The Ohio Supercomputer Center understands the sadness Ohio middle and high schoolers felt with the cancellation of this year’s OSC summer STEM programs due to COVID-19, but summer is still an exciting time to develop new skills and complete projects no matter where you are. The vast world of the internet gives students an opportunity to engage in learning online and different ways they can get involved with science in their own home.
- Check out your local library. What kind of science books do they offer? Ask a librarian or utilize the computers in your library to determine what kind of science resources are offered to students. You can also browse the local library’s website for fun books or science material.
- Ohio State’s various libraries offer scientific journals and academic knowledge articles to peruse through and all types of databases dedicated to science, math, computer science, and engineering, among many educational subjects.
- Cleveland State University and Columbus State Community College have academic articles and resources for those interested in physics, chemistry, and other different science topics.
- Have you ever tried to make your own science experiment? Some websites such as Exploratorium, a California based science and art museum, offer online resources for art, chemistry, and more. There’s different types of apps and activities that students can check out. If students are interested in learning how to create an experiment, the website shows how they can find items in their house to experiment with. If students prefer reading, there’s interesting history like the science of coffee to study. There’s something for everyone!
- MASTER Tools is a website where middle and high school students can participate in interactive science and math games as well as different modeling simulations they can test out.
- The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio offers virtual tours of exhibits with pictures of unique artifacts to videos explaining the history and science behind the process.
- The Cleveland Museum of Natural History offers resources from cyber summer camps for students interested in science to various articles and newsletters about different branches of science including zoology, botany, and much more.
- NASA offers different educational experiences for kids to adults where visitors can interact with online tools, learn more about space and science, engage in newsletters and play activities as well as getting to know more about scientists involved with NASA.
- Scholastic Learn at Home provides the opportunity for students to read and engage in magazines about unusual things such as how emojis work, weekly quests about social and research subjects, science and math games online, science at home and much more.
- Resources such as Maker Stations give students the opportunity to build and engage in home-made materials and inventions.
There are so many exciting things in your own home or out in the world – or well, maybe, at least your backyard.
The Summer Institute and Young Women’s Summer Institute programs will return next summer. Whether you are a student, educator, or parent, we hope you will find some time this summer to engage with science and learn more about what STEM has to offer.
