Discover STEM!
This is a fun-filled day full of various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities for all ages. Come explore and discover something new and exciting!
- Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024
- Location: Calkins Science Center building and Cook Hall on GRCC’s downtown campus. View campus map
- Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Cost: Free!
- Free parking: Available from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Parking Ramp A (corner of Fountain St. and Ransom Ave.) and B (corner of Bostwick Ave. and Lyon St.).
Owl Pellets
Sarah Krajewski | Biological Science | Calkins 232
Dissect owl pellets to discover the remains of small animals the owl has consumed. Learn about owl ecology, anatomy, and food chains.
Extracting DNA from Strawberries!
Niki Evans | Biological Science | Calkins 243
Embark on a berry exciting adventure to explore the world of genetics and discover what DNA looks like.
Michigan Rocks!
Tari Mattox | Physical Science | Calkins 427
"What's in your backyard?" Come explore the rocks of Michigan. Got an interesting rock or fossil? Don't know what it is? Bring it in and we'll help you identify it!
Eye Dissection
Tim Periard | Biological Science | Calkins 228
Discover the amazing anatomy of your eyes by dissecting a cow eye. Please make sure smaller surgeons have a parent helper due to using dissecting equipment.
Forensics: Fingerprints
Meagan Stoll | Biological Science | Calkins 403
Step into the role of a forensic fingerprint examiner to reveal the identity of the cookie thief. Leave with your very own, unique fingerprint card.
Insects galore!
Matthew Douglas | Biological Science | Calkins 333
Check out our tremendous insect collection and live butterflies. You'll also see many different animals all around the room. Be prepared to touch whatever you want!
Artistic Robots
Ashley Campanali | Physical Science | Calkins 432
Be an engineer by designing and building your own artistic robot. Work through design challenges to make your own robot move around and spin to draw pictures using markers! Drop in anytime.
Balloon Cars
Daniel Groh | Physical Science | Calkins 503
Participants will build and test lightweight “gas"-powered vehicles using a balloon, tongue depressors, straws and rubber bands. Small prizes will be awarded for successful tests, and participants will get to keep their cars.
Human Body
Nursing Department | Cook 432 and 433
Participants will learn how good they are at washing their hands, take a listen and talk to the manikins, listen to heart and lung sounds and learn how to move the body using a machine.
Exploring Psychology: Sensation, Perception and Mindfulness
Kate Christian, Julia Carey, Sam Sprague | Psychology | Calkins 303
Come explore a variety of interactive activities in psychology, including optical illusions, mindfulness activities, and mini-science experiments!
Listening to Skeletons
Greg Forbes | Biological Science | Calkins 339
What can skeletons tell us? A lot if you just listen. Skeletal forensics is the science of studying skeletons to learn about the person that produced the skeleton. You can tell whether a skeleton was male or female, an athlete or a couch potato. You can tell if they had a healthful diet or whether they had disease or fractured bones. Come learn how to listen to a skeleton!
Biology Crafts and Snacks
Holly Christopher | ASTS | Calkins 106
Come and check out our free drop-in tutorial support offered for all GRCC Biology students. Please enjoy
science-inspired arts and crafts suitable for all ages along with some light refreshments!
Cool Astronomy Demos
Kyra Dame | Physical Science | Calkins 440
What can astronomers learn from craters? How do we know what stars are made of? And just how big is the Solar System? Come explore the wonders of space!
Musical Instruments
Nathan Lindy | Physical Science | Calkins 444
Come learn about musical instruments and make their own straw pipes.
Cardiovascular Technology
Rachel Morairty | Health Sciences | Cook 330
Participants will be able to see how balloons and stents can be used to fix coronary arteries.
Pig/Artificial Lungs/Ventilation Demo
Haley Walker | Biological Science | Calkins 241
Participants will be able to see how our lungs work within our body and what happens if we were to lose "our breath."
Slime Time
Amy Kudrna | Physical Science | Calkins 506
Participants will make their own slime to take home.
Plant, Propagation and Scientific Discovery
Todd Tiano, Kate Kryger | | Biological Science | Calkins 530 Greenhouse
Participants will propagate succulent plant species and take home their own plant to watch it grow.
Cellfies
Leigh Kleinert | Biological Science | Calkins 327
Have you ever wondered what your own cells look like? Extract your cheek cells, view them under the microscope, and if you have your smart phone handy: take a cell-fie!
Macaroni Skeletons
Leigh Kleinert | Biological Science | Calkins 327
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone's connected to the hip bone...come find out what bones connect together and if you can identify any of their scientific names (patella, femur, ilium) as you assemble your very own skeleton out of macaroni noodles to take home.
Gene Bling
Lauren Elliott | Biological Science | Calkins 243
Let’s Decode your Traits. What makes you... you? Your DNA! DNA is a special molecule in your body that contains all the information about your body. Come and make your own unique DNA bracelets representing certain traits, such as hair color, eye color, handedness and ear lobes. Compare your bracelets with your family and friends and discover that your traits make you both different and the same as the people around you.
Math Activities
Monica Bliss | Mathematics | Calkins 405-406
GRCC's very own pre-service elementary teachers will present activities that encourage Math Play in the classroom or at home. Be ready to play!
Sense of Taste and Smell
Tim Hoving | Biological Science | Calkins 242
What's that smell...exploring your senses. Participants will put their sense of taste and smell to the test and learn about how these senses are connected to each other.
Physical Science Crafts and Snacks
Michael Bell | Physical Science | Calkins 103
See what the Calculus and Physical Science Tutorial Lab has to offer students at GRCC and take part in creative physical science activities for kids of all ages with light refreshments!
John Ball Traveling Zoo
John Ball Zoo Educators | Calkins 204
45-minute educational program to begin each hour starting at 10 a.m. John Ball Zoo educators will focus on how animals play and how our zookeepers keep the animals happy and healthy. Come and have an up-close encounter with live zoo animals.
Face Painting
Calkins 202
