We’re providing easy-to-use resources for parents to engage their children in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Check back weekly or follow us on Facebook to get updates!

National “Play Catch” Week

Whether it’s done with a softball and glove, a beach ball, or even a hacky sack, playing catch is a great way to have fun. But it’s also a great physics lesson, which is why we’re taking this opportunity to learn about trajectories, potential and kinetic energy, and velocity.

Tech Time 🌐

Playground Physics – Upload a video to this iOS app and trace the path of a moving object or person. Watch it in slow motion, track the speed, and measure the distance traveled. It’s a nice accompaniment to our “Get Outside” activity.

Get Outside 🌤

Throwing Balls and Trajectory – Grab a ball and a partner and experiment to answer some questions: if you throw the ball very high or very straight, how does that affect how far the ball goes or how long it takes to get there?

Rainy Day 🌧

Rube Goldberg Machines and Marble Roller Coasters – Have your children look through their toys and come up with some objects that they can use to create a Rube Goldberg Machine. Or grab some leftover pipe insulation from your last winterizing project and have them create a roller coaster for marbles. Both activities provide lots of opportunities to experiment with the laws of physics!