Cool Last Minute Summer Science Activities

Looking for a cool way to end the summer? These last minute science projects will get you excited for your first day at school, and give you a ton of ideasto use throughout the year. Not to mention, you will learn more about sustainability and the importance of conserving energy. See how many of theseactivities you can do in the next month!

Power a flashlight with the heat of your hand. Fifteen year old Ann Makosinski, a student in Victoria, BC, won the Google Science Fair for this brilliant energy conserving idea. Read all about ithere, and then get started on your own! What other household objects can you power using body heat? Bonus: Try this other awesome and easy DIY flashlight project.

Grow plants without soil in your own hydroponic garden. Hydroponics is the process of growing plants with mediums like sand, gravel, or liquid. The great thing about it is that you can choose which nutrients youput into your plants, which means it will not only taste better, it will grow faster, too! Build your own for less than $50.

Create electricity with a homemade wind turbine. Wind turbines work the opposite of a regular fan. As the blades pick up the wind and spin, the generator creates electricity that can be used to chargebatteries, pump water, and more. Make your own mini wind turbine by following these easy steps.

Build a voice-controlled robot using programmed commands. Interested in robotics? Set aside a few hours and learn to build this awesome robot using a microcontroller and voice recognition software. Get more information here. If you are serious about robotics, check out Envision’s interactive summer technology programs, where you will learn all about sustainable design while exploring electronics, 3-D modeling, circuit design, and more!

You can do all of these projects in your backyard, but if you feel like hitting the road to explore science, check out your local museums for new summer exhibits! Here’s a list of the best science museums in the country.