Science for OUR Generation!
Misty Keens
Jones Fork Elementary
Knott County

Using ARI Innovation grant money to purchase materials necessary to fully implement Next Generation Science Standards.
Hands-On Science: Activity Spotlight

Earthquakes in the Classroom
Students learn how engineers construct buildings to withstand damage from earthquakes by building their own structures with toothpicks and marshmallows. Students test how earthquake-proof their buildings are by testing them on an earthquake simulated in a pan of Jell-O®.

Engineering for the Three Little Pigs
The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate the importance of rocks, soils and minerals in engineering and how using the right material for the right job is important. The students build three different sand castles and test them for strength and resistance to weathering. Then, they discuss how the buildings are different and what engineers need to think about when using rocks, soils and minerals for construction.

Solar Oven
Student groups are given a set of materials: cardboard, insulating materials, aluminum foil and Plexiglas, and challenged to build solar ovens. The ovens must collect and store as much of the sun’s energy as possible. Students experiment with heat transfer through conduction by how well the oven is insulated and radiation by how well it absorbs solar radiation. They test the effectiveness of their designs qualitatively by baking some food and quantitatively by taking periodic temperature measurements and plotting temperature vs. time graphs. To conclude, students think like engineers and analyze the solar oven’s strengths and weaknesses compared to conventional ovens.

These are only a few examples of the fabulous STEM projects made possible with ARI funds! My science classroom has been an EXPLOSION of activity since receiving this grant!!