Summer STEM Institute

Please join us for the 2021 GYSTC Summer STEM Institute. This institute will be hands-on and exploratory from the start. We will utilize an engaging “Make and Take” format where teachers make the key items of each exploration and then take home kits with enough materials to do each one of these with their class. Along the way, we will discuss key concepts, share ideas, and build our repertoire of interesting and engaging STEM learning lessons.

Each grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) will participate in a variety of STEM Challenges, Siemens Activities, and Top 10 STEM Explorations. During each lesson, the incorporation of science, literacy and vocabulary will be emphasized by including popular children’s literature books and visual vocabulary cards. Lessons will utilize a practical 3-D approach to instruction that integrates standards, engineering practices, and cross-cutting concepts. Participants will also receive a notebook of each lesson and a kit with the materials to conduct the challenges with their class.

Available Track Sessions

DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF ELECTRICITY
Explore naturally occurring electricity and human harnessed electricity. How does static electricity work? How do I build a circuit? What’s an insulator and a conductor?

ALL ABOUT CELLS
What are cells? Where are they found? Can you see them? What is the difference in a plant and animal cell? Come explore and learn all about cells. Build the cell model and determine why are cells so small.

MICROORGANISMS
What is a microorganism? Where are they found? What is the difference in a beneficial or harmful microorganism? Come explore microorganisms.

LIVING THINGS…WATCH ME GROW!
Come explore living things, how they are grouped, and how they grow and change!

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE:
Students will use their knowledge of the water cycle to design and build a working model. An assortment of provided materials will be used to plan, build, test, redesign and improve their working water cycle models.

FUN WITH FORCES AND MOTION
Forces are interactions between objects that cause a push or a pull between them. This session will push you to build your understanding of forces as we construct catapults, magnetic cars, and scooter bots. We can’t force you to come but we highly recommend it.

ANALYZING THE ENERGY OF SOUND WAVES & AUDIO ENGINEERING
Participants will learn an engaging strategy for teaching sound energy as it relates to audio engineering in the booming film and television industry of Georgia.

ALL ABOUT ADAPTATIONS
Come explore the world of birds and their adaptations. Nests and beaks of various birds will be explored while learning all about habitats and adaptations.

MATTER MATTER EVERYWHERE
What is matter? Is it everywhere? How does matter change? Come explore phases, phase changes, and types of energy.