We hope everyone is well in spite of current events. While we greatly enjoyed updating the site every week with new projects for our 52 Weeks of GUST program, we have decided to postpone the weekly updates for now. We will still post updates and experiments, but for now, our posting frequency will decrease slightly. Based on feedback from students and parents alike, those who are unable to acquire materials or collaborate with other peers or adults were finding it difficult to follow along with our program. Thus, we look forward to picking up 52 Weeks of GUST once again at a later date!
We thank you for all the feedback and support and hope you all stay well and healthy! We've all heard of cubes and pyramids, but what about icosahedrons and dodecahedrons? Learn more about platonic solids with this simple activity!
This has gotten quite popular recently! Make sure you have ample space if you decide to try this one out for yourself. Adult supervision may be required.
The weather is warming up. Make some tasty ice cream using science and a couple of common grocery items!
It's starting to become that time of year again, folks. Finals are suddenly approaching us. If you find yourself a little stressed -- well, look no further.
Make a spinning disc of all the colors! This one works better with a family member to help you out.
Spring is here! Germinate your own seeds at home using just a few household items -- no "special seeds" are needed!
In honor of the supermoon that'll be visible on April 7, try making (tasty) models of the moon phases!
Write secret messages with this "magic ink" -- it requires minimal preparation, so you won't need to leave the house for any supplies. Feel free to swap out some materials with similar objects that you have at home.
Impress your family by lifting an ice cube with nothing but a piece of string and some salt -- and no, you do not have to tie the string around the ice cube. Perfect for a quarantine boredom-buster!
With all the current concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to put out some updates and measures that Project GUST is taking. At this time, we are suspending all outside activities, including meetings, demos, and programs. We encourage everyone to practice social distancing and hand washing, and to only go outside if it is necessary to do so. However, we will be continuing our 52 Weeks of GUST program as usual, and we hope that they will provide you with some things to do while in quarantine. New projects and experiments will continue to be posted on this site, and any requests will be considered for future topics under the Contact tab above.
We at Project GUST hope you stay safe and healthy during this time! It's a classic, but who doesn't love a good old engineering challenge? This one is geared towards a younger audience (ages pre-K to late elementary) but of course, anyone can join!
Parents won't get you a lava lamp no matter how much you ask for one? Make your own. No electricity required -- just the concept of density.
Want to make crystal snowflakes but without the borax for the younger folk? Try this (slightly different, but still cool) version.
This week's 52 Weeks of GUST project is quite practical -- it's great for holidays and special occasions. Next time, instead of going out to the store to buy a greeting card, make these super special LED greeting cards to light up a room!
Cloud dough is a very versatile project! It's best suited for younger kids, although older kids can certainly join in if they wish. This simple project can be twisted into multiple different variations for maximum exploration.
Oobleck is a well-known guest at the party when it comes to science projects. It's very easy to make, and even easier to play with. However, many people don't know what makes oobleck the way it is -- and what it means to be a non-Newtonian fluid.
Interested in sampling some DNA? Putting aside the fact that you do it all the time (most of the food we eat has it), with this project, you can build your own tasty model of your favorite molecule!
52 Weeks of GUST brings a classic to you this week: a good old-fashioned engineering challenge! Float Your Boat can be done with basic household items: less time needed for getting supplies means more time for building!
I'm kicking off 52 Weeks of GUST with my personal favorite experiment from when I was a kid! This is my go-to experiment for small groups; while it is fairly straightforward, it requires a lot of adult assistance, especially with younger kids. However, nothing can beat the end product -- try out this experiment and see it for yourself!
Happy new year! Here's to a year of continued exploration, learning, and creativity. This past year has been my second full year working on GUST, and I'm proud of all we have accomplished! Running our summer camp, working at exciting events, and partnering with some amazing organizations were all wonderful steps that GUST took over the past two years. In the spirit of the new year, I'm so excited to announce our new series, 52 Weeks of GUST!
52 Weeks of GUST will feature weekly posts on a variety of STEM experiments/activities that are accessible, whether it be used in a classroom setting or just an activity for your home. If you follow along with us, you can complete one activity every week for an entire year! The activities can be used to start a weekly STEM club at your own school, do something fun with your friends, or even just to learn some cool things during your spare time. New posts will come out every Sunday, so keep an eye out for them! (Also, we're aware that 2020 actually has 53 weeks. Since we're doing new posts every Sunday, it'll actually be 52 weeks overall :) Once again, this year we coordinated multiple workshops at the annual Geek is Glam event! Pictures to follow...
|