"STEM Explorers powered by Green Teens"  explores the importance of the natural world and promotes environmental advocacy through interactive education programs.

Past STEM Explorers Projects

Nature Mandalas

Mandala made with rocks leaves.

Nature mandalas are a fun way to make art out of the things we find outside.

Gather up anything you can (rocks, sticks, shells, petals, etc.) and use them to create beautiful patterns. Leave your mandala so that others can see!⁠

Noticing Nature

Marigold flower and plant with other marigolds in the background.

Living things are all around us if we take the time to pay attention and look deep enough.

This week, go for a walk, look out your window, go to the beach - spend time outside wherever you are! Observe the organisms around you, and take a picture or draw what you see. What is the most unique thing you can find?

Natural Paintings

Colorful stencils of leaves on paper using paint.

You don’t just have to use a paintbrush to paint an interesting picture.

Look around where you live for things like leaves, pinecones, or seashells. Dip them in paint before rolling, mushing, or stamping your paper to create your masterpiece!

Solar S'Mores

Cardboard box oven lined with tin foil with two graham crackers topped with a piece of chocolate and a marshmellow.

Place your solar oven out in the sun on a bright day to “pre-heat” before adding your graham crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate!

Did you know that you can harness the power of the sun to make some tasty treats? Using a cardboard box, tin foil, and plastic wrap make a solar oven. For some extra fun, put a thermometer inside to see how hot your oven can get!

Find more detailed instructions here.

Observation Journals

Black spiral notebook with pressed leaves and plants on the cover.

Observation journals help kids understand more about the world and engage their sense of curiosity.

This week, grab whatever paper you have and join the Green Teens in creating your very own observation journal! Decorate the cover with things that you find outside and fill the pages with your thoughts and drawings. Stay tuned to learn how you can use this journal in our next activity.

Think!

  • How can this journal help you notice more?
  • What ways can you record your ideas?
  • Do you prefer to write or draw?

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Sheet of paper with list of nature items to search for on scavenger hunt. Samples of flower petals, leaves, rock and twig rest on top of list.

A scavenger hunt is a fun way to pay closer attention to the world around you and to help fuel your curiosity and imagination.

Grab a friend and your observation journal! Go outside to find:

  • something with an interesting pattern
  • something smooth
  • something down low
  • something very tiny
  • something green
  • something that smells good
  • something that flies
  • something up high

Add your own ideas to this list and keep track of your observations.

Think!

  • Did you find anything new?
  • Were you able to find everything on your list? If not, try another day!
  • Take a further observational step and measure what you find - how tall? how many? how long?

 

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Jump to another STEM Explorers by Green Teens topic here.

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