What is STEM and Nova?

This module is designed to help you explore how science affects your life each day.

1. Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.

A. Watch an episode or episodes (about one hour total) of a show about anything related to science. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

B. Read (about one hour total) about anything related to science. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

C. Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything related to science. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

2. Complete ONE belt loop or pin from the following list. (Choose one that you have not already earned.)

Astronomy	Collecting	Geography	Geology
Map and Compass	Mathematics	Nutrition	Pet Care
Photography	Science	Weather	Wildlife Conservation

3. Act like a scientist! Do EACH of the following:

A. With your counselor, choose a question you would like to investigate. Here are some examples only (you may get other ideas from your belt loop or pin activities):

1. Why do rockets have fins? Is there any connection between the feathers on arrows and fins on rockets?

2. Why do some cars have spoilers? How do spoilers work?

3. If there is a creek or stream in your neighborhood, where does it go? Does your stream flow to the Atlantic or the Pacific ocean?

4. Is the creek or stream in your neighborhood or park polluted?

5. What other activity can you think of that involves some kind of scientific questions or investigation?

B. With a parent or your counselor, use the scientific method/process to investigate your question. Keep records of your question, the information you found, how you investigated, and what you found out about your question.

C. Discuss your investigation and findings with your counselor.

4. Visit a place where science is being done, used, or explained, such as one of the following: zoo, aquarium, water treatment plant, observatory, science museum, weather station, fish hatchery, or any other location where science is being done, used, or explained.

A. During your visit, talk to someone in charge about science.

B. Discuss with your counselor the science done, used, or explained at the place you visited.

5. Discuss with your counselor how science affects your everyday life.

Tech Talk Requirements:

This module is designed to help you explore how technology affects your life each day.

1. Look up a definition of the word "technology" and discuss the meaning with your counselor.

2. Discuss EACH of the following with your counselor.

A. How technology is used in EACH of the following fields:

1. Communication

2. Business

3. Construction

4. Sports

5. Entertainment

B. Tell why technology is important.

3. Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.

A. Watch an episode or episodes (about one hour total) of a show about anything related to technology. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

B. Read (about one hour total) about anything related to technology. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

C. Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything related to technology. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

4. Complete ONE belt loop or pin from the following list. (Choose one that you have not already earned.)

• Astronomy
• BB-Gun Shooting
• Bicycling
• Bowling
• Computers
• Map and Compass
• Mathematics
• Music
• Photography
• Snow Ski and Board Sports
• Video Games

5. What technology is used in your belt loop or pin?

A. Discuss with your counselor how you think this technology:

1. Was invented

2. Could be made better

B. Discuss your ideas about technology with your counselor.

6. Visit a place where technology is being designed, used, or explained, such as one of the following: an amusement park, a police or fire station, a radio or television station, a newspaper office, a factory or store, or any other location where technology is being designed, used, or explained.

A. During your visit, talk to someone in charge about the following:

1. The technologies used where you are visiting

2. Why the organization is using these technologies

B. Discuss with your counselor the technology that is designed, used, or explained at the place you visited.

7. Discuss with your counselor how technology affects your everyday life.

Swing! Requirements:

This module is designed to help you explore how engineering and simple machines called levers affect your life each day.

1. Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.

A. Watch an episode or episodes (about one hour total) of a show about anything related to motion or machines. Then do the following:

Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.

Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

B. Read (about one hour total) about anything related to motion or machines. Then do the following:

Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.

Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

C. Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything related to motion or machines. Then do the following:

Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.

Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

2. Complete ONE belt loop or pin from the following list. (Choose one that you have not already earned.)

• Badminton
• Baseball
• BB-Gun Shooting
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hockey
• Mathematics
• Softball
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Ultimate

3. Levers

A. Make a list or drawing of the three types of levers. (A lever is one kind of simple machine.)

B. Be able to tell your counselor:

1. The class of each lever

2. How each lever works

C. With your counselor, discuss:

1. The type of lever that is involved with the motion for the belt loop or pin you chose for requirement 2

2. What you learned about levers and motion from earning your belt loop or pin

3. Why we use levers

4. Do the following:

A. Visit a place that uses levers, such as a playground, carpentry shop, construction site, restaurant kitchen, or any other location that uses levers.

B. Discuss with your counselor the equipment or tools that use levers in the place you visited.

5. Do EACH of the following:

A. On your own, design, including a drawing, sketch, or model, ONE of the following:

1. A playground fixture that uses a lever

2. A game or sport that uses a lever

3. An invention that uses a lever

B. Discuss with your counselor how the lever in your design will move something.

6. Discuss with your counselor how levers affect your everyday life.

1-2-3 Go! Requirements:

This module is designed to help you explore how math affects your life each day.

1. Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.

A. Watch an episode or episodes (about one hour total) of a show that involves math or physics. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

B. Read (about one hour total) about anything that involves math or physics. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

C. Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything that involves math or physics. Then do the following:

1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.

2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor

2. Complete the Mathematics OR Computers pin

3. Choose TWO options from A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements for those options. Keep your work to share with your counselor. The necessary information to make your calculations can be found in a book or on the Internet. You may work with a parent or your counselor on these calculations.

A. Choose TWO of the following places and calculate how much you would weigh there.

1. On the sun or the moon

2. On Jupiter or Pluto

3. On a planet that you choose

B. Choose ONE of the following and calculate its height:

1. A tree

2. Your house

3. A building of your choice

C. Calculate the volume of air in your bedroom. Make sure your measurements have the same units—all feet or all inches—and show your work.

4. Secret Codes

A. Look up, then discuss with your counselor each of the following:

1. Cryptography

2. At least three ways secret codes or ciphers are made

3. How secret codes and ciphers relate to mathematics

B. Design a secret code or cipher. Then do the following:

1. Write a message in your code or cipher.

2. Share your code or cipher with your counselor.

5.Discuss with your counselor how math affects your everyday life.