Outreach Activities


wind

During an outreach activity at a local school, we discussed why Iowa is a great place to use wind as a clean energy resource. We built "wind machines" and tested their performance by playing a game.

In addition to mentoring students for roles which involve scientific independence, the Haes Research Group also help educate local elementary students. We have worked with kindergarten - sixth grade students. Whether teaching students that science can be fun or helping them earn science (merit) badges for local Boy and Girl Scout troops, we enjoy these activities.

We have begun working with local kindergarten teachers to develop age appropriate, hands-on science activities. Our goals are to convey that science is fun. In our initial activities, these students were excited about science, and we had fun! We will build off these experiences as well as the science curriculum currently taught in these classes to hopefully reinforce that science is exciting! Scientifically and socially, our goal is to unmask some of the mysteries associated with nanotechnology but also science in general.

To date, we have developed activities that address:

  • Where does wind come from?

  • Why do bouncy balls bounce?

  • Understanding chemistry unit development (with teachers) for 5th grade students

  • How do you measure wind speeds/make an anemometer

  • All about tornados/tornado in a bottle activity