Sliding into STEM Learning: Fun Waterway Educational Approach for Young Ages
Juicing Up 4-H Events with STEM:
Crafting STEM-infused activities at 4-H gatherings could be a game changer! Here's why.
The Why behind the WHY:
Slap on a lab coat, grab those goggles, and let's get tangled in the web of inquiry! Dynamic, STEM-packed activities ensure youth get their hands dirty with practical, experiential science education – some important learning opportunities to bridge gaps left behind by formal education systems. With this, we can nurture critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity. Adding a sprinkle of scientific literacy to the career mix is also a smart move in our ever-evolving world.
Constructing the STEM waterslide:
With a pinch of elbow grease and a splash of creativity, setting up this slide is a cinch:
- Hunt down a spacious grassy spot – street debris-free, of course! Slightly downhill is super, for added enjoyment.
- Round up 8 x 100 feet of 4 mil or thicker clear polyethylene plastic sheeting – black can work in shaded locations.
- Secure some sandbags, water hose, lemon-scented dish soap, and a set of laminated physics term cards (recipes provided below).
- Test it out – safely and adult-approved, of course!
Safety and Operations 101:
Water slides can be cheaply and safely incorporated into 4-H camping, STEM enrichment, and community club activities. In this picture, a 4-H camper tests out a simple slide.
A quick set-up, and this slide will be up and running in no time!
- Clear the sliding area of pesky debris and potential obstacles.
- Use enough sandbags to keep it steady, but not too many to turn them into bowling pins!
- Double the plastic at the start – it's the most fragile bit!
- Play around with the perfect amount of H2O and bubbles.
- Encourage participants to ditch the bling and layer clingy swimwear for the ride.
- Demo the right sliding technique to avoid potential mishaps – sitting style, feet first.
- Adjust the takeoff distance if needed – safety first!
On the Return:
After zipping down the slide, kids will flow back to the starting line like rivers after a storm. Take this opportunity to educate (and we're not talking schoolwork):
- Laminate simple study cards with physics terms and sprinkle them along the return route (Figure 1).
- Challenge the participants to silently read the words on their return trips – no time for chit-chat!
- Three passes, two lessons, and hours of enjoyable learning. No need for a boring recap – just soak it all in!
If they're amped, you could turn up the challenge with questions like:
- Who raced to the finish? What contributed to their success?
- What was the role of the magical bubbles?
- How would wearing jeans or other fabric affect the slide?
Pumping up the STEM:
Figure 1. Water Slide Learning Stations Participants will stop at each laminated lesson card on the return trip. This, in addition to watching their friends go down the slide, helps the physics terms to "soak in" experientially.
Club leaders and camp counselors, you got this! Give these questions a whirl and brush up on your critical thinking skills as you prepare for a safe and thrilling ride:
- What tweaks did you make for safety? What were your reasoning behind the tweaks?
- When the trial runs were slow-mo or not slippery, what did you do to boost the slide's momentum?
- For kids with concerns or limited mobility, what accommodations would you recommend?
Additional Resources and Reading Materials
Ready to design the waterslide of your dreams? Start with https://www.education.com/activity/article/design-challenge-making-a-water-slide
Boost your science skills with easy, hands-on activities from https://ohio4h.org/10-minute-science
Stay in the know about the latest 4-H STEM research at https://4-h.org/about/research/#!science
- By incorporating STEM activities into 4-H gatherings, we can foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity, enhancing the education-and-self-development of the youth participants.
- For an engaging learning experience, consider infusing discussions about 4-h, stem-education, and the principles of physics during the water slide activity, providing opportunities for practical, experiential learning.
