February 6, 2025

National Periodic Table Day is on February 7th! In this fun and creative activity, students construct a 'Periodic Table of Candy' by sorting various candies into groups based on shared characteristics. The activity encourages observation and categorization skills, mirroring the structure of the periodic table. From gummy bears to peanut butter cups and candy canes to truffles, the colorful assortment provides a deliciously engaging way to explore organization and patterns!

A Periodic Table of Candy!

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Optics

Optics plays a crucial role in many products we rely on daily and drives the advancement of cutting-edge technologies that shape our future. From consumer electronics and telescopes to satellites, medical innovations, machine vision systems, and defense technologies, optics is at the heart of countless transformative applications.

Ready to unleash your creativity and bring your imagination to life? Step into the whimsical world of Rube Goldberg machines! These ingenious contraptions turn simple tasks into extraordinary feats through a chain reaction of over-the-top steps—blending humor, engineering, and pure fun. Try this activity by NGS Magnified here!

Join robotics product manager Jasmine Lawrence and CEO and founder of Unlimited Tomorrow Easton LaChappelle for an engaging conversation about robots in our day-to-day lives. Watch this episode. Click here for two FREE companion lessons. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plans in PocketLab for free here and here.

Hear from the next generation of STEM innovators: Inventor, Dasia Taylor and Bioinformatics Researcher Catherine Kim! Watch this episode. Click here for two FREE companion lessons. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plans in PocketLab for free here and here.

Put your engineering skills to the test with this exciting design challenge from NGS Magnified! Students will design a tire tread pattern that reduces hydroplaning by channeling water away from the tire. Using materials like playdough, cardboard, carving tools, and water, they’ll create and test their innovative designs. Ready to take on the challenge? Try it now!

Learn about aerospace engineer Dr. Aprille Ericsson's decades-long career at NASA and her new role as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. Watch this episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS-aligned lesson. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.

Discover how engineer and CEO Chandler Wicks uses creativity to tackle our nation’s toughest defense challenges. Watch this episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS-aligned lesson. Want more ways to interact with this lesson? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.