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STEAMSaturday

May 1 and 8, 2021

We are pleased to offer two online, interactive, maker-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) classes for Elementary and Middle School GT students during our STEAMSaturday event on Saturday, May 1st.    

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STEAMSaturday Program

Fairies in the Cogwork for Grades 1-5

May 1, 9:30am-12pm OR May 8, 1:30pm-4pm

Due to the high demand, we've added a second session of this class on May 8

 

Automata: Simple Machines Mimicking Life for Grades 6-8 

May 1, 1:30pm-4pm

Both programs explore the 6 Simple Machines and how they come together to make either complex machines that solve challenges or replicate the operations of life. Each program will be taught by Doktor Silas Conundrum from STEMpunkED.

 

See below for full class descriptions and links to register: Deadline to register is Wednesday, April 28 for Fairies in the Cogwork and Wednesday, April 21 for Automata.    

STEMpunkED

Richard Blake (aka Doktor Silas Conundrum) utilizes vintage 17th to early 20th century technologies to provide hands-on experiential learning of STEM topics while also exploring history, culture, language, and the analog roots of our digital age. Put another way, Doktor Conundrum focuses on learning adventures in STEM and the Arts as they were for the 500 years that came before the last 50 years. STEMpunkED has been a repeat presenter at past Super Saturday events with engaging sessions on static electricity and cryptography. Doktor Conundrum has also been seen in schools, libraries, and museums teaching programs such as Home Computing 1965: Coding & Gaming before the Microchip, Marbleous Machines: Ingenious Marble-based Computers to Adams 12 students. 

Fairies in the Cogwork: Fairy Tales & STEM 

 

Who: GT students in 1st-5th grades

When: May 1, 9:30am - 12pm OR May 8, 1:30pm - 4pm (duplicate sessions of the same class)

Where: Zoom presentation (Zoom link will be sent along with confirmation email a few days before the class.)

Cost: FREE

Description: In Fairies in the Cogwork, students will explore a brief history of the Fairy Tale before delving into one of the Victorian era's most famous tales of mystery, fantasy, and adventure. Once we’ve had our fill of the fantastic, we’ll settle into identifying one of the fairy tale’s main challenges and then design and build a contraption using the 6 Simple Machines to engineer a happy (or not so happy) ending using the power of STEM and a collection of recycling from home.

 

Materials Needed:  

  • Building Materials - cardboard (food packaging boxes, shipping boxes, etc); cardboard tubes (toilet paper or paper towel rolls); styrofoam (egg cartons, disposable plates, etc); variety of containers with caps/lids (tubs, cans, jars, etc); any other material that looks interesting to YOU!

  • Craft Supplies - craft sticks, bamboo skewers, toothpicks, straws, rubber bands, pipe cleaners

  • Tools - scissors, tape, glue (quick drying glue or hot glue gun works best), ruler, pencils, markers, crayons, and string

  • Faires in the Cogwork Design Worksheet (print out before class)

Automata: Simple Machines Mimicking Life

 

Who: GT students in 6th-8th grades

When: May 1, 1:30pm - 4pm

Where: Zoom presentation (Zoom link will be sent along with confirmation email a week before the class.)

Cost: $5 for Materials Bag

Description: Before the invention of the electric motors, software, and computers that power today's toys and robots, there was the age of clockwork mechanics where motion was driven by cranks and gears, coding was done with cams and followers, and simple machines created surprisingly complex engines mirroring the processes of life. The Automata program investigates the basic mechanisms of vintage automata, explores their progression from giant mechanations in medieval towers to miniature curiosities in royal parlors, and demonstrates their inspiration for the industrial revolution and modern computing and robotics. During the class, students will build their own small automaton model entitled "Squatty Frog's Leg Day."

Note: In order to complete the Squatty Frog project during class, students will need to cut out and fold the template pieces BEFORE the class.  The template will be provided in the materials bag (see below).  

 

Materials Needed:  

  • Materials Bag - The materials bag will include the printed template for the Squatty Frog automaton, extra cardstock, skewers, pennies, paper fasteners, and quick dry tacky glue.  Parents are asked to pay the $5 fee for the materials bag via PayForIt (instructions below) and a pick-up time/location will be communicated after registration and payment. Students will need to cut out and fold the template pieces before the class so the material bags will be picked up at least a week beforehand.   

  • Other Supplies and Tools (not provided in materials bag) - duct tape, painter's tape/masking tape, scissors, hobby knife/box cutter, ruler, pencil, cutting mat (flattened cardboard box will work), paintbrush (optional, for spreading glue)

Resources:

  • Squatty Frog's Leg Day Template - For reference only. The template, printed on 110lb cardstock, is included in materials bag. In case of errors during cutting, students may reprint template pages using this file and the extra cardstock provided.  

  • Squatty Frog's Leg Day Instructions - Students will need these instructions during class, either printed or displayed on their electronic device. 

How to pay the $5 materials fee (please complete by April 21):

  1. Log in to PayForIt 

  2. Select the "Fundraiser" tab 

  3. Under Select School, choose "Gifted & Talented" 

  4. Enter the quantity as the number of students taking the Automata class and click "Add to Order" 

  5. Enter your address and please enter your student's name under "Additional Information."  This allows us to credit the payment to the correct student.   

  6. Finish processing payment

  7. We will contact everyone who has paid the fee to arrange a time/place to pick up the materials bag a week before the event.  

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