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On December 13th, we hosted our Holiday STEM Party at the Mission Valley Library!
This was a workshop exploring the sciences of Christmas spectacles. Over 50 students rotated around 5 different activities! The first activity was making snowglobes. Participants started with a jar and added a quarter of water and baby oil. The separation between the two liquids showed how different densities had different buoyancies. Then, they added food coloring and glitter to decorate and put in a tablet of aspirin. The baby oil dissolved the aspirin and the water reacted with it in a process called hydrolysis. The participants were very enthusiastic about this activity and one participant who made four jars said “I like how the glitter bubbles all the way to the ceiling of the jar and there are 3 layers of color” The second activity featured a snowball launcher. Participants attached a cut balloon to the bottom of a cup. Then they filled their cup with pom poms. When they stretched and released the balloon, the pom poms would fly out like snowballs. This activity helped teach them about projectile motion and elastic potential. The third activity was making bracelets with binary code. Based on the numbers created by the code on their chart, participants put different color beads on their pipe cleaners. This taught them how to count in binary, a very useful skill. One participant said “I had never seen binary code before, but I learned very quickly, because making the bracelet was fun and interesting” The fourth activity was creating paper chromatography. Participants colored pieces of paper and used wood clips to dip them in a cup of water. Over time, the different colors traveled through the paper at different speeds. This was a great demonstration of how different compounds affect the solubility, attraction, and distance traveled. Participants made art ranging from christmas trees to candy canes and santa hats! Last but not least was an activity featuring math puzzles and games. Some of these were Santa’s Sudoku, Who Owns the Reindeer (where a set of parameters were given to find the right house with the reindeer) and Subtracting Stockings (using systems of equations to find gifts in each stocking). This activity challenged participants to think critically and to retain patience through hard math problems. In fact, one group was cracking Who Owns the Reindeer during the snack break! Overall, participants had a lot of fun exploring a variety of science topics while celebrating the Christmas spirit! Our next workshop is on January 31st at College Rolando Library. We hope to see you there!
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On November 22rd, we held our Environmental Science Workshop at the Logan Heights Library.
First, participants learned the core definition of environmental science and discussed the various roles of the environmental scientist, including an overview of the work from the famous oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. A key discussion on why plants matter was given to emphasize that in each ecosystem, plants always play a foundational role, whether on land or in water, at the base of every food chain. Key takeaways included that plants provide habitat, release essential oxygen, and absorb CO2, which is very important in regulating the planet's temperature. Participants defined the different roles within an ecosystem, such as producers (like plants), which make their own food; consumers (like lions or foxes), which eat other organisms; and decomposers (like fungi and bacteria), which break down dead matter. They also learned about trophic levels and the 10% rule, which explains how energy is transferred and lost from each successive level. Our first activity was a web-of-life activity. The different organisms of a food web were each participant, holding a piece of string to show how energy flows from the sun and how all species are connected. Each could literally see and discuss how the stability of the whole web and every other organism was immediately affected by cutting one piece of string, which in this case represented when a species dies out. This activity provided a powerful visual of the impact of events such as the introduction of an invasive species. It continued with a deep dive into two critical global processes: the carbon cycle and photosynthesis. Through this, participants traced the steps of the carbon cycle and were able to identify carbon sinks, areas that absorb carbon (oceans and forests), and carbon sources, areas that release carbon (fossil fuel combustion). This was the knowledge base for the definition of climate change, its main causes-that is to say, burning fossil fuels and manufacturing products-and its effects, among which are the greenhouse effect and increase in natural disasters. They learned about positive feedback loops, such as the ocean absorbing CO2, which in turn accelerates ocean warming and acidification. Then, participants applied their knowledge through an "Overheating Design Challenge." Presented with a scenario where a school's blacktop and playground were getting too hot for kids and plants, teams banded together to draw and present a design solution. Among the creative ideas were adding water parks, increasing tree planting, sprinklers, and reflective pavement. The participant teams then presented their solutions to the group, coming up with a variety of innovative ways for helping the environment within their local community. After enjoying the snack, attention was turned to the structure of Earth and the forces that shape it. Participants became familiar with basic geological processes, including identification of the main Earth layers (crust, mantle, inner/outer core) and tectonic plate movements (continental/oceanic plates). Convergent and divergent plate boundaries were introduced and explained. With the marshmallows and toothpicks given, the goal of the participants was to make a building that would sustain seismic activity. They needed to construct a building that could withstand an earthquake simulation model and apply principles based on structural engineering and stability. Overall, our participants had a great time engaging with the complex environmental topics through hands-on learning activities! Our next workshop is in December. We hope to see you there! On October 4th, we hosted our Algorithms workshop at the Pacific Beach Library.
To begin, the participants learned how to simply define an algorithm and learned the applications of algorithms in their everyday lives (ex: GPS, auto-picking music, etc.). After the mini-lecture, the participants wrote their own algorithm to help their jack-o-lantern escape the given maze and collect candy. They collaborated in groups and worked together to find the most specific/correct solution after their algorithm was tested by volunteers. Reflecting on the sense of camaraderie formed with their group-mates, one participant said “I liked writing the algorithms with my friends and saying yay everytime we got a candy”. Next, the participants learned about arithmetic and geometric sequences. They learned that the key difference between the two was that arithmetic sequences increase by the same number, but geometric sequences increase by a greater/lesser number each time. They filled out worksheets that had missing terms in arithmetic sequences and geometric sequences. However, the participants had the most fun when they got to create their own geometric/arithmetic sequences with missing terms for the volunteers to solve. Afterwards, the participants enjoyed a snack break with the classic AGSS cookies and bananas. Then, the participants had another mini-lecture about recursive sequences (each term in a sequence is defined by the previous term). Specifically, the participants learned about the Fibonacci sequence, where each term is defined as the sum of the previous two terms. For the activity, participants created their own fibonacci spiral with different colored m&ms. Later, the participants learned about different searches. They learned that a linear search was that the computer checks each card individually to see if the card is the desired target card. They learned that a binary search was that the computer picks the middle card and depending if the target card is higher or lower, the computer picks the middle card of that set (assuming the cards are from lowest to highest). They also learned about the selection sort. The selection sort finds the smallest element and swaps it with the first element in the list. Overall, our participants had a lot of fun. Our next workshop is in November. We hope to see you there!
On September 20th, we hosted our Engineering Design Workshop at the Pacific Beach Library. Before the workshop, I spoke with a first-time AGSS participant. She said, “I’ve never been to an AGSS workshop before, and I’m nervous about this one. I also don’t know a lot about engineering, but I really wanna learn more.”
First, our participants had a lecture where they learned about the different steps of the Engineering Design process. They learned how to identify a problem, conduct research on past solutions, brainstorm, create the prototype (following different Criteria/Constraints), finalize the prototype, analyze (by creating a pro/con list), and continue to improve their solution! They also learned about the different types of simple machines, including the wheel and axle, lever, inclined plane, pulley, screw, and wedge. They used this knowledge to help them create a solution that would help their friend, Bella (who fractured her legs), transport her backpack up the stairs. They had to follow the specific constraints and criteria when proposing their solution. After the snack break of yummy cookies and bananas, our participants learned about models(simplified representations of a system). They learned that there were two types of models: physical and abstract. Additionally, they were able to understand that models needed to fit the correct requirements of having the correct scale, dimensions, and 4 views (3D, top, front, and side). Applying this knowledge, participants designed their own wind turbines using the design process. One participant said that “I liked that even though it was a model,it still worked and moved like an actual wind turbine.” We ended the workshop with some Engineering Design Trivia. Our next workshop is on Algorithms on October 4th at Pacific Beach Taylor Library. We hope to see you there! On June 13th and 14th AGSS hosted our fourth NASA Astrocamp at the Pacific Beach and Logan Heights Library in collaboration with The Clueless FTC and NASA. Our woman in STEM was Annie Easley, one of the first African American women at NASA, and a character in the renowned movie Hidden Figures.
First, we introduced the ideas of NASA’s Mission Patches and how NASA makes a new mission patch for each mission. We also discussed how to interpret mission patches and how each element comes together to form a bigger idea. This information was used for the girls making their mission patches, with their table groups, and they got super fun pins to take home. Then we talked about how NASA Astronauts need a lot of dexterity because they have to do meticulous tasks with pressurized gloves. To simulate this, the girls had to build a puzzle with only one gloved hand, and worked together with their table group, where half was assigned “A” pieces of the puzzle, and the other half assigned “B” pieces to practice collaboration. The fastest two teams won candy and other super fun prizes! On Friday, our guest speaker was Lauren Williams, a Robotics Education Specialist for NASA Astrocamp and a high school FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) coach who’s been interested in robotics since elementary school. On Saturday, our guest speaker was Spencer Wells, a NASA Engineering Technician. He told the kids his story, which was super inspiration. He talked about how he was born on a tobacco farm in a small town in Kentucky, and how he went through many experiences before ending up at NASA. The kids were super curious and asked so many questions, which both of our speakers answered exceptionally. After a snack break with cookies and bananas, we talked about launch platforms for rockets. These platforms need to be really strong to hold the weight of the rocket, astronaut, and materials. But, they also need to be light enough to be mobile and move from the building to the launch site. Then, the participants got to build their own little launch platform out of cardboard, straws, and tape. They then had to count the number of M&Ms the launch platform could hold in a cup before collapsing, in order to see how strong their mobile platform was. Some of the launch platforms were able to hold a laptop or a full waterbottle!! In preparation for the next activity, we talked about the spacesuits that astronauts wear and how important the materials used are, especially in space where little debris are hitting you. To test and apply these principles, the participants dropped marbles of various sizes from different heights on a box, wrapped taut with other materials. They tracked their findings on a worksheet in order to determine the best (strongest) material. Our last and final activity was inspired by the Mars rovers, such as Perseverance and Curiosity. We had a short lecture on how useful the rovers are to NASA, and why they are so important. The participants applied these concepts in order to build their own moving rover out of cardboard, using a rubber band to spin the axles and make the wheels move. These camps were two days of so much fun, and we can't wait to continue hosting them in the future! Our next workshop will be in September, so until then, have a great summer!! On June 7th, AGSS hosted a mechanical engineering workshop at the Mission Valley library. Our woman in STEM was Emily Roebling, the engineer behind the Brooklyn Bridge, who took over after her husband became chronically ill. Before the workshop, I spoke with a girl who said, “I don’t know what Mechanical Engineering is, but it sounds really cool and I am super excited to learn about it.”
Their first lecture involved them learning about force and energy. They learned that energy is the ability to exert a force, and their hands shot up to provide many examples of when we use energy, such as running, brushing our teeth, etc. They also learned about different types of energy, like potential and kinetic. Additionally, we discussed the First Law of Thermodynamics and how energy is neither created nor destroyed, only changes form. The concept of simple machines was introduced to them, which they then used to build catapults that launched an M&M onto a chair. The participants said “Building the catapult was frustrating sometimes … [but] it was really fun and a good activity to start with.” After a snack break with cookies, bananas, and water, they learned about civil engineering and bridges. They talked about the best way to build a bridge, and the engineering behind it, including tensile and compressive forces. We also discussed balancing forces and how this could be use to create the most sturdy bridge possible. The group that made the bridge that held the most books said “it was really fun and a cool activity.” The last and final activity related to aerodynamics, where the participants built an egg drop but with water balloons. A girl told me that “this activity was a lot of fun because it was super hands-on and required creativity.” Overall, the mechanical engineering workshop introduced the participants to concepts they weren’t previously familiar with, but they learned a lot while having a lot of fun. Our next events are our NASA Astro camps on June 13th and 14th at Logan Heights and Pacific Beach Library, respectively. These super fun camps are in collaboration with the Clueless FTC Robotics team, and we hope to see you there!! On May 17th, girls from grades 3-8 participated in AGSS’s 11th annual All Girls Math Tournament at the Mission Valley Library! In this approachable tournament, our participants solved challenging math problems individually and collaboratively in three divisions: grades 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8. The Sprint Round included 30 problems to be solved in 40 minutes, and the Target Round included 4 pairs of 2 problems each to be solved in 6 minutes. Both rounds challenged our participants’ speed and accuracy. On the other hand, the Team Round, which was composed of 10 more challenging questions, encouraged our participants to work collaboratively and efficiently to solve the most problems in the shortest amount of time. We ended our competition with an easter egg relay as the participants played the game 24, where they used 4 numbers and the 4 basic operations (addition, subtraction, division and multiplication) to create the number 24.
Finally, our top participants were awarded some wonderful prizes at our awards ceremony. Of course, AGMT would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors, including Art of Problem Solving, Minute Earth, Mathnaisum, Magikid Robotics, JoJo’s Creamery, 3Blue1Brown and more, who provided funding and wonderful prizes for our contestants. Our next workshop is on Mechanical Engineering on June 7, hosted at Mission Valley Library, and we will also be hosting our annual NASA Astro Camps in collaboration with The Clueless Robotics Team on June 13th and June 14th. Look forward to seeing you there! On Saturday, April 12, we hosted our Cryptography Workshop at Logan Heights Library. Our participants learned about the basics of encryption and cryptography by engaging in their own problem-solving simulations.
After learning about the caesar cipher and decoding some top-secret messages, the girls met Bob and Isabelle, a baker and a lover of cake. With their tablemates, they designed solutions to defend Bob and his beloved cake from a malicious delivery man, learning about the mechanism and technology behind security protocols, public key cryptography, and a denial of service attack. One participant shared that “I had a lot of fun trying to protect—and steal—Bob’s cakes!” Participants then learned about how all of these solutions combine to form the Needham Schroeder Protocol, a key security protocol in today’s world. Finally, the girls played a fun game of cryptography-inspired charades! The Cryptography Workshop was a whole lot of fun, and we look forward to seeing you at our biggest event of the year, our annual All Girls Math Tournament on May 17th, hosted at Mission Valley Library! On Saturday, March 15th, we hosted the Chemistry Workshop at the University Community Library! The workshop kicked off with an introduction to chemistry and fundamental concepts, including atoms and molecules, bonding, and the states of matter. In recognition of the contributions made by women in the field, this workshop spotlighted two women in STEM–Dorothy Hodgkin and Angie Turner King.
The participants then had the opportunity to engage in a hands-on activity through paper chromatography. This experiment, which involved separating ink into its individual components, helped to demonstrate real-world applications of chemistry, such as identifying substances in a mixture. One participant shared, “I liked this experiment because it taught me something while being fun and pretty at the same time.” Next, the girls learned about chemical reactions–how chemical bonds rearrange and interact to form new substances, as well as how to tell when a reaction is taking place. We conducted an experiment involving calcium chloride and baking soda, which resulted in a visible color change and the formation of bubbles. One of the most exciting parts of the workshop was incorporating the acid-base indicator. We used cabbage juice as a pH indicator, allowing participants to observe how the juice changes color depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the substance being tested. A participant commented, “It was cool how the same cabbage juice was different colors depending on the pH.” Thank you to everyone who came, and we look forward to hosting another workshop next month! On Saturday, February 1st, All Girls STEM Society hosted our Anatomy Workshop at the Allied Gardens Library. The girls learned about the 11 different body systems including the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, lymphatic integumentary, endocrine, urinary, and musculoskeletal systems. After learning about an incredible woman in STEM, they got to do three different activities to explore the respirator, circulatory, and musculoskeletal system further.
Our woman in STEM this workshop was the amazing Anna Morandi Manzolini (1714-1774), who was internationally known for the production of anatomically correct wax models. We learned that some of these wax models are still preserved today, and got to see a few photos of her work! Next, the students did an activity focused on the respiratory system, where they modeled the lungs, diaphragm, and trachea with balloons, straws, and a bottle. This helped them learn about how the parts of the respiratory system work together to help us breathe, and visualize lungs expanding upon an inhale. After listening to some lecture about the cardiovascular (circulatory system) the girls learned how to take their own pulse at their neck or wrist! They also learned that the heart is an involuntary muscle, and that cardiac muscle is not included in the musculoskeletal system. However, our hands, arms, legs, and anything that we voluntarily move is part of our musculoskeletal system! This system also includes tendons, and ligaments. To gain an understanding of how this system works, the students used a paper hand, string, and straws to create a hand that is able to move like a real hand when a few strings are pulled. The Anatomy Workshop was super fun, educational, and inspiring! We hope to see you at our Chemistry Workshop on March 15th! |
All Girls STEM Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.