Energy Conversions

We teach students about different sources of power, including oil, solar, wind, and nuclear, and the various pros and cons of each as well as how they are used to generate power. Then, we create small catapults to demonstrate the conversion of energy from potential to kinetic.

Module Topics: 
Renewable Energy
Module details
TopicsRenewable Energy
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement25 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers2
Recommended audience sizeAny size
Audience best suited for module: 
Ninth Grade to Twelfth Grade (approximately ages 14-18)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
25.00
Approximate Budget: 
$10
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
2
Recommended Audience Size: 
Any size

Bucket-o-Heat Exchange

Students will utilize prebuilt heat exchangers or create their own and compare the heat transfer of the different exchangers

Module Topics: 
Heat Transfer
Thermodynamics
Transport Phenomena
Module details
TopicsHeat Transfer, Thermodynamics, Transport Phenomena
Best-suited audienceArray
Approx. time requirement30 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers3-5
Recommended audience size15-25 students
Audience best suited for module: 
Ninth Grade to Twelfth Grade (approximately ages 14-18)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
No
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
30.00
Approximate Budget: 
$75 per class
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
3-5
Recommended Audience Size: 
15-25 students

Turmeric as a Natural Indicator

The objective of our module is to teach young and aspiring students about the concept of the natural indicator. Our project also gives the students a visualization of changing color using turmeric as a natural indicator. Through our experiment, we visually confirm the change in color using turmeric when we add acid and base. Our module has a full-fledged presentation explaining how and when color change occurs with a proper demonstration for the optimal understanding of the students.



Basic knowledge of indicators helps students understand much broader concepts like...

Module Topics: 
Physical Chemistry
Module details
TopicsPhysical Chemistry
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement2 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers4
Recommended audience sizeAny size
Audience best suited for module: 
Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade (approximately ages 11-14)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
2.00
Approximate Budget: 
$1-2
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
4
Recommended Audience Size: 
Any size

Separation of dyes through salting-out

Students will demonstrate the principles behind liquid-liquid extraction and salting-out. These two are very important chemical processes for extraction and purification of materials. With this module’s experiment, they will replicate these processes and visually understand how they really work.

 ...

Module Topics: 
Engineering
Mixing
Physical Chemistry
Separations
Module details
TopicsEngineering, Mixing, Physical Chemistry, Separations
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement15 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers2-3
Recommended audience size10 students
Audience best suited for module: 
Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade (approximately ages 11-14)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
15.00
Approximate Budget: 
$18
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
2-3
Recommended Audience Size: 
10 students

Putting the "Polar" in Frozen Dessert: Using Chemical Engineering and Polarity to Make Ice Cream

Students will learn about the molecular intricacies of milk such as its make-up of polar and nonpolar molecules. Next, students will discuss different types of machines used in the large-scale process of making ice cream in a factory. Finally, students will simulate this process by making their own ice cream. ...

Module Topics: 
Molecular Engineering
Module details
TopicsMolecular Engineering
Best-suited audienceArray
Approx. time requirement30 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers1
Recommended audience sizeAny size
Audience best suited for module: 
Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade (approximately ages 11-14)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
No
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
30.00
Approximate Budget: 
$3 per student
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
1
Recommended Audience Size: 
Any size

Edible Alginate Product Engineering

The purpose of this module is to teach students about the fundamentals of food and product engineering. Students are encouraged to experiment with various flavors and colors in order to create an alginate boba to the correct specifications. Students are then able to further analyze their boba using an image analysis program that calculates boba diameter, eccentricity, and uniformity.

 ...

Module Topics: 
Biological Engineering
Data Analysis
Module details
TopicsBiological Engineering, Data Analysis
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement30 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers3-5
Recommended audience size20-30 students
Audience best suited for module: 
Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade (approximately ages 11-14)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
30.00
Approximate Budget: 
$75
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
3-5
Recommended Audience Size: 
20-30 students

Breakfast for your garden

Based on the production of a home-made fertilizer of calcium mineral, the chemical process of ionization of calcium carbonate (egg shell) in the soil is taught in this module. The objective is to understand how a calcium fertilizer works and its benefits in the growth process of a bean or lentil plant. Moreover, this module is aligned with the thirteenth (13°) Sustainable Development Goal in order to teach children how to grow organic food and have friendly habits with our planet.

 ...

Module Topics: 
Environmental Engineering
Module details
TopicsEnvironmental Engineering
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement40 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers1
Recommended audience sizeAny size
Audience best suited for module: 
Sixth Grade to Eighth Grade (approximately ages 11-14)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
40.00
Approximate Budget: 
$35
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
1
Recommended Audience Size: 
Any size

We Have Liftoff!

In this experiment, we will use Alka-Seltzer and water to launch rockets and learn about chemical reactions and pressure.

Module Topics: 
Physical Chemistry
Module details
TopicsPhysical Chemistry
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement90 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers4
Recommended audience sizeAny size
Audience best suited for module: 
Third Grade to Fifth Grade (approximately ages 8-11)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
90.00
Approximate Budget: 
$40
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
4
Recommended Audience Size: 
Any size

Polymer Gummy Worms

This activity will demonstrate the scientific properties of polymers, polymer gels, cross linking, and polysaccharides. The enormous size of polymer molecules and their flexible, chain-like structures give polymers unique and useful properties. Sodium alginate, a natural polymer obtained from kelp and seaweed, is an important food additive. Participants will observe this property by taking sodium alginate and adding it to various solutions. ...

Module Topics: 
Polymers and Elasticity
Module details
TopicsPolymers and Elasticity
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement10 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers2
Recommended audience sizeAny size
Audience best suited for module: 
Third Grade to Fifth Grade (approximately ages 8-11)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
10.00
Approximate Budget: 
$50
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
2
Recommended Audience Size: 
Any size

Legolymer

In this module, we create homemade toys, made of casein polymers, obtained by the blending of milk and vinegar.

 ...

Module Topics: 
Polymers and Elasticity
Module details
TopicsPolymers and Elasticity
Best-suited audienceArray
Interactive?Yes
Approx. time requirement120 minutes
Approx. # of volunteers3
Recommended audience sizeAny size
Audience best suited for module: 
Third Grade to Fifth Grade (approximately ages 8-11)
Is the module interactive ? (Can students actively participate): 
Yes
Approximate time that the module requires (minutes): 
120.00
Approximate Budget: 
$10
Approximate Number of Volunteers: 
3
Recommended Audience Size: 
Any size

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