SFK In Action **

The Robotic Spacesuits are Complete at Pleasant Union Elementary.

The Fluffballs and the Show Monkeys have made so much progress these last few weeks. Carter (Team Fluffballs) and Oliver (Team Show Monkeys) to charge with their robotic spacesuit designs. Carter designed a cooling system and ice wheels for his robotic rover so that it can sustain itself on his scorching hot planet Fluffy. Oliver built a battery pack for his robot, giving it ample amounts of energy to survive the planet HOTH. Now equipped with shooters and spacesuits, the robots are more ready than ever. Let's blast off kids!

Coding Robotic Shooters at Pleasant Union Elementary

Teams Show Monkeys and Fluffballs have made outstanding progress with their robot rovers! This week they designed their very own code sequence using NXM Mindstorm. After completing the sequence, the participants downloaded the codes to the CPU of their custom space rovers. The teams were so excited to see the machines running without a remote control. Stay tuned for next week when the robotic shooters take off into the universe!

Building Robot Space Shooters at Pleasant Union

This week at Pleasant Union Elementary, students are equipping their robots with astro-weapons to protect their planets from the aliens! They have worked so hard making sure the machines are stable and can maneuver around the planet under any harsh conditions. Robotic shooters can destroy asteroids, UFOs, and any extraterrestrial creature that crosses its path. On the right, Jackson of team Fluffballs is showing how his robot has a super shield giving it extra protection. Further to the right, Alessandra of team Show Monkeys is making sure the robot design is pristine for planet exploration. Way to go teams!

Planet Profile

Team Show Monkeys worked hard to plan and design the HOTH planet! HOTH is 3X the size of Earth with a freezing dark and cloudy climate. The temperature exceeds a whopping -2,000 degrees below zero. The atmosphere has some very intriguing elements in the atmosphere: 99% Freon and 1% Oxygen. This planet also has 17 moons. Team Show Monkeys are still building and programming their robot rover rovers to sustain planet HOTH. Keep up the great work!
Below, Show Monkey member Benjamin is proud to show off his team's planet concept design for HOTH.

Planet Profile

Team Fluffballs worked hard to plan and design planet Fluffy! Planet Fluffy is 3X the size of Earth with a sunny and tropical climate. The atmosphere has some very intriguing elements in the atmosphere: 90% Oxygen and 10% Uranium. This planet also has 2 moons, and blistering hot temperature of 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit! Team Fluffbals are working hard to make sure their robot can survive the harsh conditions of planet Fluffy. Keep up the amazing creativity and teamwork!
Below, Fluffball member and STEMstar Zach is proud to show off his team's planet concept design for Fluffy.

Traveling Through Space with Robot Rovers!

Kids are now ruling the universe! Students at Pleasant Union Elementary are designing their own planets for their special robotic rovers. Participants split up into two teams, and have each been assigned a job prior to building their robots and design a customized planet. Teams get to create characteristics such as planet climate, size, atmosphere, and the number of moons using an array of utensils. Students are also making spacesuits for their robots to protect them from harsh conditions in the universe. The robots are programmed to maneuver on the planet and avoid astroid rocks and craters. Kids, keep enjoying your adventure in the deep depths of space!

Congratulations Zach! You Are Our STEMstar of the Month!

A recipient of the "Most Energetic STEMster" award is a role model in the following ways: Excited to learn about STEM, Thinks outside of the box, Proactively offers help to others, Searches for the answers, and Follows the Engineering Design Process. Zach is always willing to help out his fellow classmates, more recently he helped out a kindergartner in our Minecraft after school in learning how to mod without me asking him to! He takes the challenge head-on and wants to do programming for all projects even if I don't necessarily ask them to (he'll ask if he can because he wants the challenge!). He may get frustrated but he'll always ask questions and seek answers and understands that failure does not mean the end. Keep up the great work Zach!
STEM For Kids on Public Broadcasting TV.

Song Inspired by Robotics and Automation

Our participants got really engaged learning about computer programming and making their animal bots. The final outcome - their excitement comes out as a song!

The Robotics Zoo Song.

NR Mechanical Engineering

8/8 - 8/12: This week at NR location, we are taking a look at how forces and motion impact our lives. We will be using Engineering design to build catapults, communicate a mechanical invention through PowerPoint, and rocket marbles through roller coasters!

  • Action-Reaction balloons!

ITT Mechanical Engineering & Robotics I

8/1 - 8/5: At our ITT location, we have been spending the mornings learning about forces, the three laws of motion, and friction with Mechanical Engineering. In the afternoons, we have been taking those engineering concepts and building and programming robots to do certain tasks.

Civil Engineering

7/25 - 7/29: At the North Raleigh Location, we learned how structures really work in standing up with balance and stability. We learned the difference between stable and unstable structures, how gravity and other forces affect structures, and the different kinds of shapes needed to make a structure strong.

Robotics I

7/11 - 15: At the North Raleigh location, we built and programmed robots to do certain tasks. This includes making many animal robots, such as alligator and monkey in a Robotics Zoo, and soccer robots to play a Robotics Soccer Game!

Engineering & Automation

7/5 - 7/8: At our North Raleigh location, we are learning the concepts behind making machines move and work. While building robots, we are thinking like Mechanical Engineers and finding out how the Laws of Motion affect the machine and what makes up the machine.

  • Our program sign made by Avrie!

Robotics I: WeDo

7/5 - 7/8: This week at our ITT location, we took a look at how robots are built and programmed to do tasks and solve problems. We learned the importance of robots in society and how we impact technology.

Robotics I: WeDo

6/27-7/1: This week, we have been building robots to do certain tasks! We have built animals, mechanisms, and soccer robots. In building these robots, we have learned why gears, pulleys, and cams are important in a robot's movement as well as programming!

  • Taylor, John, and Carson show off their "Moose" robot!

Robotics II: Mindstorms

6/20-6/24: This week, we have been building robots that can complete a number of challenges from defusing a bomb to a grocery store check out to our very own robot! Throughout the week, we have been using communication to present our robots, collaboration by working teams, critical thinking by programming, and creativity by personalizing the robots. What a great week!

Game Making Lab 2: Minecraft Edition

6/13-6/17: This week at the North Raleigh location, we have worked together to complete multiple projects in Minecraft and have learned the beginnings of JavaScript, finishing up with modding!

  • Nate, Evan, and Sebastian having fun with Minecraft!
  • STEM For Kids Engineering Days at Molex
    STEM For Kids Engineering Days at Molex

Engineering Days: Hardware Connections

Elementary and middle school students gets hands on making hardware connections and learning about sales engineering with sales engineering team at Molex, Morrisville. See more details about the event here

GeeK Scholarships 2015

STEM For Kids's GeeK Scholarships enable many students to attend summer camp and learn engineering, robotics and computing.

  • 2015 Geek Scholar Assyria
    Geek Scholar Assyria - Encouraging diversity in STEM.