STEM Monthly Newsletter
January 2025 - Happy New Year
Baby Flamingo Learning to Stand on One Leg
It is thought that flamingos stand on one leg because this position allows their joints to lock, enabling them to maintain balance without muscle exertion. This adaptation provides greater stability compared to standing on two legs. Learn more about balance by trying out the activity below.
STEM Challenge - Balance
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers Author: Mordecai Gerstein *Caldecott Medal Winner 2004
Tightrope walkers certainly need good balance. In 1974, Philippe Petit, a French aerialist, walked a tightrope between the World Trade Center towers, performing daring tricks high above the ground. This picture book captures the magic of the event through lyrical language and beautiful illustrations, including two dramatic foldout spreads that highlight the breathtaking height and drama of Petit's feat.
Balance This STEM Activity
Make your own tightrope walker using a popsicle stick, pipe cleaner, and a few metal washers. Math Extension: Change the number or types of washers on your tightrope walker. Predict and test whether the tightrope walker will balance.
You'll never be able to balance a popsicle stick like this!
STEM Fun Activities!
New Year's Day - Jan 1
Make some New Year's Noise with these Science Projects including a Kazoo, Harmonica, and more!
Lunar New Year - Jan 25
Be creative while celebrating the Lunar New Y=ear and the Year of the Dragon with these fun activities.
Weird Wonders
Your friends will think you're a math wiz, but really you are applying algebraic thinking!
- Pick any number.
- Add 3.
- Double the result.
- Subtract 4.
- Divide that number in half.
- Subtract your original number.
- The answer is always 1!
Monthly Shout-Outs
SAA Studying the Solar System and Proximity
SAA Studying the Solar System and Proximity
EPA Students Studying Density
EPA Students Studying Density
RAMS Studying Tectonic Plates with Graham Crackers and Whipped Cream
RAMS Studying Tectonic Plates with Graham Crackers and Whipped Cream
What's Under the Microscope?
Can you guess the item that is under the microscope?
Answers will be revealed in next months STEM Newsletter.
January Microscope Images:
December Microscope Images Answers:
STEM Making Headlines
Let's Help Clean up Our Oceans- Using STEM!
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a major environmental issue, harming marine life and entering the food chain. STEM innovators are tackling this problem in creative ways. The Ocean Cleanup project is designing a floating system to remove plastic from the ocean’s surface, with plans to clean half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years. Meanwhile, IBM and Plastic Bank are using blockchain technology to encourage people in economically disadvantaged areas to collect plastic waste in exchange for digital tokens that can be traded for essentials like food and water.
You can help too by reducing plastic use, recycling properly, participating in community cleanups, and avoiding single-use plastics. Together, we can protect our oceans!
STEM Competitions
Battle Climate Challenge
Registration is now open for students in grades 9-12 to enter Battelle Climate Challenge. The challenge involves researching the past and future effects of climate-related hazards (such as drought, wildfire, flooding, and extreme heat) on your community. You will then propose an action to enhance the community's resilience against these hazards and create a visual representation/poster for your idea.
Power to Explore
K-12 students, your challenge is to design a mission that utilizes Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) to explore a distant, dark, or dusty moon in our solar system. NASA is interested in learning what you aim to investigate, the discoveries you hope to make, and what unique skills or abilities you possess to ensure the success of your mission.
Future Creatures Challenge
Registration is now open for the Future Creatures Challenge and is open to all k-12 students. Draw how a rainforest animal may adapt in the future to climate change.
Adopt A Cow - Simone Update
Healthy Appetite at 2-months
Our gal is growing and needs lots of energy. She is now drinking over a gallon of milk and eats fresh grains everyday.
Simone's Earrings
She was given an ear tag at birth for identification. Her herd number is unique to her. This is just like humans getting their ears pierced.
FUN FACT
Simone's playmate is Suni. She is the adopted cow of our very own Riverview Academy of Math & Science STEM Class
UPDATE on Simone - Now over 2 months old she is drinking over a gallon of milk and fresh grain everyday!!
Birthday: Sept. 1, 2024 Gender: Heifer (female)
Breed: Brown Swiss Birth Height: 32-inches
Birth Weight: 75-pounds Caretaker: Farmer Collen
Florida Dairy Farmers' New Year Recipes - click image for recipes
No Bake Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Healthy Creamsicle Smoothie
Butternut Squash Mac N Cheese
Special Thanks to Mrs. Gregos, CSA Science & STEM Supervisor
cgregos@charterk12.com