Learning Activities
Various Video Learning Activities created by volunteers at Utah State University and in Cache Valley to help learners of all ages engage in scientific discovery.
USU American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
About Us - ASME Utah State University Student Section is dedicated to educating engineering students about the professional world. ASME hosts workshops, industry tours, and community events. Workshops give students hand on experience while the industry tours allow students to explore local engineering companies. Community events include the Pumpkin Toss, the Pinewood Derby, and the Soapbox Derby. Each of these events are competitions where students, companies and the general public are welcome to participate. Learn more about ASME.
Pascal's Plungers/Thumb War
Activity Overview
Demonstrating Pascal's Law with two syringes and the ASME.
Required Items
- 2 Surgical Syringes
- Tubing
- Water
USU Physics November Demo Show
About Us - In what’s become a favorite Cache Valley tradition, USU’s Department of Physics hosts its annual “November Demo Show” each year on the Friday before Thanksgiving at 7 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center Emert Auditorium (ESLC 130) on campus. The approximately hour-long show features non-stop science demonstrations designed to thrill inquiring minds of all ages. Learn more about this year's digital event at www.physics.usu.edu/november-demo-show/
Physics in Slow Motion
Activity Overview - Examining physics in slow motion with USU Physicist James Coburn.
Society of Women Engineers
About Us - The Utah State University section of the Society of Women Engineers is a club that supports the SWE mission of ""Empower women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity." While USU SWE is primarily a club for women engineers, all supporters of women engineers of any gender or major are welcome to join and serve as a club officer. USU SWE is one of the most active student organizations at Utah State University.
Build a Balloon-Powered Car
Activity Overview
Learn about Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, while you build your own car. As the air rushes backward out of the balloon, it will push the car forward with equal force.
Required Items
- An empty plastic bottle
- Four plastic bottle caps
- Two drinking straws
- Two wooden skewers
- Electrical tape
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Box cutter
- Permanent marker
- Glue gun
- (Optional) Items to decorate your car
How to Make a Mechanical Hand
Activity Overview
Learn about how tendons in our hands pull on our joints to move our bones by making your own mechanical hand.
Required Items
- Paper
- Scissors
- Paper Clip
Make a Spinning Paper Helicopter
Activity Overview
Learn about the physical forces of lift and thrust that enable helicopters to fly.
Required Items
- 2 Surgical Syringes
- Tubing
- Water
Create a Non-Newtonian Fluid
Activity Overview
Use common household ingredients to quickly create a non-Newtonian Fluid. A non-Newtonian does not follow Newton's law of viscosity.
Required Items
- Bowl
- Stirring Device
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Measuring Cup
Creating Paper Rockets
Activity Overview
Craft paper rockets and create a human-powered projectile with USU's Society of Women Engineers. Prepare for lift-off!
Required Items
- Tape
- Scissors
- Paper Rocket Template (Download Template)
- Colored Pencils/Markers/Crayons
- Thin Straws
- Thicker Straws
Make a Rainbow Pom Pom Chart
Activity Overview
Use pom poms and crayons to create a visual chart of your collected data.
Required Items
- Colored pom poms
- Crayons
- Glue stick
- Piece of white paper
Make Binary Bracelets
Activity Overview
Use binary alaphabet to make a bracelet that spells your name or any word you would like.
Required Items
- Three different colored beads
- Any type of string
- Scissors
Blow Super Bouncy Bubbles
Activity Overview
Use common household ingredients to quickly create a super bouncy bubbles.
Required Items
- Bowl
- Stirring Device
- Water
- Glycerin
- Dish Soap
- Plastic Pipette
- Knit or Cotton Gloves
- Scissors
USU Biology Graduate Student Association
About Us - The Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) represents the graduate students of the Utah State University Biology Department. The BGSA organizes social events, gatherings, and public outreach programs for the Biology graduate students and local community. These include weekly happy hours, end of year socials and officer elections, yearly yurt trips, fundraisers, and more. Learn more about BGSA.
Exploring Aquatic Insects
Activity Overview
USU graduate students from the Department of Biology show how you can use a bug net to inspect aquatic insects.
Required Items
- Waterproof shoes
- Bucket or pan
- Insect net
Utah State University Department of Geosciences
About Us - The Department of Geosciences at Utah State University focuses on research and education on the materials of which Earth is made, the physical and chemical processes acting upon them, how landscapes evolve under those processes, and the history of Earth and its life. We maintain a tradition of field-oriented instruction, taking advantage of our location, although our research is largely conducted in laboratories and on computers. Learn more about the Department of Geosciences.
Learning About Faults: SAFOD Rock Types and Analyses
Activity Overview
How do earthquakes happen? Learn about earthquake behavior by learning about California's San Andreas Fault. Geoscientists are learning about the fault through "SAFOD" (the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth).
Geominutes Mueseum Preview
Activity Overview
Enjoy cool videos and learning activities featured at USU's Rock-n-Fossil Day.
Health Occupations Students of America
About Us - The mission of the Utah State University HOSA Chapter is to provide service and education to the community by enabling future health professionals to lead and learn as students, while also fostering relationships between individuals and others with related healthcare interests and careers. Learn more about HOSA.
How Your Fingernails Grow
Activity Overview
Your fingernails reveal clues about your eating habits and your health. Measure your nails for a time period to learn how they grow and to observe their parts and characteristics.
Required Items
- A felt-tip pen
- A fingernail file
Blind Spot Test Activity
Activity Overview
Demonstrating how each of us have a blind spot on our retina.
Required Items
- A sheet of white paper
- A dark-inked pen
Egg Osmosis
Activity Overview
The HOSA Club demonstrates how water moves across a cell membrane using eggs. Water movement across a membrane is called osmosis.
Required Items
- 2 Eggs
- Vinegar
- 4 Cups or Glasses
- Water
- Corn Syrup
Patellar Tendon Reflux Demo
Activity Overview
The HOSA Club demonstrates how your patellar tendon reflexes.
Required Items
- A sturdy place to sit
- a heavy item like a water bottle
Halloween Heart Thumper
Activity Overview
The HOSA Club demonstrates how to take a radial pulse for an average heart rate.
Required Items
- A felt-tip pen
- A fingernail file
Playing Medical Pictionary
Activity Overview
The HOSA Club demonstrates a game of 'medical pictionary' with a few example rounds. You can play your own game of medical pictionary in-person or via a video conferencing platform.
Required Items
- A writing utensil (in-person).
- A notepad (in-person).
USU Air Force ROTC
About Us - The USU Air Force ROTC program allows you to dive head first into the theory of leadership, allowing you to test and systematically develop your skills. Our program is one of the most comprehensive free leadership training programs ever developed. Learn more about AFROTC.
Creating A Strong Password
Activity Overview
Learn a simple, step-by-step process for creating a memorable, strong password with cadets from Utah State's Air Force ROTC 860th Cadet Wing.
Required Items
- Something to write on
- Something to write with
- Keyboard
Zootah at Willow Park
About Us - Zootah's goal is to affect positive change in people's lives, one animal at a time. We do this through education, animal interaction, and conservation efforts. Our Zoo is the perfect place to spend a slow hour or two just observing and learning about the animals we share earth with. We are open Mondays through Saturdays. Learn more about Zootah.
Create a Flying Paper Bird
Activity Overview
Meet Steel, a juvenile young Bald Eagle. Then, learn how to craft a paper bird that flies.
Required Items
- A Picture of a Bird
- A Plastic Drinking Straw
- Scissors
- Ribbon or String
- A Small Rock
Experimenting with Eggs
Activity Overview
Review different types of eggs, including Elephant Bird eggs and Hummingbird eggs, and learn how to create a 'rubber' egg with Maddi from Zootah.
Required Items
- Vinegar
- Cup
- Egg
Science Council
About Us - The College of Science's Science Council is a group of dedicated student volunteers, who strive to provide enriching activities and opportunities for all Aggie science students. Led by the college’s student-elected USU Student Association senator, the council plans the college’s annual “Science Week” featuring campus-wide activities, as well as events throughout the year. Learn more about the USU Science Council.
Pendulum Painting
Activity Overview
Create a homemade pendulum with the Science Council to model Newton's first law of motion while creating fun artwork!
Required Items
- Plastic Bottle (With a hole in the lid)
- String
- Newspaper
- Art Medium - Paper
- Paint
- Tape
Relaxing and Pinning Insect Specimens
Activity Overview
So, you've found a dead bug you want to pin, but you don't want to break it. Here's how to mount it safely and add it to your collection.
Required Items
- Paper towels
- An Empty Jar with a Tight-Fitting Lid
- A Smaller Jar or Container that can fit inside the first Jar
- Art Medium - Paper
- Water
- Straight Pins
- A Piece of Styrofoam
- Pen and Paper
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art
About Us - The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art fosters engagement with modern and contemporary art to facilitate learning and promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah and the mission of Utah State University. Learn more about NEHMA and our current exhibits.
Exploring How Information Changes and Surrealist Art
Activity Overview
The board game "Telestrations" demonstrates some of the principles of information change discussed during the September 2020 Science Unwrapped presentation by computer scientist Nicholas Flannn. We also explore two pieces from NEHMA's exhibit 'Women: Extraction and Surrealism'.
Required Items
- A pencil or pen.
- A piece of paper for each player in your group.
Engineers Without Borders
About Us - The USU Chapter of Engineers Without Borders makes a difference in the world by helping people develop their surroundings to meet their basic needs. Our chapter is involved in projects here in the U.S. and overseas, including a greenhouse and waterline project for the Navajo Nation and designing portable alpaca shelters and biosand filters in Peru.
How to Make a Water Filter
Activity Overview
Learn how water filters work by making your own system to filter impurities from water.
Required Items
- Kinetic Sand* or Regular Sand
- *(Kinetic sand is coated with silicone oil and can be purchased at major retailers, craft, toy and hardware stores.)
- A coffee filter
- 1 empty liter plastic soda-type bottle
- Small and large rocks
- A rubber band
- A metal or plastic colander
- Water