Spearmint, peppermint or cinnamon?
Aside from picking a flavor, not many people would think twice about a piece of gum. But there’s science behind the chewy substance.
It serves as a good example of how STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) affects our daily lives, without us even realizing it.
Learning the science of gum is just one of the more than 100 STEM-based activities and demonstrations that will take place at Family SciFest at the Children’s Museum Tucson on Saturday. Families can participate in hands-on demonstrations, activities and experiments in aerospace, astronomy, biology, ecology, engineering, environmental sciences, mathematics and physics.
What kid doesn’t love slime? They’ll get to make their own while learning about chemical reactions.
Space fanatics can make meteorites and comets on a stick.
Tech enthusiasts will be able to watch Arizona Virtual Academy build a hovercraft.
Pima JTED programs, Tucson Unified Schools, Sonoran Schools Inc. and Academies of Math and Science will all be on hand, giving demonstrations and presentations, which “lets parents know what the schools are doing,” said Daniela Siqueiros, the museum’s marketing director.
Other participating organizations include Arizona SciTech, AZ Project WET, Physics Factory, Pima Air and Space, Pima County Public Library, Pima for Kids, Planetary Science Institute, Reid Park Zoo, SARSEF, Tech Parks Arizona and UA Space Imagery.
Children’s Museum Tucson will highlight its Investigation Station and its weekly Roll Out Science program, which gives children the opportunity to do science experiments and investigations of their own.
Last year’s event drew more than 2,500 people to the museum, and this year’s number is expected to be around 3,000.
“It’s our fourth year participating,” Siqueiros said. “Every year it’s gotten a little bit bigger.”
But, Siqueiros said, that shouldn’t scare anybody off. Most activities take place in the courtyard and on the museum grounds outside of the gate, so families can also enjoy the museum.
“Having children understand and learn about each area (of STEM) at a young age will hopefully inspire them one day to enter a STEM area as a career choice,” Siqueiros said. “It’s a really fun day.”
