6th+Grade

Welcome to the 6th Grade STEM design Challange page.

6Se: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (physical energy)

Large Iron Nail

Standard Copper wire

1.5 volt batteries

Battery holder for four batteries

Metal paper clips

Small container

Optional:

Alligator clips

Soldering iron and solder

Small screws and nits

Voltage labels

Thick, strong tape

See attachment or use link:

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Building a Barometer 6Sd: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Earth’s atmosphere properties and processes and its weather and climate. (Earth Science)

Balloon

Scissors

Glass Jar

Rubber Band

Thin Straw

Sticky Tape

Index Card

Marker Pen

Wait until the weather is mild before building your barometer. Use scissors to cut off the part of the balloon you blow through.

Remove the lid from the glass jar and stretch the balloon over the opening. Stretch it until it is taut but no tighter. Stretch four or five rubber bands around the neck of the jar to keep the balloon in place.

Stick an inch of tape against the neck of the jar with half protruding from above the top of the neck. Poke a hole through here and stick the straw through so that the end rests on the middle of the balloon and about an inch protrudes from the side.

Cut a section of card 4 inches wide and the about the height of the jar. Fold it into a square tube and tape closed. Tape the tube to the side of the jar beside the straw.

Mark on the side of the tube where the tip of the straw is level with. Make observations. When the air pressure is low, the air in the jar will expand, tilting the straw and moving the tip next to the card down below the mark. The converse will happen when the air pressure is high.

Potential and Chemical Energy

6Se: The student will determine an understanding of the law of conservation of energy and the properties of energy and work. (Physical science)

Vinegar

Baking Soda

Water

Coffee Filter

Plastic Flask with a cork

For an interactive and messy experiment that sixth graders will love, demonstrate the relationship of potential energy and chemical energy using vinegar and baking soda. Explain that vinegar and baking soda are made of molecules that contain potential energy in their chemical bonds. Mix half a cup each of water and vinegar in a plastic flask with a cork; put a teaspoon of baking soda in a coffee filter, insert it in the flask, cork quickly and move away. The energy created -- kinetic energy created when chemical interaction converts potential energy -- will blow the cork right off the flask. For a less messy -- but also less dramatic -- experiment, pour vinegar over a pile of baking soda and watch the energy conversion occur.