Nothing Compares to Virtual STEM Day at the Fair

Iowa STEM Teacher Awardee Rhonda McCarthy shared a lesson about growing plants in space for STEM Day at the Fair.
As part of the virtual STEM Day at the Fair 2020, Iowa STEM Teacher Awardee and St. Theresa Catholic School Teacher Rhonda McCarthy shared a lesson about growing plants in space and provided instructions on how to do this at home.

Earlier this summer, the Iowa State Fair Board voted to postpone the 2020 Iowa State Fair until August 12-22, 2021. In order to protect the health and safety of nearly one million expected fair goers, the Iowa State Fair was entirely virtual this year. Each day embraced a new theme with sponsors, activities, photos, videos or contests.

While the Grand Concourse of the Iowa State Fairgrounds was not filled with hands-on activities this year, STEM Day at the Fair packed on the fun and excitement of STEM through virtual experiments and activities.

As is the tradition, STEM Day at the Fair was held on the last day of the State Fair, August 23. A series of STEM videos were shared on the Iowa State Fair website featuring past Iowa STEM Teacher Awardees, a Regional STEM Manager, a Regional STEM Advisory Board Member and other partners.

Iowans of all ages were able to participate in the following activities and experiments from the comfort of home:

  • Engineering a delicious pancake
  • Surface tension
  • Space farming
  • Growth experiments
  • Straw-powered rocket and rocket racer
  • Craters, craters everywhere

A list of materials needed for each activity was made available in advance of STEM Day at the Fair on the Iowa State Fair and STEM Council websites. The videos and materials for STEM activities can be found on the STEM Council website at https://iowastem.gov/STEM-Day-Fair.

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