STEM Camp offers fun science & tech challenges
FAIRMONT, MN — Elementary students from across the area performed classic science experiments and high-tech robotics challenges at Martin County KnowHow!’s summer STEM camp, held June 21-23, 2022 at the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus in Fairmont.
Students entering grades 1 through 6 this fall enjoyed a variety of projects over the three-day camp, with the youngest children tackling science experiments, and older students building & programming different levels of VEX robots.
Scroll down to learn what these great groups of kids accomplished!
1st & 2nd Grade - Science Exploration Camp
“The camp began with earth science and the study of rocks. The students took a walking field trip to Ward Park where they searched for rocks on the lake bank to begin their rock collections. Next up was physics and experimenting with magnets. Students made predictions of whether plastic, wood, paper, metal and other miscellaneous objects could be picked up by a magnet. They then tested out their predictions. The campers continued their magnet play using paper clips guided by magnets to paint a picture. Each one was a masterpiece!
More physics was in store with the classic sink or float experiment. Students again made predictions, this time about whether they thought different items would sink or float when placed in water and had the chance to test each item. With the help of a radio’s speaker and some rice, the campers also observed how sound waves move and can even move other objects. We finished the first session with some paleontology and learning how fossils are made. The students made their own fossils using play-doh and seashells.
Our second session began with more paleontology and the study of dinosaurs. Campers drew their favorite dinosaurs, and each child was given their own dinosaur name. The students next made ribbon rockets, and partners practiced making their rockets move back and forth between them by exerting force on the ribbons. Chemistry was featured next as two cooking ingredients (flour and vegetable oil) were mixed to make moon sand. It was fun molding the sand into shapes.
Campers again experienced chemistry in forming play-doh volcanos and then mixing vinegar and baking soda inside them to produce a chemical reaction eruption. More chemistry was at play as the campers placed Skittles candies in a ring on a plate and water was added. The candy coating then melted and moved to the middle of the plate in a beautiful design. The students’ final and most messy chemistry activity was mixing corn starch with hair conditioner to produce a play-doh-like substance called moon dough.”
3rd & 4th Grade - VEX GO Camp
“Our group built a robot and learned to use VEX code to program it and its attachments to accomplish several tasks.
Examples of these tasks include: Navigating a track using colors to tell the robot what direction to turn... using bumpers to tell the robot to turn when it hits an object... using an electromagnet to pick up an object and move it to a different location... and use a LED eye to avoid objects in its path.
At the end of each day the students were able to demonstrate what they learned by either designing their own course to take their robot through, or take part in a game designed to use several different operations the robot can perform.”
5th & 6th Grade - VEX IQ Camp
“Students worked in groups of 2-3 to build robots they would use on the last day to compete in a VEX IQ challenge course. On the first day many groups that already had experience with VEX IQ decided to embark on a new building experience with a new style of robot. It was very impressive to watch the students work and identify what their robot was capable of doing.
On day 2, some of the students started to see how coding could be done on their robots. They worked to make them move back and forth and turn. Many problem-solving skills were being used during this as sometimes the code students put into place caused their robots to spin non-stop. Students then had to identify why this was happening and work to fix any issues. Some students found that a completely different robot design would work better for the competition so they decided to start over. It was very impressive to watch them work so quickly.
On day 3, students had two hours for any last-minute adjustments to their robots’ construction and/or coding. During this time we also ran practice competitions so the students were able to become efficient in their remote handoffs and quick with adding up point totals for scoring. By the end we had all groups working and strategizing together to participate in the robotics competition that we help the last hour of camp.”
Snack Break!
Each day’s highly-anticipated snacks were served by Harlan Gorath, Char Kahler, Al Core, and Mary Schmitt of the Fairmont Early Risers Kiwanis.
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible!
Our STEM camp would not have been possible without these generous community organizations and individuals:
Fairmont Community Education & Recreation for publicity, registration, facilities, and equipment… and so much more
Fairmont Early Risers Kiwanis for snacks
Martin County Area Foundation for a grant for the robotics kits
All of Martin County KnowHow!’s founding & additional supporters
Camp teachers Cindy Viesselman, Leah Rode-Mulder, and Alicia Swanson
Camp teacher assistants Laura Teveldal, John Bisbee, Kaylee Nelson, Celia Simpson, Mandy Pytleski, and Emily Almine
And last but not least, our thanks to all of the students and their parents, grandparents, guardians, and mentors for their interest in and support of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in our community!