SET Resources

Fun places on the Internet

Take a virtual trip complete with campfire songs.

• Space! and Astronomy (Just For Fun)
  Check this site out to learn more about astronomy or to test your knowledge.
• GoCyberCamp
  A web-based learning environment for kids 8 to 12 where they can engage in a variety of online camp activities and make new friends.
• Spaceday
  Learn about this annual event held in May. Join a webchat, send a postcard or do an activity.
• 4-H Virtual Farm
  Take a virtual trip to discover more about farming.
• Citizens in Cyberspace
  Great site for youth utilizing the Internet. Pick up a passport and complete activities to learn what it takes to be a good on-line citizen.
• Rockets Away
  A fun approach to exploring the science of rocketry, where you can even design and launch a virtual rocket. Can you make it to the top rocketeer's list?
• The Science of Flight
  Learn about air and flight with links to building paper airplanes and more.
• USDA for Kids
  Come visit Woodsy the Owl and his friends including SK worm and Stanley Stat. (Includes some Spanish versions)
• Science is Here! Activities
  If you liked the activities posted on our site check here for more hands-on science fun.
• Who Dunnit?
  Learn to do fun forensic activities.
• 4-H Filmmaking
  Check out valuable resources for making your video including: The 4-H Filmmaking Studio & Workshop, an online space to find tools and resources about video production.
• Windpwoer Interactive Media
• 2-D Animation program
  Scratch is available free of charge from MIT.
• 3-D Animation program
  Alice is freely available as a public service by Carnegie Mellon University.
• Kids Capture their Universe by MIT
  Astrophotography program includes online telescope, imaging software and more.
• WGBH Meet the Greens
  WGBH has a new program to engage youth in environmental education. Check them out here.
• Just for Kids
  Youth can explore and learn through fun interactive modules at the University of Illinois Extension’s  site.
• Youth Favorite Places
  Explore maps and digital photography as you enter your favorite places in your community.

Get involved in Citizens Science:

• Sunflower Project – You can sign up and learn about the importance of bees in pollination, watch your sunflowers grow and be part of a real life scientific study.
• Urban Birds Project - Learn about urban birds while helping participate in Cornell’s ornithology project.
• Project Firefly - A Citizen Science Project. Firefly Watch combines an annual summer evening ritual with scientific research.
• Lost Lady Bugs - A team of Cornell scientists is asking children for their help. They need them anywhere and everywhere in the country to start looking for ladybugs: "Find 'em, photograph 'em and send 'em."
• 4-H Million Trees Project - 4-H youth across the nation can participate. To learn more or to get involved, go to this site. You can also check the map on the participant’s page to see  virtual push pins for each club involved.

Hands-On Science Websites/Curriculum:

• Schools On-line On-line resources available for a variety of subjects from natural resources, insects, plants and more.
• Junior Master Gardener  Hands-on fun gardening activities.
• In-Touch Science is a series of hands-on experiences that help children in grades three through five link the science they study to the science they live. Download a sample from the site or contact your local 4-H office to sign out the curriculum.
• "It Came From Planted Earth" provides activities using the scientific process and discussions to gain a better understanding of agriculture.
• Iowa State University E-Set is a compilation of resources and activities for a community science event.
• National 4-H Curriculum (Formerly 4-HCCS)
• Crime Solving Insects  4-H curriculum from North Carolina.
• Antarctica's Climate Secrets Curriculum
• Wisconsin 4-H Afterschool Activities
• Free 4-H Online Curriculum Material - North Carolina

4-H National Youth Science Day

• 4-H National Youth Science Day Homepage - Includes archive of past experiments. 
• Click here for 2008 Proclamation PR
• Click here for 2008 Proclamation
• View exciting results from the National 4-H Youth Science Day, October 8, 2008 National Science Day Video Compilation
• National Science Day 2008 Experiment -- Long Version
• National Science Day 2008 Experiment -- Short Version

 

MA 4-H "Nanotechnology" Science Experiment

The Massachusetts 4-H Program held a contest in April for UMass Amherst students to submit a proposal for a science experiment and the winner was Yitzi Calm and his work on Nanotechnology with the STEM Ed program.

The link below points to a video (.swf format needs flash player) http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ which explains the step by step details of the experiment, and gives a simple explanation of the physics involved via 2-D, 3-D, and live video:
https://www.umassk12.net/nanodev/Nanofilm_Oleic_Acid_Langmuir_Film/080709_NOALF.swf

• Oleic Acid
• Oleic Acid Thin Films
• Oleic Acid Facilitator Guide
• Oleic Acid Worksheet with Hints
• Oleic Acid Worksheet For Calculations (without Hints)

Engineering Challenge:

Our challenge: Engage as many youth as we can across the state to explore wind power.

Your challenge: Make a wind turbine and see how many pennies you can lift, then report back to us using the following on-line survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=p7waUpBPWErxU0NvLjS02A_3d_3d

To Accept the Challenge: Visit the wind power website. On the right side select the sample activity for the wind turbine.
http://projects.4-hcurriculum.org/curriculum/wind/ Explore the website while you are there. It has great resources including a YouTube video of a working wind farm.

Contact your local Educator for more information about borrowing:

SET Curriculum
GPS Unit’s
Rocket Launcher
Alternative Energy Kit
Lego Mindstorm Robotics

And More!