Virus Protection: STEM At Home Activity

Originally Posted: July 8, 2020
Updated: June 2024

STEM Space At Home Video Challenge

STEM Space At Home is a video series led by an engineer using materials you can find at home. The videos are intended to support elementary and middle school students through fun engineering design challenges with a real-world connection. Find all episodes here.

How to participate:

1. Download the student handouts found in our Free Explorer Lesson Library. The file can be printed or used with Google Slides.

2. Watch the video posted below for science content, engineering design tips, and an in-depth explanation by a real engineer!

3. Post your design using #𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 and TAG US on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! We will share our favorites!

STEM Space At-Home is brought to you by Vivify STEM and Communities In Schools of San Antonio through the NASA program “New Worlds Await You” led by the WEX Foundation.

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Virus Protection STEM Challenge

Mission: Design a device to help with physical distancing to slow the spread of a virus.

Materials needed: Watch the video for suggested materials.

• Ping pong ball

• Scissors

• Tape

• Straws

• Paper

• Paper plates or cups

• At least 9 feet of string or fishing wire

Before starting the video, download the activity guide found in our free resource library.

Additional Resources: Need a more in-depth STEM activity guide? Access the full lesson plan that includes:

• Detailed teachers guide with links to resources

• Grading rubric for the engineering design process

• STEM Career and Real-world Connection

• Real-world STEM history and science handouts

• Student handouts to guide them through the engineering design process

• Editable Google Slides for a STEM Journal

• Instructional STEM video with mechanical engineering and virologist

• Math extension problems including average speed, graphing, ratios, and angles

Want more kid-friendly COVID-19 resources? Check these out:

• Discovery Education Resources

• Kid’s Guide to Coronavirus

Want to learn more about virology? Check out these videos:

• Day in the Life - Microbiology / Virology - Prof Bill Rawlinson

• A Day in the Life of a Virologist (Pandemic Edition)

• The Future of Virology: Virology in the 21st century - Lynn Enquist, PhD

• An Introduction To Virology

Good luck engineers! We can’t wait to see your virus protection devices! Don’t forget to post your design using #𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!