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Stem Education portal

ND EPSCoR offers free curriculum modules that are based on scientific research occurring in North Dakota’s higher education institutions and that are aligned with the ND Next Generation Science Standards. These lesson plans provide the opportunity for you and your students to connect to the research that scientists are conducting in North Dakota.

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We also provide access to STEM activities for middle and high school students that have been used as part of the Sunday Academy program.

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ND EPSCoR’s goal in providing these resources to teachers is to help them enrich classroom learning experiences and spark interest in K-12 students to pursue STEM careers.

Lesson: includes learning objectives, educational standards met, and activities

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Activity: includes activities; may also include learning objectives and educational standards met

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Archived: lesson or activity provided as a reference; material may be out of date

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High school lesson or activity

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Middle school lesson or activity

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Elementary school lesson or activity

Adaptation and Climate Change (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Biology

Three to four 50-minute class periods (depending on introduction/extension options)

Adaptation and Climate Change (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Adaptations, climate change, genetics, evolutionary change

Three 50-minute class periods

Advanced Manufacturing (HS)

High school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

6 hours

All About Winter Weather (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Regional Climate Studies

Six 50-minute periods (two additional periods for the extension activities)

All About Winter Weather (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Regional Climate Studies

Four 50 minute periods

All About Winter Weather (MS-HS)

MS/HS activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

Atmospheric sciences

4 hours

Ancient Northern Plains Native American Engineers (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

6 hours

Application of Composites in Sporting Goods (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry

6 hours

Archived: Food Safety and Farms (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Food safety

6 hours

Archived: Planned Activities on Computer Networks (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

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6 hours

Archived: The Forensics of Blood (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Forensics, biology, blood

6 hours

Balloon Lab (ES)

Elementary school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physical Science

35 minutes

Bio-Assessment of Local Water System (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Water, biology

6 hours

Biobased Materials (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physical Science

Four 50-minute lessons

Biobased Materials - Polymers (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Polymers

6 hours

Biodomes (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Ecosystems

6 hours

Bioinformatics: Through the Lens of COVID-19 (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Biology and Computer Science

Three to five 50-minute class periods

Bioinformatics: Through the Lens of COVID-19 (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Biology and Computer Science

Five 50 minute class periods

Boolean Algebra (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Mathematics, logic

6 hours

Building Materials (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

6 hours

Building Structures (ES)

Elementary school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

Three 30-minutes periods

Candy Engineering (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

6 hours

Candyland Ecology (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Biology

6 hours

Carbon Dioxide: Source and Sink (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Climate change, carbon dioxide

6 hours

Cellular Biology: The Spectacular Cell (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Cellular biology

6 hours

Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles with a Papercraft Spectrometer (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Light, matter, nanoparticles

6 hours

Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles with a Papercraft Spectrometer (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry

Two 50-minute class periods

Circulation: get pumped! (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Circulation, cardiovascular system

6 hours

Clean Energy (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering, Chemistry

50 minutes per topic (2 topics)

Clean energy (MS-HS)

Middle and high school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Renewable energy, clean energy, fuel cells, solar energy

6 hours

Climate Instrumentation (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Climate, weather, climate change

6 hours

Colors and Light (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Color, light

6 hours

Combustion and Fuels: Efficient Use (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Techology

6 hours

Communication Signals and Radio Receiver (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Technology

6 hours

Composting: Don’t Waste Your Waste! (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Composting

6 hours

Computer Security (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Computer security

6 hours

Cotton Ball Launcher (ES)

Elementary school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physical Science- Motion and Stability: Forces and Interaction

Two 20-minute periods

Counting Equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s Principle (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry and Biology

23-30 minutes per lesson

Counting Equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s Principle (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (Lakota)

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Digital Preservation of Cultural and Natural Resources (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

3D modeling, ArcGIS

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Digital Preservation of Natural and Cultural Preservation (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Technology

Two to three 50-minute class periods

Digital Preservation of Natural and Cultural Resources (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Digital imaging, culture, values, natural resources

Three 50-minute class periods

Echolocation (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Echolocation, sound waves

6 hours

Engineered Composite Building Products (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physical Science and Engineering

3 hours

Engines (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

6 hours

Evaluating Whether to Enter a Building During a Fire (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

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Evaluating Whether to Enter a Building During a Fire (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Thermal Imaging

Two 50 minute lessons

Evolution and Natural Selection (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Natural selection, evolution

6 hours

Floating Paperclip (ES)

Elementary school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Motion & Stability: Forces and Interactions

30 minutes

Food Safety and Food Science: Preservation (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Research

6 hours

From Carpet Cleaning to 3D Printing (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

3D printing

6 hours

Fundamentals of Drinking Water Treatment (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Earth science, water treatment

6 hours

Game Theory (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Mathematics

6 hours

Garden Ecosystems (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Ecosystems

6 hours

Gold Nanoparticles (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry, physical science

2 50-minute class periods

Hydro-Electric Energy (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Electricity, hydroelectricity, engineering

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Hypothesis and Product Testing (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Hypothesis testing

6 hours

Influenza Outbreak (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Epidemics, public health, viruses

6 hours

Insulate and Waterproof Construction (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering

6 hours

Insulin Signaling (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Insulin, hormones, diabetes

6 hours

Intelligent Computing Circuits and Systems (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Programming, technology

6 hours

Lemon Battery / Pickle Experiment Activity (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Circuits

6 hours

Let’s Make Ice Cream (ES)

Elementary school
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physical Science

35 minutes

Let’s Make a Helicopter (ES)

Elementary school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Engineering and Technology

45 minutes

Life Cycle Assessment and Renewable Energy from an Indigenous Perspective (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering

Two 50-minute class periods

Life Cycle Assessment and Renewable Energy from and Indigenous Perspective (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemical engineering, biofuels, food production and food waste, energy conversion, sustainability

Two 50 minute sessions

Life Cycle of Lytic Bacteriophage (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Microbiology- Lytic Bacteriophages

120-180 Minutes

Light Energy (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physics

6 hours

Lightbulbs and their capabilities (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Electricity

6 hours

Make Your Own Pie Cell (ES)

Elementary school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Matter and Its Interactions

Two 30-minute sessions

Making Biodiesel (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Biodiesel, technology

6 hours

Making Slime and Bouncy Balls Using Household Polymer Materials (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Polymers

6 hours

Meat Safety and Preservation (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry

4 hours (including prep)

Mechanisms of Evolution and Diversity (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Evolution

6 hours

Mendelian Genetics (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Genetics

6 hours

Mercury (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry

6 hours

Microbiology: Small Things can be a Big Deal (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Microbiology

6 hours

Nanoscience and Biotechnology Activity (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Nanotechnology, biotechnology

6 hours

Natural Gas (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Natural gas

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Oil Pollution: Clean It Up (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry

6 hours

Perspectives of Conservation (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Biosphere, computer programming

6 hours

Phase Change Materials for Heat Storage (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physics

6 hours

Phase Change: Solid, Liquid, and Gas (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Phases of matter

6 hours

Phylogeny (HS)

High school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Phylogeny, biology

6 hours

Plate Tectonics and Volcanoes

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Plate tectonics, volcanoes

6 hours

Plate tectonics (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Plate tectonics

6 hours

Polymer Synthesis (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry

Three 50-minute class periods

Polymer Synthesis (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Polymers, recycling, natural and synthetic resources

Three 50-minute class periods

Probability, Games and Sentiment Analysis (MS-HS)

Middle and high school lesson from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Mathematics, probability

6 hours

Protein Denaturation (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Protein Denaturation

120-200 minutes

Protein Denaturation (MS)

Middle school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Protein Denaturation

120-200 minutes

Purification of Water with Biobased Materials (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Water purification

6 hours

Quality and Reliability Engineering: Variability and Its Impact (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Mathematics

6 hours

Reactions With Light (HS)

High school activity from Sunday Academy
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Topic(s):

Time:

Chemistry, light

6 hours

Recycling Bioplastics (HS)

High school lesson
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physical Science

Three 50-minute class periods

Robotics (MS-HS)

Middle and high school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

Robotics, engineering

6 hours

STEM at Home Storm in a Glass (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Autumn Leaves (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Balloon Lab (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Bernoulli's Principle (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

Physics

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STEM at Home: Bioinformatics (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Calm Down Jar (ES-MS)

Elementary and middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Candy Lab (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Cotton Ball Launcher (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Counting Equilibrium (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Edible Pie Cell (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

1. Graham cracker pie crusts
2. Pudding
3. Peanut M&Ms
4. Regular M&Ms
5. Life Savers
6. Cinnamon Red Hots
7. Gummy worms
8. Licorice
9. Decorating icing

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STEM at Home: Floating Paperclip (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Infinite Chocolate (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Let's Make Ice Cream (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Let's Make Oobleck (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Let's Make a Boat (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Let's Make a Car (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Let's Make a Helicopter (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Let's Make a Zipline (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Make Fluffy Slime (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Make Your Own Snow (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Make a lava lamp (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Milk and Food Coloring (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Onion DNA Extraction (MS)

Middle school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

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STEM at Home: Skeleton Robot Hand (ES)

Elementary school activity
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Topic(s):

Time:

Anatomy

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