STEM club registration open for January and February

The 4-H After School STEM Club is now taking registrations for the January and February Sessions. This science club is open to all students in third to fifth grade. Washington County Extension & 4-H and Lincoln Elementary are partnering together with a sponsorship from Bazooka Farmstar and Premier 1 to offer additional and fun ways for Washington youth to interact with science more in a hands-on setting while making new friends and connecting with caring adults in the community. This club is open to any third to fifth grade grade student who wants to experiment more with science, technology, engineering, and math. Each session will use an Engineering is Elementary and State 4-H curriculum.

There are two identical robotics clubs offered each month with the same learning and challenges at each session. Participants will use computers and Lego EV3 robots to learn basic block programming. Students will be given robot programming challenges and will start their beginning level and progress as quickly as their ability allows. The possibilities are vast with their creativity and ability. This club is for students who love logical thinking challenges and hands-on learning. These robots are different from the Maker Space robots offered through Lincoln. This is offered Jan. 8, 15 and 22 or Feb. 5, 12 and 26.

Another January STEM Club option is 'Here Comes the Sun” to run Jan. 7, 14, and 28. Students will learn what energy it takes to keep a home at a comfortable temperature and become green engineers to design and insulate a model home. They will experiment with material choice, monitor heat transfer and more.

Another February STEM Club option is 'Shake Things Up” to run Feb. 14, 21 and 28. Students will learn the power of earthquakes and how to build earthquake resistant structures by using shake tables to test their own building structures. Students will learn what building codes do and develop their own for earthquake-resistant structures.

Registrations accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until sessions are full at the Lincoln Elementary Office or the Washington County Extension Office. There is a $10 fee due with the registration form for each session or $5 for current 4-H members. Students may register for one or all STEM clubs.

Teaching assistants are being hired. Contact the Washington County Extension Office if interested in this position. Parent volunteers are also needed and welcomed.

Please contact the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811 or amygreen@iastate.edu, for registration form or with any questions about this STEM Club or how to get involved with other youth science activities.