NIU STEAM is offering Saturday STEAM Studio sessions at Northern Illinois University (NIU) DeKalb for the whole family, October 2-16. Two-hour sessions in the morning or afternoon will offer families the chance to explore local plant and animal species, make their own weather instrument, design and build an air-powered rocket, or try out basic coding.
The cost is $10 per family of four, plus $2 for each additional family member. Learn more and register at NIUSTEAMStudio.com.
Adults should stay for the whole session. Projects are designed so adults and children work together. Recommended ages are simply a guide to help gauge the difficulty of activities, not a strict requirement. Siblings of different ages are encouraged to work together along with caregivers or adult family members.
These sessions will lead up to STEM Fest, a free family event Saturday, Oct. 23 in celebration of science, technology, engineering and math with live science demo shows, hands-on learning activities and expert speakers. (Go.NIU.edu/STEMFest)
Families will choose from two activities October 2, recommended for pre-K and up. In “BioBlitz,” from 10 a.m. to noon, participants will learn to become citizen scientists as they find and observe as many species as possible while exploring the NIU east lagoon, then use the iNaturalist app to record what they find. In “Make Your Own Weather Instrument,” from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., participants will learn about weather and make their own weather instrument before heading outdoors to test it out.
Families can choose a morning or afternoon session October 9 of “Backyard Rocket Science,” where participants will build, launch and race their own air-powered rockets. Students will construct their own launch pad and rocket and will be able to take them home after class. This session is recommended for grades 3-5, with adult family members.
October 16, families will have a choice of two coding sessions. From 10 a.m. to noon, “Sphero Family Coding” will teach participants to program and create minigames using Sphero, ideal for students taking their very first steps into written programming code. This session is recommended for approximately grades 3-6, with adult family members. From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., families will be able to join the maker movement with “Arduino 101.” Participants will learn the basics of how to use these programmable boards to build and code their own automated inventions by using interactive motors and sensors. This session is recommended for grades 6-8, with adult family members.
NIU STEAM is a family of programs in the Northern Illinois University Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development that provides awesomely engaging interdisciplinary educational experiences. Our programs for educators, students and community members spark curiosity, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. By igniting a passion for learning, we can change the world. Learn more at niusteam.niu.edu.
—Northern Illinois University