STEAM activities for the dog days of summer

There are only a few weeks left of summer before school starts. And, if you are looking for fun activities to do with your family, we have you covered.

When camps or field trips visit one of our energy education centers (the World of Energy, the EnergyExplorium and the Harris Energy & Environmental Center), these four activities are crowd pleasers.

How to make a fruit battery.

Did you know if you take a piece of citrus fruit, and common household items like a zinc nail and copper wire, you can generate enough electricity to turn on a light bulb? It’s a fun and easy activity to learn more about electricity. 

Make a uranium atom with candy.

Rather than burning fuel, nuclear plants use Uranium²³⁵ to generate electricity. The atoms are split (fission) in a nuclear reactor, giving off heat. The heat is then used to create steam, which turns a turbine and, ultimately, a generator to power homes and businesses. Watch this short video to learn how to make your own edible atom.

How to make a cloud chamber particle detector.

Want to see what an electron looks like? Want to learn what muons and alpha particles are? Introduce your family to a cloud chamber and learn how to detect cosmic rays. 

Tie-dye a T-shirt.

Pick up a tie-dying kit and a white T-shirt to try your hand at this classic activity. Experiment with different color combinations or use different objects – like paperclips or clothespins – in addition to rubber bands to create unique designs (like a uranium atom).

If you are looking for more fun, STEAM-based activities, check out one of our education centers or the National Energy Education Development for fun activities to do at home or at school.