Science Summer Camp
In July 2025, STEMSpark held an inaugural science summer camp at a local elementary school, combining lessons on biology, physics, and engineering principles with fun hands-on activities. Scroll down to discover more about what we did on each day!
Day 1: Build-a-Lung - How We Breathe!
We designed a hands-on lung model activity to complement our lesson on the respiratory system to address the lack of accessible STEM opportunities for students in underserved, low-socioeconomic communities, many of whom are minorities. Recognizing that these students are often excluded from science enrichment beyond the school day, we intentionally structured the lesson using inexpensive materials commonly found at home to remove financial and resource barriers to participation. Students explored lung anatomy, how breathing works, and the role of the respiratory system in maintaining health. Subsequently, each student was able to make their own functional lung model representing their learning to take home!
Day 2: The Great Balloon Car Race
On Day 2 of the summer science camp, we led a balloon-powered car race activity along with a lesson on basic physics and experimental design concepts. We guided students in building and testing their own cars, making the lesson highly engaging and fun! The activity introduced fundamental physics concepts such as motion, force, and Newton's Laws through experimentation. Students tested their designs, collected data, and made modifications, developing creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity. Most importantly, all the students had a great time racing their cars with each other!
