This summer, Let’s Talk Science is inviting youth ages 9 to 11 years old (Grades 4 to 6) to spend time getting out of their seats, exploring their surroundings, and discovering the amazing world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) during the Summer Daily Discovery series.
Join us weekly, for short daily activities and a new theme each week. These activities are hands-on and designed to be done at home, outside, or with family and friends using easy-to-find materials. Hosted by STEM role models from across Canada, the Daily Discovery series encourages children to be the innovators of tomorrow from the comfort of home.
Note: while these activities are geared towards families, classes and community groups are also encouraged to participate.
When you sign up, you'll receive an e-mail each day featuring a new hands-on STEM activity. There are no live sessions to join, so you can complete the activities whenever is most convenient for you. Material lists will be shared with you at the start of your discovery week.
Weekly Themes and Descriptions
You can register for as many or as few weeks as you want.
Week 1: Chemistry at Home (July 15 to 19)
Discover the magic of chemistry, where mixing, fizzing, and bubbling turn ordinary ingredients into extraordinary fun, sparking curiosity and igniting young minds with colorful experiments and exciting discoveries, all from the comfort of your own home!
Daily Activities and Materials
- Monday: Keeping the Rink on Ice
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
- Tuesday: Crystals
Heat-resistant jar (for example a mug or jar)
Salt (1/2 cup)
Boiling water (one cup, adult supervision needed)
String (~15 cm)
Spoon
Pen
Freezer
Food colouring (optional)
- Wednesday: Why do oil and water not mix?
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Cooking oil (125 mL)
Blue food colouring
Small objects of various materials and sizes
Clear container or drinking glass
Water (125 mL)
- Thursday: CO2
Baking soda (one to two tablespoons)
Vinegar (one cup)
Ballon
Clear bottle
Tablespoon
Funnel (optional)
- Friday: Coloring Clothing with Bacteria
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Week 2: Climate Action (July 22 to 26)
Join the adventure to save our planet with climate action! Discover how small changes can make big differences as we explore renewable energy, protect wildlife, and work together to create a healthier, greener world for everyone to enjoy.
Daily Activities and Materials
- Day 1: Living in a Warming World
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
- Day 2: Biodiversity
Paper(s)
Writing utensil (like a pen or a pencil)
Colouring tools (optional)
- Day 3: What are the effects of acid rain on rocks?
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
One or two pieces of chalk
One clear container (of any size)
Vinegar (enough to fill half the chosen container)
Measuring cup (any size)
- Day 4: How Would you Replant a Forest?
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Writing utensils (optional: multiple colours)
Paper (as needed)
Scissors
Measuring tape (or a ruler or string cut to a certain length)
Glue and/or tape
Recycled materials (such as: bottles, caps, cardboard, cans, etc.)
Elastic bands and/or string
Aluminum foil
Craft sticks and/or toothpicks.
- Day 5: Recycling Paper
Two sheets of used paper
Mixing bowl
Warm water (enough to fill up the container)
Parchment paper
Scissors and sieve (both optional)
Week 3: Human Biology (July 29 to August 2)
Embark on a fascinating journey through the human body with human biology! From how your heart beats to how your brain thinks, explore the incredible mysteries of life inside you.
Daily Activities and Materials
- Day 1: All about organs
Chalk
Safe space to draw on the pavement (alternatively, a large piece of paper, and writing utensils)
- Day 2: Why do we Need Two Eyes to See?
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
One piece of paper
Pencil
Table
Chair
- Day 3: Heart Relay
One piece of paper
Writing utensil
Timer/stopwatch
Calculator (optional)
- Day 4: Career exploration
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
- Day 5: What is in Our Blood?
Access to the internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Clear cup/container (any size)
Water (enough to fill half of the container)
Yellow food colouring
Kidney beans (dry, enough to fill the container)
One tablespoon of rice (dry)
One white lima bean (dry)
Week 4: Physics (August 5 to 9)
Embark on an exciting journey through the wonders of physics, where the laws of nature become your playground! Join us as we unravel the mysteries of motion, light, and energy through hands-on experiments and mind-bending demonstrations.
Daily Activities and Materials
- Day 1: Friction
Access to the internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
A ramp
Objects with different textures and surfaces
Toy car (or something similar)
Sheet of paper
Writing utensil
- Day 2: Light Refraction
Glass of water
Piece of white paper
Direct access to the sun
- Day 3: Career Exploration
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
- Day 4: How Can I Make my Own Weighing Scale?
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Small plastic yogurt cup (or similar)
Rubber band
~45 cm thin string
Nail or thumbtack
Paper clip
Small objects that will fit inside the yogurt cup
Scissors
Ruler
Piece of card or paper
Pen
Thin stick or craft stick
A horizontal surface
- Day 5: Water currents
Transparent or light-colored mixing bowl
Room-temperature water
A pinch of cornmeal or crushed crackers
Transparent or light-colored baking dish
One cup of cold water with ice
One cup of warm water
Spoon
Two colours of food colouring
Week 5: Innovation (August 12 to 16)
Welcome to the world of innovation, where creativity knows no bounds! Join us on a thrilling exploration of groundbreaking ideas and inventions that are shaping the future. Ignite your imagination and become a problem-solving pioneer!
Daily Activities and Materials
- Day 1: Innovative Jobs
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
- Day 2: Design a wind powered elevator
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Writing utensil
One piece of paper
Optional: Tape, scissors, recycled paper and/or sticky notes, string, drinking straws, craft sticks, scrap cardboard, fine yarn or thread, pipe cleaners.
- Day 3: Egg Drop Challenge
One uncooked egg (or something of similar shape)
Straws
Roll of tape
Scissors
Tarp or something that can get dirty
Something to cushion your egg (Styrofoam, balloons, cups, sponges, cotton balls, etc.)
- Day 4: Marine Design
One piece of paper
Writing utensil
- Day 5: How can we build a structure that protects toy people from the wind?
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Two small toy people (approx. 5 cm (2”) tall)
Craft sticks
String
Paper
One small piece of stick tack (about the size of your fingernail) or tape
One piece of cardboard
Scissors
One electric fan
Week 6: Space (August 19 to 23)
Embark on an out-of-this-world adventure into the vast expanse of space! Join us as we journey through the cosmos, exploring planets, stars, and galaxies beyond imagination (no space-traveling experience needed).
Daily Activities and Materials
- Day 1: Career exploration
Access to the internet (via phone, tablet, computer).
- Day 2: Crater Formation
Cake pan or any deep container (size medium to large)
Flour (enough to fill up half the container)
Cocoa or cinnamon (a few tablespoons)
Spoon or sifter
Sprinkles or gravel
Three rocks of different sizes and shapes
- Day 3: How Can I Make a Bottle Rocket?
Access to internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
600 mL pop bottle
Circle tracer
Writing utensil
Plasticine
Cotton swab (e.g. Q-tip)
Scissors
Scrap paper
Straw
Tape
- Day 4: Constellations
One sheet of paper
One sheet of construction paper of dark colour
Scissors
Tape
Marker or crayon (blue or dark colour)
A sharp pencil
Something round, like a lid (not too big)
- Day 5: Can You Design a Rover That Can Survive on the Moon?
Access to the internet (via phone, tablet, computer)
Writing utensils
Paper
Scissors
Glue and/or tape
Recycled materials (bottles, caps, cardboard, cans, etc.)
Something to allow your rover to roll (such as water bottle caps like wheels)
Elastic bands and/or string
Aluminum foil
Craft sticks