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Easy Pop Up Rainbow Card

1/27/2021

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Learn how to make a pop up rainbow card! This 3d Paper Rainbow Card is super duper easy to make. I love that it is made from white paper, though if you wish you can layer strips of colored paper and build a rainbow that way! 

Time needed: 15 minutes.
Depending on how you make your basic paper rainbow, this timing of this card making craft will be shorter or longer. E.g. if you use watercolors, making your rainbow is quick and easy, but you have to allow for drying times. If you use pens, there is no need for drying, but it will take longer to draw.. or you can use strips of colored paper stuck together. But making this card doesn’t take very long at all if you are in a hurry. But do take your time over it!


To make a 3d Paper Rainbow Card, you will need:
  • Card stock (we used A6 folded in half)
  • Paper (we used the length of an A4 sheet of paper  so approximately 30cm), as well as scraps for the clouds
  • Pens, watercolors, or paints
  • Scissors
  • Glue Stick


Measure your rainbow width
It is important to mark your paper to have the right fit for the card. The rainbow you paint must not be longer than width of the card (when opened).

Create your paper rainbow
As mentioned, you can use pens, watercolors or strips of paper stuck together to create your rainbow. We used water colors and let them dry.

Cut your out your rainbow
Once fully dry, cut off any whit excesses, so you are only left with the drawn or painter paper rainbow for your card.

Fold your accordion rainbow
Now is time to fold the paper into an accordion and making a folded accordion. Fold the short edge of your rainbow approximately 1cm. Then flip over and fold in the other direction. Keep going until you have a full concertina rainbow!


Add glue to one edge of the rainbow
Add glue to one edge of the rainbow and secure in the card – going across the width and perpendicular to the central fold. Leave space for writing and kawaii clouds.

Now add glue to the top of the remaining rainbow
Add glue to the top of the accordion rainbow and fold the card shut. Press gently but firmly. When you open up the rainbow will be secured. Let dry fully before opening and shutting too much!
​
Add further decorations
Start cutting further decorations – e.g. paper clouds.

Did you make your own card? We would love to see your hard work. Post a picture in the comment section or on the Brains on STEAM Facebook page. ​

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STEAM at Home: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

12/18/2020

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Light Up Rudolph’s Nose
​Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has lost his glow and needs your help to light up his nose this holiday season! Learn about the science behind circuits in this holiday-themed electrical circuit activity.

Materials Needed
  • Holiday lights (old)
  • Coin battery or AA battery
  • Duct tape (optional)
  • Electrical tape or masking tape
  • Image of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • Recyclables (optional)
  • Scissors

At-Home Instructions
  1. With an adult’s help, find a large image of Rudolph online and print it out. 
  2. Use thick paper or tape the image to a sheet of cardboard.
  3. Ask an adult for a set of old holiday lights that can be cut. Then, with their help, cut the wire on either side of one red light bulb as close to the neighboring bulbs as possible so that you leave a long length of wire attached on both ends of the light bulb you will be using.
  4. Using scissors, strip the ends of the wire, removing the rubber casing and exposing the wire strands. Place one exposed wire on one side of a coin battery or AA battery, and the other wire on the opposite side of the battery. The bulb should light up! If it does not, reverse the wires so they touch the opposite sides of the battery than they were previously touching.
  5. Once lit, secure the wires to the battery using electrical or masking tape. Poke the red light through the nose on the Rudolph image and secure it with tape.

Add the A to STEAM
  1. You could draw/paint your own Rudolph.
  2. Use cardboard and other recyclables to create a 3D figure of Rudolph and attach the light to the figure’s nose. 

Did you make your own Light Up Rudolph? We would love to see your hard work. Post a picture in the comment section or on the Brains on STEAM Facebook page. 
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Last Minute Christmas Ideas for Your STEM enthusiast

12/18/2020

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Play is one of the places where we can capture a kid's imagination. For a child to become interested in potentially having a STEM career, you want to capture their imagination. Being able to have that freedom to play is really one incredibly important way for this to happen.



Consider the following STEM inspired toys for children. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Clicking on links or images will take you to Amazon for more information about the products. Brainsonsteamokeechobee.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Brains on Steam (amazon.com, or endless.com, MYHABIT.com, SmallParts.com, or AmazonWireless.com).
​
  • Osmo - Little Genius Starter Kit for iPad + Early Math Adventure - 6 Educational Learning Games - Ages 3-5
  • Janod Weights Balance Game – Magnetic Scale with 16 Wood Blocks – Educational Toy for Dexterity and Developmental Play – Teaches Shapes and Colors – Ages 3+ Years
  • ThinkFun Rush Hour Junior Traffic Jam Logic Game and STEM Toy Age 5 and Up
  • Educational Insights Design & Drill Space Circuits - Circuits for Beginners, STEM Toy, 52 Piece Kit
  • Code Rocket Coding Toys to Learn Programming Through Electronics - Includes 21 Online Projects to Learn Code Hands-On -  Ages 8 - 12 
  • Ravensburger Gravitrax Starter Set Marble Run & STEM Toy For Kids Age 8 & Up 
​​
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THE FIRST®PROGRAM IS GROWING IN OKEECHOBEE!

11/12/2020

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Picture
Pictured Sonya Chapa and Aracely Castaneda

Contact Information:
Marion Ross
Americorp FIRST VISTA
772-200-3267 mross@firstinspires.org

For Immediate Release

(Okeechobee, Fl) November 10, 2020
​

 THE FIRST®PROGRAM IS GROWING IN OKEECHOBEE!

The Okeechobee County Library has joined FIRST®! This robotics program was made possible through the collaborative efforts of  FIRST® Americorp VISTA, South Florida Robotics, and the Okeechobee County Library. The library has received training and funds to kick off its 2020/21 rookie season. With the funds, the Okeechobee County Library was able to secure a LEGO WeDo Robotics Kit and this season’s Explore Set. 
Children in grades 2nd - 4th can join a FIRST®LEGO League Explore Team at the Okeechobee County Library. The team will spend the season learning about robotics, coding, or computational thinking to solve this year’s FIRST® challenge.

FIRST® introduces kids to engineering projects that they will tackle through innovation and teamwork. South Florida Robotics and FIRST® AmeriCorp VISTA member Marion Ross introduced the FIRST® programs to Okeechobee in 2019.  Starting with 1 FIRST® LEGO League team in 2019, the program has grown to a total of 4 teams - 2 FIRST® LEGO League Explore Teams, 1 FIRST®LEGO League Challenge team, and 1 FIRST® Tech Challenge Team.    FIRST® is More Than Robots. FIRST® participation is proven to encourage students to pursue education and careers in STEM-related fields, inspire them to become leaders and innovators, and enhance their 21 st century work-life skills. Read more about the Impact of FIRST®. In addition to the skills, our children learn, about 200 providers offer $80 million in scholarships to FIRST® students. FIRST® compiles scholarship opportunities on their website, FIRST®inspires.org, and students should check back often between September 1st and April, annually.

FIRST® has five programs for children, ages 4-18: FIRST® LEGO League Discover, FIRST® LEGO League Explore, FIRST®LEGO League Challenge, FIRST® Tech Challenge, and FIRST® Robotics Competition. Teams in each program spend the season working with robotics, coding, or computational thinking to solve the annual FIRST® challenge. Teams will work on fundraising to get to the season-end competition, communication skills to present their team’s project, graphic design, team building, and research around the theme. Teams will also develop business plans and practice conflict resolution. 

There are currently 4 teams in Okeechobee registering youth for FIRST® teams. Students with a variety of skill levels and interests can participate in teams, as the teams have multiple, equally important jobs to do. To sign your child up, please refer to the information below. 

Division Age Location
FIRST® LEGO® League Explore
2nd - 4th Grade
Contact: Aracely Castaneda  
Okeechobee County Library 206 SW 16th St, Okeechobee, FL 34974 (
863) 763-3536


FIRST® LEGO®League Explore
2nd - 4th Grade
Contact: Marion Ross  
Brains On Steam 308 SW 2nd St, Okeechobee, FL 34974
(772) 200-3267

FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge
4th - 8th Grade
Contact: Marion Ross  
Brains On Steam 308 SW 2nd St, Okeechobee, FL 34974
(772) 200-3267

FIRST® Tech Challenge
8th - 12 Grade Brains On Steam
Contact: Marion Ross  
308 SW 2nd St, Okeechobee, FL 34974 (772) 200-3267

For more information about FIRST®please contact Marion Ross at mross@firstinpires.org or 772-200-3267.

About FIRST®- https://www.firstinspires.org/ FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.

About South Florida Robotics - https://www.southfloridarobotics.org
South Florida Robotics’ mission is to inspire and engage students across south Florida in STEM, but also provide important life skills that will help students find success in school and in their careers. 

About AmeriCorp VISTA Program - https://my.americorps.gov The FIRST® AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) Program seeks to expand the vision of FIRST® by working in areas that have been deemed underserved: lower socio-economic communities, rural areas, and areas that have little to no support or resources to be able to easily access STEM initiatives.

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    Amazon Affiliate links

    You will notice that I frequently add product links to blog post – to make it easier to get hold of certain items needed to make a craft. This links will usually be Amazon Affiliate links.
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
    The earnings go towards the up keep and running of this blog!

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