S.T.E.A.M.Topia!
There was plenty of fun to go around at STAR Education’s 2nd S.T.E.A.M.Topia! Over 150 young innovators showed up for a day of hands-on learning, experimenting, and exploration! Focused on the S.T.E.A.M. disciplines of Science, Technlogy, Engineering, Art, and Math, S.T.E.A.M.Topia is designed to show how S.T.E.A.M. disciplines work together to illuminate principles behind fascinating phenomena in the human experience, and how these subjects are easily applicable in the real world.
Elementary and middle school children were able to test their engineering abilities by designing the car of the future, discover the math behind wilderness survival skills, explore the technology behind artificial intelligence through Turing tests, build a survival dome to withstand the elements, craft high-flying rockets, design 3D forced perspective art, study electric circuitry, and learn the behind-the-scenes of toy making!
Students from the STAR LEGO© Robotics program also competed in the Battle of the Brains! Battle of the Brains is an opportunity for students to battle their Mindstorm sumo-bots that they have spent 12 weeks designing, building, and programming using mechanical engineering, computer programming, special reasoning, teamwork, aesthetic and functional design and other S.T.E.A.M. based skills.
The action didn’t stop there – students also had the opportunity to ride a real hovercraft, experience the science of break-dancing and hula hooping, build at the LEGO© booth, put on a sumo suit to explore the physics behind sumo-wrestling, engage in interactive technology exhibits, and so much more!
The STAR S.T.E.A.M. Initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) has introduced thousands of students to cutting edge and innovative programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. S.T.E.A.M. utilizes specialized, multidisciplinary curricula propelled by problem solving, discovery, and exploratory learning, which encourage students to actively engage in a situation in order to find its solution. STAR S.T.E.A.M. programs aim to engage students to solve real world challenges and ignite their interest in college and future careers. S.T.E.A.M.topia is part of STAR Education’s initiative to support the growing trend in education to stress practical, hands-on, and innovative curricula. STAR is an active member of the S.T.E.M. Education Coalition and is at the forefront of promoting S.T.E.A.M. programs in California.
LA Kids Train as Jedi Scientists at STAR Education Star Wars Summer Camp
STAR Education has made the jump to light speed this summer with the Jedi-approved Science of Star Wars: Clash with the Dark Side summer camp. From rockets to magnetism, to taking a ride on a real-life hovercraft, our student padawans have been making the connection between the science of our daily world to the realm of imagination seen in the blockbuster movie series.
At IQ-GO Science, the science program at STAR, science is always as fun as it is educational, but this camp was out of this world. Our young Jedi were able to work their bodies and minds as they developed their Force skills in our Jedi agility training program. Lightsaber duels each day finally culminated in an epic struggle with one of our Sith Battle Lords.
The highlight for many was a ride on the STAR hovercraft which brought up images of Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder streaking across the desert landscape. Our kids were able to discover how a Van de Graaff generator accumulates electricity and even recreate a scene from the bizarre alien cantina. Learning the laws of physics and motion allowed our campers to create and launch their own rockets, narrowly avoiding Star Destroyers that were hot on their tail.
Never falling to the Dark side, our campers discovered that like the Force, science is all around us. And though the alien guacamole they made wasn’t as scientific… it was delicious! Check out all the innovative science summer camps we’re offering at www.starcamps.org
STAR Leadership Shares Insights at Science Conference
Katya Bozzi, Executive Director of STAR, and Katiana Bozzi, Associate Executive Director of the STAR Eco Station, attended the National Science Teachers Association 2011 Conference in San Francisco. They hosted an exhibit on STAR Science, interacted with scientists and other leading science educators in the nation, and explored together some of the latest cutting-edge developments in science. Katya and Katiana also shared with their fellow educators STAR’s distinctive, project-based approach to the study of science. The lessons gained from these discussions will bolster STAR’s already first-rate science program.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from scientists and other educators and to give them a window into STAR’s unique, hands-on approach to studying science,” Katya said. As STAR implements many of the lessons gained from the conference, our students can look forward to even more fresh and innovative approaches to science education.
STAR Science In Vanguard At California Teachers Conference
The STAR Science Department led the way once again at this year’s California Science Teachers Conference. Department heads Tanya Silva and Josh Moskowitz delivered a presentation to over 1500 educators on new California environmental standards – standards that our own STAR ECO Station helped create!
Josh and Tanya Demonstrate A Solution To Clean Oil Spoils
“It was a really fulfilling experience to help so many other educators understand the new and exciting developments in science education and environmentalism,” Josh said.
Tanya and Josh performed an experiment involving a mock oil spill and the methods that can be used to clean it up, and got down and dirty demonstrating the way a worm composting farm works. The other attendees flocked to the STAR Science Booth, intrigued both by what our department heads had to say, and by the Albino California King Snake they had on display from the Sacramento STAR ECO Station.