STEM Monthly Newsletter
February 2025
To Share With Your Best Friend on Valentine's Day
STEM Challenge - Is Love Truly Blind?
Poets and other wordsmiths have often said that love is blind. Now, we have an optical illusion that will put that phrase to the test. All you need to do is bring your eyes, and we'll show you a fun trick to play on them. HINT: Illusion works best when on full screen mode. Click HERE to learn the science of how the dots disappear.
Animal Valentines
Sea otters hold each other’s paws when they sleep so that they don’t drift apart. They also cuddle and nap together. Click on the photo to learn other amazing animal Valentine's Day fun facts. 💗
STEM Fun Activities!
Special Delivery Robot
Using directions to make a simple Junkbot or Brushbot, students can get creative with themed robots like this cute Special Delivery Robot.
Weird Wonders
In northern Japan and the forests of China, you'll find flowers that appear ordinary at first, but when they come into contact with water, their petals turn transparent. Known as the skeleton flower or glass flower, its scientific name is Diphylleia grayi. When dry, the sunflower petals appear white, not due to any white pigment, but because tiny air bubbles in the petals scatter light. Once the air bubbles fill with water, the scattering stops, and the flower becomes transparent. A similar effect can be seen when tissue becomes transparent when wet or when a white shirt turns see-through when damp.
Monthly Shout-Outs
RAMS Biology Student Studying Blood Types
RAMS Biology Student Studying Blood Types
IA Biology Student Making Candy DNA Model
IA Biology Student Making Candy DNA Model
IA Environmental Science Students Working on Their Acid Rain Project
IA Environmental Science Students Working on Their Acid Rain Project
What's Under the Microscope?
Can you guess the item that is under the microscope?
Answers will be revealed in next months STEM Newsletter.
February Microscope Images:
January Microscope Images Answers:
STEM Making Headlines
The 2025 Planet Parade!
For most of February, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or telescopes to see. During this celestial event, Mars stands out as it appears particularly bright, being directly opposite the sun. Click on the picture for more information and ways to observe this celestial event!
STEM Competitions
Battle Climate Challenge
Registration is now open for students in grades 9-12 to enter Battelle Climate Challenge. The challenge involves researching the past and future effects of climate-related hazards (such as drought, wildfire, flooding, and extreme heat) on your community. You will then propose an action to enhance the community's resilience against these hazards and create a visual representation/poster for your idea.
Power to Explore
K-12 students, your challenge is to design a mission that utilizes Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) to explore a distant, dark, or dusty moon in our solar system. NASA is interested in learning what you aim to investigate, the discoveries you hope to make, and what unique skills or abilities you possess to ensure the success of your mission.
Future Creatures Challenge
Registration is now open for the Future Creatures Challenge and is open to all k-12 students. Draw how a rainforest animal may adapt in the future to climate change.
Adopt A Cow - Simone Update
Although registration is over for this year. If you would like to be notified when registration and re-enrollment opens for the 25-26 school year, please register for Discover Dairy at www.discoverdairy.com/register. This will give you access to the elementary and middle school Discover Dairy lessons that are free for you to use at any time throughout the year on our website. On May 1st, 2025, you will get an email notification when the Adopt A Cow enrollment opens again.
Florida Dairy Farmers' Holiday Recipes - click image for recipes
Special Thanks to Mrs. Gregos, CSA Science & STEM Supervisor
cgregos@charterk12.com