Kool Kat Science

Humans have dreamed of visiting Mars since the 1880s, but getting there isn’t easy.  Using a game board modeled after the orbits of Mars and Earth, student teams will plot a course to Mars and back. As they plan their Mars mission, students will use the same navigation method that NASA uses for interplanetary travel - the Hohmann Transfer Orbit. You can use this STEM activity, and the included Rover's slideshow to introduce a Solar System unit or a Mars rover design project. In addition to plann

Kids love using “real” tools to create a project - when you add a few volts of electricity; they are hooked!  This is the first in a series of three electricity units. This lesson takes students through five mini-challenges that will challenge even students who have previous experience building a simple circuit. Each challenge has information that will inform both the rookie and novice junior electrician. The experiences the kids gain using wire strippers, cutting and splicing wires, and buildin

This presentation introduces blueprints associated with the sled kite, diamond kite, delta kite, sode kite, and rokkaku kite while explaining the details of the blueprint and how they are used to make the kite's sail and adding the dowels.

A Powerpoint presentation that provides many examples of fibers such as thread, yarn and string, silk, bristles, paper, and more. In addition to fiber sources, the presentation illustrates a wide variety of uses that fibers provide.  The Fibers Bundle includes: this presentationa science lab that guides students to explore burlap, cardboard, and paper fibers up close

Most people know that paper is a versatile product made from natural fibers mashed into a pulp. Did you know that the papermaking process was invented in China and kept secret for centuries until the technology was traded as a state secret to the Turks? For good reason the Chinese view paper as one of their national treasures!  The slideshow is a perfect introduction to a papermaking lab or a unit on Chinese history.

Humans have dreamed of visiting Mars since the 1880s, but getting there isn’t easy.  Using a game board modeled after the orbits of Mars and Earth, student teams will plot a course to Mars and back. As they plan their Mars mission, students will use the same navigation method that NASA uses for interplanetary travel - the Hohmann Transfer Orbit. You can use this STEM activity and the Rovers slideshow to introduce a Solar System unit or a Mars rover design project. In addition to planning their v

This one- or two-day activity introduces students to cardinal and ordinal directions using a compass to navigate a course. The course allows up to eight teams to follow separate paths using a compass. This strategy prevents teams from simply following each other around a circuit. Each path is a zigzag course of seven short walks separated by 90-degree turns along the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west).  The files that are part of this lesson include: Navigating with a Compass act

A great addition to your planet or Mars Rover study. Student teams will review the planets in our solar system while they listen to The Planets, a suite composed by Gustav Holst which will guide them to look at the planets in a new way. Afterward, they will research two planets or a burning “I Wonder” question. Teams will present findings with an infographic using canva.com, a free online resource for fliers, infographics, Instagram posts, newspapers, and so much more! This bundle includes the

This Fibers bundle includes a Powerpoint presentation that provides many examples of fibers such as thread, yarn and string, silk, bristles, paper, and more. In addition to fiber sources, the presentation illustrates a wide variety of uses that fibers provide. The presentation is packaged with a science lab that allows students to explore burlap, cardboard, and paper fibers up close as students discuss their source and consider ways they can use the products fibers provide.

Nine different kites are introduced in the 26-page slideshow, along with an introduction to specialized kite terms and the forces at work on a kite that keep it in the sky.  A weather investigation is also provided that allows students to use weather tools to help them to determine the best kite for your region.

In this investigation, teams will color-code a kite design on graph paper to visualize the surface area of a kite. The activity can be followed up with a Cloud Banner presentation that shows how kites are used to represent stories from different regions around the world and to show values and special interests. People have used kites to share art and ideas for thousands of years. If you’re planning to build kites for an Art or STEAM unit, this Cloud Banners presentation makes a great introduct

This four-lesson unit uses an engineering approach to build a kite. Teams test their material options, then select their sail and spar materials. While building the kite, students use tools such as a wood file, side cutting pliers, and sandpaper. Don’t forget the safety glasses!  The unit features a customizable design challenge, kite design options, and a budget-conscious material list. Created by a teacher/engineer writing team, this bundle includes procedures and technical tips to aid teacher

Most people know that paper is a versatile product made from natural fibers mashed into a pulp. Did you know that the papermaking process was invented in China and kept secret for centuries until the technology was traded as a state secret to the Turks? For good reason the Chinese view paper as one of their national treasures!  The slideshow that introduces this bundle is a perfect introduction to a papermaking lab or a unit on Chinese history. This papermaking bundle includes the following res

This chart introduces the forces at play for a kite in flight. The Lift diagram describes how a kite soars in the air defying gravity. Teachers can also use this chart to introduce the Beaufort wind scale as a tool for describing wind as an aspect of weather.

A kite is more than just a scrap of paper or plastic tossed about in the air. It is a carefully engineered craft that balances four forces to achieve stable flight in defiance of the law of gravity. Most students are familiar with kites and many have flown them successfully. This vibrant slideshow introduces the four forces of flight (thrust, drag, lift, and gravity) using a kite as reference. Use this slideshow to introduce a kite building unit or add some STEM to a springtime art or writing pr

This one- or two-day activity introduces students to cardinal and ordinal directions using a compass to navigate a course. The course allows up to eight teams to follow separate paths using a compass. This strategy prevents teams from simply following each other around a circuit. Each path is a zigzag course of seven short walks separated by 90-degree turns along the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west).  The files that are part of this lesson include: Compass Basics slideshow titl

Topographic maps can seem very busy to the untrained eye, but they are actually ingenious 2D representations of our 3D world.  This slideshow introduces the elements that topographical maps share with conventional maps: e.g. symbols, colors, grid lines, scale, and key. In addition, the presentation explains contour lines - what they mean and how to read them. The slideshow concludes with photos of famous national park landmarks shown side by side with the USGS topographic map of the area.

In a GPS world, do children really need to learn to read a map and use a compass? Yes! Learning to use a compass is an important skill for building spatial reasoning skills and helping children get a sense of their world. This slideshow introduces the compass and guides students through using it to identify cardinal and ordinal directions. From there, they learn to use a compass to get a bearing. Looking for a fun activity to get kids outside? The Kool Kat writing team recommends the Using a

Are you ready to take your students’ engineering skills to a new level? Edison’s Toy Studio is a Project Based Learning unit designed to support electricity and engineering standards for 3rd-6th grade students. Working in small teams, your students will design and build battery-powered toys using components such as motors, switches, and LED light bulbs as well as cardboard and common craft materials. This is not a “cookbook” lesson plan. Each team’s project will be as varied as the interests and

This bundle has a detailed step-by-step guide to get students familiar with SketchUp. Students will model a simple chassis and wheels for their Mars Rovers. Once your fledgling engineers are comfortable with SketchUp, turn them loose to model the rest of the rover. If they need help or inspiration, they can use the Mars Rover Expansion Pack recipe cards. These provide sequenced steps to add a cargo box, bench, dashboard, and windshield.