Last Friday on January 27th, the Center for STEM Education welcomed Curley K-8 School to Northeastern University where they were able to learn more about rockets with AerospaceNU, Zombie Ants with Professor Henzy’s Lab and about the college experience at Northeastern University with the Center for STEM Education volunteers.
The Center for STEM Education partnered up with AerospaceNU for the first activity. AerospaceNU is a Northeastern University student organization whose primary goal is to learn more about aerospace engineering and share their passion for aerospace with others. The first activity was to build paper stomp rockets but before getting started AerospaceNU made sure to cover all of the bases to what makes a good rocket. They even show cased one of their own rockets they’ve launched! Now with the students confident in their understanding in designing a good rocket, they were tasked with building their own rocket with paper and tape. The goal of their paper rocket was to construct the rocket that can fly the furthest within a time limit. As the timer ticked down, the students lined up to launch their rocket and they sure went far! The winner of the rocket launch was awarded with their own Northeastern University key chain.
Following this, we welcomed Professor Henzy’s Lab who came to teach us all about genetics, mutations and Zombie Ants! The Curley students learned all about the different cells in their bodies and what makes them so unique. Then it came time to put on a show; a couple students stood up to act as ants and showcase the impact a dangerous fungus has on this species. The room soon flooded with “Zombie Ants” as students were continuously being infected by this dangerous fungus. Professor Henzy’s Lab then talked about mutations and did an activity pretending to be mutating bunnies! Each group received a different type of bunny and rolled a dice to determine how their bunny would change. These changes would determine if the bunnies would survive in their climate or not. The students had a blast rolling the dice and drawing these mutations onto the bunnies.
Thank you to both AerospaceNU and Professor Henzy’s Lab for showing up and teaching the Curley students!