Kool Kat Science

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.

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

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.

Are you planning an electricity design challenge? The voltmeter is a vital tool for the IMPROVE step of the Engineering Design Process and gives students a glimpse into specialized technology used by electrical technicians. Students can use a voltmeter to check continuity, test batteries, and measure resistance (ohms). Are you looking for a fun electricity design challenge lesson? This sample comes from the Kool Kat Science Electric Circuit Design Challenge. Give your students a solid underst

This package is designed to accompany the SketchUp Mars Rover Modeling Activity. It provides step-by-step guidelines to add four cool features to the basic rover chassis built in the introductory Mars Rover Modeling lesson. The expansion pack consists of four sequential activities to add: Cargo BoxPassenger BenchDashboard and WindshieldSteering WheelThe activities are set up as four recipe card sets. Each set has numbered steps that show the SketchUp tool needed and a screenshot of the action.

This 40-minute lesson uses a design-based approach to build a familiar favorite, the electric circuit game. Teams use what they know about electric circuits to solve the problem of making a quiz game. They discuss and then map out their ideas for building a working game in their science research notebook (SRN) using electric symbols. While building their game students use electrical tools such as needle-nose pliers, wire strippers, and a voltmeter.  The lesson includes step-by-step instruction

Say goodbye to messy research notebook sketches that depict electrical projects like a plate of spaghetti! This slideshow invites students to visualize their electrical circuits in a new way. Using simple examples, this presentation guides students through the process of making electrical diagrams. This download includes a free Electrical Symbol handout sized perfectly to fit in your students' research notebooks.

This slideshow provides a mechanism to help students understand the value of doing their best work. Using a Multicultural theme, it guides students through four levels of expectations for Coloring, Tracing, Folding, and Cutting when working on STEM or STEAM projects.

At the beginning of the school year, student teams may put together a sample board containing ways that cardboard can be used when constructing cardboard projects. This makes an excellent resource for the cardboard arcade, magnetic car obstacle course and other STEM projects that will be built over the course of the year. This poster can be constructed with the step-by-step demonstration of the Cardboard Attachment slideshow that can be found in the TPT Kool Kat Science Teacher Store.

When making structures, there are many techniques for building with cardboard. This slideshow provides details about ten different construction techniques: cutting cardboardmaking creasesscoringcreating curvesmaking a flange basebuilding a vertical walland moreFounded on classic engineering principles, these techniques will enable your students to build stable and durable structures that showcase their creativity.

SketchUp is 3D modeling software used by engineers, architects, and designers around the world. It is very powerful and can be used to build highly detailed models. This bundle includes a PowerPoint introduction, a step-by-step beginner's worksheet, four sets recipe cards, and teacher background notes. The introduction familiarizes students with the SketchUp interface and the basic tools.The worksheet guides novice SketchUp users as they build a 3D model of a Mars rover chassis and wheels. Each

SketchUp is a 3D modeling software used by engineers, architects, and designers around the world. It is very powerful and can be used to build highly detailed models. This step-by-step worksheet guides novice SketchUp users as they build a 3D model of a Mars rover chassis and wheels. Each step has a clear explanation and screenshot. The model is basic so that students can concentrate on the core tools needed to be successful with SketchUp. This step-by-step guide works well with the companion sl

SketchUp is CAD software used for 3D modeling. Students can use Sketch-Up for a variety of tasks in the STEM classroom including Design, Virtual Prototyping, Project Drawings, and 3D Printing. This presentation guides students through several fundamental tasks needed to learn the SketchUp application: Setup toolbars and drawing settingsDraw lines, circles and arcsCreate 2D shapes: rectangles, circles, and polygonsPush-Pull tool (3d extrusions and holes)Move and Copy objects

Rovers are important tools for the exploration of alien places. This presentation is ideal to introduce a STEM rover design unit or a unit on space exploration. The presentation includes: Uses of RoversRover SystemsFamous RoversRovers in the Future

Are your students using common fasteners in their STEM projects or Robotics clubs? If they aren't they should be! Most students are familiar with screws, bolts, and nails but would be hard pressed to tell when to use one or the other. The Fastener Anchor Chart will aid in identifying common fasteners and the tools used with them. Once familiar, students can better visualize the sort of hardware needed to build something. In addition to the hi-res 2-page anchor chart, this packet includes teache