Materials:

• A used Plastic Bottle
• A Drill or something to pierce
• A Wooden Spoon or a Stick
• A Rope
• Bird Food/Seeds

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Directions:

1. Pierce two holes at the bottom third of the bottle and a hole through the cap
2. Insert a wooden spoon/stick through the two holes you made at the bottom third of the bottle
3. Fill the bottle with bird feed
4. Insert a rope through the hole you made in the bottle cap and hang your bird feeder on a tree!​

solar4STEM kits are tools that reduces the hassle of prep work, provides enough materials for a collaborative and innovative setting, and provides lesson plans that not only outline experiments, but offers exploration and alternatives to learn your way.

​Let us help you bring the wonders of a science classroom into your classroom! ​

Hands-on Learning: (a.k.a. Kinesthetic or tactile learning) is a method of learning where a student uses physical activity to learn.

Contextualizing learning in terms of the real world.
In classes, STEM classes especially, knowledge may not come naturally without seeing it in action. For example, science classes like physics which study the phenomena of the world around us are extremely difficult without any exposure or observance of the real-world processes. Our education is derived from the observations of the real world; thus, to truly maximize our learning, we must interact with it on a regular basis. Those who embrace the physical parts of education will retain a much greater understanding of the science, mathematics, engineering, and technological concepts which drive our world today.

Keeping all types of students engaged.
Students have a variety of learning styles; among the most popular are visual, aural, and kinesthetic learners. Traditional classroom exercises may be only partially reaching students; a PowerPoint could only appeal to visual learners, a video to visual and aural learners, a boardgame to visual and kinesthetic learners, and so on. A collaborative approach through projects incorporate all types of learners through providing visual, audio, and physical stimuli, as experiments in nature highlight the co-existence of all three.

→ Read More: The Benefits on Hands-on Learning

Using toys to promote STEM learning:
Toys are a great way to promote the principles of STEM! Promoting physical activities through adventure, toys reinforce all the key points of STEM, as well as the principles of success in life. These points include critical thinking and discovery through adaptation, collaboration with others, creative invention of new games with toys, as well as a diverse and personal understanding of the world through the process of play.

Modifying DIY experiments:
There are plenty of do-it-yourself experiments on the internet that allow for hands-on interactivity. While you may not have the time or the materials to do all these experiments, why not tailor them to your needs and incorporate some outside of the box thinking? Taking activities from the internet and putting your own spin on it can be an exciting way to form ideas about the world and behavior of phenomenon through offering an element of discovery rather than performing an exercise that is preordained.

→ Read More: How to Implement Hands-on Learning at Home
​→ Read More: Enjoying Social Distancing with STEM Toys and Kits

Leveraging DIY resources:
A variety of educational and governmental entities have turned to posting a plethora of do-it-yourself STEM activities in this time of isolation. Many of these experiments can be done with staple goods! Organize an experiment based on one of these DIY activities and have students collaborate and share results! Use the digital platform to have students recording themselves performing the experiment for others to see; apply the different ways each student performs the experiment to have them mix and match, trying to reach the goal in different paths to produce several new, insightful experiences that provide for several classes of learning and discovery!
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Allow your students to design the experiment:
The pandemic has brought the issue of resources to many families; as a teacher, it is hard to ensure every student has the same opportunities. Posing a problem to your class and giving your students the liberty to design the experiment not only solves this problem but reinforces creative and critical thinking! This is a perfect solution to infuse project-based learning, and the values of teamwork, into your classroom. 

→ Read More: How to Implement Hands-on Learning in Online Classes
→ Read More: Remote Experimenting in Science Classrooms
​→ Read More: How Teachers Can Use STEM Kits For Remote Classes

Visual Learners
These individuals learn best by observation. Visual learners prefer images, videos, and graphics to process information. In a digital age, visual information has become more prevalent than ever through PowerPoints, data organization through graphs and tables, social media, and so on. Demonstrations also do the trick here.

Auditory Learners
Listening and sound are the best reinforcement for those auditorily inclined. Those who are auditory learners prefer explanations above all else; a lecture is likely to be most effective here rather than reading off a document. Conversation and combining sounds into activities are critical to their success.

Kinesthetic Learners
For kinesthetic learners, doing is everything; when given the chance to work hands-on, they will gladly jump at the chance. Using all their senses in conjunction with the information given, this group of people need experimenting and interaction with the physical applications of ideas to gain a better grasp.

Reading/Writing Learners
Those who enjoy reading and writing likely fall into this category; they can analyze and express critical ideas through writing to gain a more thorough understanding of arguments and concepts. While many activities may inherently cater to this group, they will likely prefer written instructions during activities that are hands-on. 
Read More Here

→ Read More: What's Your Learning Style? [Quiz]
​→ Read More: What's Your Teaching Style? [Quiz]

Two common resources for STEM learning:

1. Online do-it-yourself resources.
   • There are many sites that specialize in cranking out do-it-yourself resources for STEM experiments. With follow along instructions, they can provide much needed variety in times with nothing to do. However, in a time of isolation, you might not have all the necessary resources to do these experiments; in addition, if you are working from home or occupied with more pressing matters, the time commitment with some of these experiments may not be as appealing to you.
2. STEM experiment kits.
   1. While STEM experiment kits come at a cost, they save you time and the hassle of assembling resources, experiments, and prep work. Including a variety of materials, STEM kits encourage you and your child to discover beyond the instructions of the experiment. A STEM kit may be just what you need to provide an engaging science experience for the whole family!

→ Read More: STEM Tips and Resources for Parents

Materials for Experiments
These materials can be reused for all these experiments:

• Solar panel (of any size)
• Digital Multimeter
• Light source (e.g. desk lamp)
• Breadboard (or soldering tools)

 
1 – Varying Light Intensities on a Solar Panel
Solar energy works by capturing photons and turning them into electricity; what do you predict will happen when the intensity of light, or the amount of photons, changes? Is there a limit to the efficiency of a solar panel?

1. Plug the black test lead into the bottom socket of the Digital MultiMeter and the red test lead into the middle socket of the Digital MultiMeter
2. Move the Dial on the Digital MultiMeter to the 20 in the DCV region. Touch the ends of the black and red test leads to make sure the voltage on the Digital MultiMeter Reads 00.0
3. Take the black wire of one solar panel and the red wire of the other solar panel and connect them in the same row on the breadboard.
4. Take the digital multimeter and touch the red test lead to the remaining red wire of the solar panels and the black test lead to the remaining black wire. Read the voltage of the solar panels in series.
5. Shine a Desk Lamp on the Solar Panel and observe how the voltage changes as you move the lamp closer and further from the Solar Panel.

→ Read More: 3 Hands-on DIY solar4STEM Experiments Your Kids Will Love

​If you want to keep your family engaged and experimenting while at home, you should invest in a STEM kit that emphasizes all the positives of learning.

The solar4STEM kit is a tool that reduces the hassle of prep work, provides enough materials for a collaborative and innovative setting, and provides lesson plans that not only outline experiments, but offers exploration and alternatives to learn your way.

​Let us help you bring the wonders of a science classroom into your home! 

Related Articles

​With limited materials, it may be hard to ensure everyone gets a hands-on experience; for some, watching is not as effective of a learning tool as the physical experience.

​Make sure you’re picking a science kit or DIY experiment that involves everyone in the learning experience; after all, STEM learning emphasizes teamwork and is a great group learning and bonding opportunity!