Engineering

A showcase of FIRST robotics at the Francis Parker Upper School, presented by Team 2485, W.A.R. Lords (We Are Robot Lords). Throughout the day students and mentors will be available to answer questions and share their experiences. Of course, there will also be a 120 pounds robot roaming about too. Come see what it means to be part of FIRST robotics team.

Students will build origami boats of varying levels of complexity and attempt to make the boats float in a tub of water. We will provide additional materials (e.g. Popsicle sticks, rubber bands, etc.) to challenge kids to propel their boats from one end of the tub to the other. Participants can also choose to race against one another.

Air Vortex Cannon is a device that fires doughnut-shaped air vortexes, which called, toroidal vortexes. These vortices are completed transparent, because they are air; and can travel several meters before falling apart. We plan to make vortex cannon by using solo cups and water bottles. The materials we are going to use are solo cups, water bottles, balloons and rubber bands. This is a video that demonstrates the activity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpscMWoompw The video shows how to make vortex cannons. However, instead of using tapes, we plan to use balloons and rubber bands.

TBD

STEM is part of an initiative the Boy Scouts of America has taken on to encourage the natural curiosity of youth members and their sense of wonder about these fields through existing programs. From archery to welding, Scouts can't help but enjoy the wide range of STEM-related activities.

An interactive solar-powered model train demonstration will take place. Visitors can observe the strength of solar power by observing the speed the model train is capable of running solely powered by the sun's energy. Then they can interact with the exhibit and test different ways to make the model train slow down in speed and eventually figure out how to make the model train completely come to a stop.

STEM Ambassadors are students from Palomar College who are majoring in a variety of STEM fields. They will have hands on demos, STEM career information and information about Palomar College.

Our booth will include interactive STEAM projects designed by our students. Also, we will hand outs and freebies to promote enrollment in our STEAM program.

Project Cornerstone’s booth will educate children and parents about the importance of local construction aggregates (i.e., sand, gravel and crushed stone) used in building materials like concrete and asphalt products, and how it plays an integral role in their daily lives. Visitors to the booth will get a lesson on the science of concrete and will make their own concrete projects using sand, gravel, cement and water.

Our booth, supported by the NSF Center for Chemical Innovation in Solar Fuels, is all about solar energy and renewable fuels. We will have physical demos of solar powered fuel cells and silicon solar panels that attendees can interact with and ask questions of scientists doing research on the topics. Most importantly though, our booth will be a station where kids (and adults!) can make their own dye-sensitized solar cells using blackberry juice and other common household materials. Up to 5 people can be making a cell at once and it only takes 5 min to complete.