Let's try a simulation that lets you see balanced and unbalanced forces! Can you keep things balanced? Feel free to play here or click this link to play full screen: ​https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balancing-act/latest/balancing-act_en.html

Now that you know how to keep forces balanced, we are going to create something to make them UN-balanced! Your challenge this week is a build a catapult that will launch a small item (like a penny or paper clip) as far as possible! Ask yourself, how could a launch a small item across the room using a simple machine? Brainstorm possible ideas! Consider which type of simple machine would make the best catapult and what materials you could use around your house to construct your design. With your parents' permission, gather materials and create your design. Evaluate your design by trying to use it. Does it work? Could you make it launch farther? Measure the distance that you're able to launch your small item and try converting it to other units. If you measure in meters, how many centimeters did it go? Check your work! Could you do anything to improve your design and launch things further? Have a blast launching items around your house and have an amazing summer!

All our love! 
Your STEM Cobb Team

Now it's finally time to work on a STEM engineering challenge. There are so many different simple machines challenges out there, but this is the one we liked the best! Today you are going to build a snack delivery launcher! Consider what you know about levers. Ask yourself, "How can I build a lever launcher that could send a snack across the room to a family member?" Consider using snacks like bites of cereal, fruit snacks, or goldfish. Brainstorm ideas for your design. Consider what you have handy at your house to build with. What could you build the lever from? What would make a good fulcrum? How long and high do both of those parts need to be? Once you've settled on a design, create it! Then take a stab at launching some snacks! Evaluate your construction: How far did they travel in inches? How far did they travel in feet? Did it make the snacks go the direction you intended? Take time to improve your design to make it launch more accurately. Have fun! Below are some design ideas in case you are stuck. 

Now that you've found the circuit builder, here are your challenges for this week!

CHALLENGE 1: Light the light bulb
You may use: ONE light bulb, ONE battery, and ONE wire. I promise it's possible!
Math connection: Can you identify ONE acute angle in your circuit?

CHALLENGE 2: Light the light bulb
You may use: ONE light bulb, ONE battery, and TWO wires
Math connection: Give your circuit ONE right angle.

CHALLENGE 3: Light the bulb with a switch
You may use: ONE light bulb, ONE battery, THREE wires, and ONE switch.
Math connection: How many angles can you find and record?

STEM ENGINEERING CHALLENGE:
Ask yourself, can I construct a testing station to see if common items will allow electricity to pass through them? We call materials that allow electricity to flow CONDUCTORS. We call materials that stop electricity INSULATORS. Use the down arrows on your tool bar to get to some materials for testing. You should see things like a dollar bill, eraser, a coin, and more! Brainstorm a way to see if these items will allow electricity to pass through them. Create a circuit with a gap for testing! Try out some different things to see if they are conductors or insulators. Record your results! Evaluate your design- could you tell which items were conductors and which were insulators? Improve your design if you need to!

Did you get stuck? Scroll down for some pictures of possible correct solutions for the challenges!












Keep scrolling for answers!






​Here are a few possible answers! Yours might look a little different depending on where you put the parts, but as long as you used the correct number of pieces and lit the bulb, you did it!