Activity Topics
Each STEM field – science, technology, engineering, mathematics – offers a choice of three Supernova activity topics. These are two-part, hands-on, high-level activities created to challenge you and help you continue along your STEM journey to excellence. Part 1 involves research, preparation, set up, coordination, and/or organization. Part 2 includes elements such as analysis, reflection, experimentation, design, or invention, and culminates in a report created by you.
Report Format Options
No matter what STEM activity you choose, you will need to create a report. Reports are a regular part of the work of professionals in STEM fields, so this will be good preparation for future career demands. Notice it doesn’t say write a report. You are not restricted to just writing a report, although you may choose to do so if you like. Any report will probably involve some writing, but the report itself may be created and presented in any number of ways. Use your imagination!
You may choose from any format below for your report, or you may create a combination of formats. You may create something entirely new as long as your Supernova mentor approves. The objective is for you to communicate to others in a way that helps them understand what you have learned and how you learned it.
- Oral report
- Written report
- Poster presentation
- Virtual poster (See https://edu.glogster.com/ for ideas.)
- Video production
- Multifaceted format
- Any format of your own design, with your mentor’s advance approval
The report must provide sufficient detail so that someone unfamiliar with the topic can understand the content. For each format, you can incorporate a variety of ways to present your information and to use technology to create a polished presentation. For example, an oral report might include a PowerPoint presentation, or a poster presentation might include a slide show. Be creative.
A Note About Resources
The books and websites provided for each superactivity topic are presented as optional resources and are merely suggestions. In most cases, they are not crucial to the corresponding activities. The Boy Scouts of America makes no guarantee that they will be available in local public libraries, from booksellers, or online.
The resources represent examples of the types you might use to support your work on a particular activity. You may very well find alternative and/or additional resources that serve you as well or better than those presented here.
Supernova Activity Topic: Science
If you are fascinated by how things work and you want to help contribute to a better planet Earth, the Supernova activity topic choices for science give you a hands-on chance to:
- Reduce your environmental impact on Earth.
- Explore the wonders of space technology.
- See why carbonation and candy create an explosive experiment.
Choose any one of these activities and discover how it drives your imagination, your curiosity, and your fascination with science.
- Environmental Science: New Things From Old
- Movie "Science": Misconceptions, Misunderstandings, and Mistakes
- Household Chemistry: Diet Coke and Mentos Explosions
Supernova Activity Topic: Technology
From the energy that keeps our homes comfortable and our lights on, to the communication that lets us talk to people around the world, to the special effects used in the movies, we depend on technology. Choose any one of the following projects and you will have fun while learning about today’s technology.
Supernova Activity Topic: Engineering
Have you ever studied how your bicycle works? To learn how a bicycle is put together (or engineered), here is a project for disassembling one. Or what about making a high-performance paper glider? Or having a contest to see who can drop a raw egg without breaking it? Choose any one of these activities to learn more about engineering.
- Deconstruct and Analyze: Mechanical Designs
- Build and Test: High Performance Paper Gliders
- Design and Redesign: Egg Drop Contest
Supernova Activity Topic: Mathematics
Have you ever watched bungee jumpers and wondered why they don’t hit the ground? You can make a model of your own and figure it out. Or, what about the Yellowstone geyser Old Faithful – how can you tell when it will erupt? What about voting – can you imagine how so many people in so many states can go in, cast a vote, and come out with a fair result? Mathematics is the key. Choose any one of these projects to learn how it’s done.
