Jan 30, 2025
Activity: Create a DIY planetarium. Use a dark room, a flashlight, and a piece of cardboard with holes punched in the shapes of constellations. Learn about the different planets and their orbits around the sun.
Inspiration: Discuss Katherine Johnson's role in calculating orbital mechanics for NASA and how those calculations helped send astronauts into space.
Activity: Conduct simple physics experiments at home. For example, explore the principles of buoyancy with a homemade density column using oil, water, and syrup.
Inspiration: Share Shirley Ann Jackson's journey as a physicist and how her work in theoretical physics has had a lasting impact on science.
Activity: Build paper airplanes and test different designs to see which one flies the farthest. Discuss the principles of aerodynamics and why certain designs are more effective.
Inspiration: Talk about Mary Jackson's work as an aerospace engineer and her contributions to the U.S. space program.
Activity: Introduce basic coding to kids using fun, online platforms like Scratch. Create simple animations or games and explore the basics of programming logic.
Inspiration: Explain how Dorothy Vaughan led a team of "human computers" at NASA and later became an expert in FORTRAN programming language.
Activity: Create a treasure map and use coordinates to hide and find treasures around the house or yard. Teach kids about GPS technology and how it helps us navigate.
Inspiration: Share the story of Gladys West and her work on developing the technology that led to the Global Positioning System (GPS) we use today.
Each of these activities not only makes for a fun learning experience but also serves to celebrate the achievements of these pioneering women. Let the adventures in STEM begin!
