Spring Break STEM Explorers

An exciting opportunity to build and explore science projects with hands-on activities during your Spring Break.

Dates: April 14 - April 18

Time: 9 am - 4 pm (lunch and free-time is from noon - 1:00 pm; bring a bagged lunch and drink).

Ages: 8 - 12

Discounts: A 10% discount is available when you register siblings. Scholarships are available to those who qualify for benefits such as FARMS, SNAP, and Medicaid or who can otherwise show need (documentation must be provided). To receive discounts, please register on RSC website: .

Arduino projects - autonomous car. (April 14, 15, 16)

Learn how to program an Arduino to control basic electronic circuits, like blinking and scrolling LEDs, servo motors, ultrasonic sensors, DC motors, H-bridge ...

Then you will put that knowledge into action by programming a self-driving car avoiding obstacles using an ultrasonic sensor. At the end, you will have to tweak the C programming sketch to make the car drive through a maze and take the car home for a lot more fun.

RaspberrySTEM - Python programming. (April 17 and 18)

Join us for a fun introduction to Python programming using a hands-on educational kit (RaspberryStem) to learn electronics circuits, hardware, and programming. You can start with simple projects like blinking LEDs to a walking piano. No experience with programming or electronics is needed. Then, you will put your skills and knowledge to work in a series of increasingly complex challenges by programming a digital piano, SIMON game, and space invaders where you use a 64 LEDs matrix and an accelerometer to prevent alien invasion.

3D-design & Printing. (April 14 and 15)

• 3D design using CAD, a computer assisted design software
• Convert a picture into a Lithophane and 3D print it in color

Electricity. (April 16)

• AC/DC war of current
• Renewable energy
• Control electrical circuits with C++ programming using an Arduino microcontroller
• Fruits battery, the challenge is to get the max power from 4 different fruits and light up an LED.

Electromagnetic motors. (April 17)

• Magnetic field
• Build electromagnets dancing batteries
• Build a levitation train

Sumo Lego Robotics. (April 18)

• Design and build a defense system to push other Lego robots out of the Sumo ring using different sensors.

Host or Publisher Rockville Science Center