STEM

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. 💗

Pembury Tours - Otters Holding Hands

STEM Fun Activities!

 

Valentine written with invisible ink and being revealed with a brush and solution

Invisible Ink Valentines

A blank Valentine's Day card? With a small instruction explaining how to reveal the message, a Valentine's Day card written in invisible ink would be a very clever twist on traditional cards and a lot of fun!

Click Here

valentinesrobot

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.

Learn More

Flip book made from index cards with a heart balloon illustration

A Flipbook Valentine

Making homemade Valentine's Day Cards is a classic approach to celebrating the day.

Click Here 


 

Weird Wonders

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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

RAMS Biology Student Studying Blood Types 2

RAMS Biology Student Studying Blood Types

IA Biology Student Making Candy DNA Model

IA Biology Student Making Candy DNA Model

IA Biology Student Making Candy DNA Model 2

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

IA Environmental Science Students Working on Their Acid Rain Project 2

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:

FebMicroscope1
FebMicroscope2
FebMicroscope3

January Microscope Images Answers:

Science Class

Paintbrush

Science Class

Toothpaste

Science Class

Laptop Key


 

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!

The 2025 Planet Parade!

 

STEM Competitions

Science Class

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.

Learn More

Science Class

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. 

Learn More

Science Class

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. 

Learn More


 

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.

Science Class
Science Class
Science Class

Florida Dairy Farmers' Holiday Recipes - click image for recipes

Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake

Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake

Red Velvet Pancakes

Red Velvet Pancakes

Baked Strawberry Donuts

Baked Strawberry Donuts


 

Special Thanks to Mrs. Gregos, CSA Science & STEM Supervisor
cgregos@charterk12.com