiment? Do you love to solve problems? Be a myth buster and join this STEAM and explore the world around you! This will be an opportunity to be mentored in creating a project for the Nazareth Area Science Fair. Your project will be entered in the fair, taking place in March, 2025. More info: https://sites.google.com/nazarethasd.org/nazarethareascienceproject/home
The Great STEAM Challenge - Do you like to build and design?? If you answered yes, then come use those skills to create new structures as a team and set out to win the weekly challenges and overall prize!