Indigenous Americans have contributed in the field of science in numerous ways. Here are just a few of the many indigenous scientists to highlight.
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte (June 1865-Sep.1915) was one of the first indigenous people and first indigenous woman to earn a medical degree! She worked diligently on public health reforms such as school hygiene, food sanitation, and combat tuberculosis.
Dr. K. Tsianina Lomamawaima was born in 1955. She researched indigenous studies, anthropology, history, and political science. She is currently a professor at Arizona State University! She wrote the book They Called it Prairie Light: The Story of Chilocco Indian School in 1994.
Dr, Leroy Little Bear went to the University of Utah in 1975. He up until 1977 was a researcher at the University of Lethbridge where he is the founding member of the Native American Studies Department. He has received awards such as the Officer Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.
John Herrington, born 1958, served in the U. S, Navy and also was a mission specialist at NASA on the Endeavor space shuttle! He also did work in the Aquarius underwater laboratory simulating survival during extreme conditions.
Mary Golda Ross Aug 1908-April 2008) was an Aerospace Engineer who helped design planes and spacecraft. She was from the Cherokee Nation. She was a founding member of the Society of Women Engineers.
Feel free to follow any of the links below to learn more!
What is STEAM? STEAM stands for: • Science – Understanding natural phenomena and scientific principles. • Technology – Utilizing tools and resources to solve problems. • Engineering – Applying design and construction principles to create solutions. • Arts – Incorporating creativity and design thinking into projects. • Mathematics – Using quantitative reasoning and analytical skills.
Let’s dive into how each part of STEAM plays a role in the world with one powerful image: The STEAM engine! ________________________________________
Imagine a steam train chugging along the tracks. It’s powered by hot steam produced in a boiler, where water is heated by coal, wood, or natural gas. The pressure created in the boiler moves the pistons, which in turn gets the wheels turning. Now let’s look at how each component of STEAM is at work in the steam engine:
The steam engine demonstrates the understanding of physical and chemical reactions (e.g., heating water to create steam).
Science is the systematic study of natural phenomena through: • Observation – using senses to understand a subject • Questioning – asking “why” and “how” •Hypothesis – making predictions based on prior knowledge •Experimentation – testing predictions through trials •Analysis – drawing conclusions from data
Do scientists always stop at conclusions? Of course not! Repeatable experiments lead to more questions and deeper understanding. Technology From Hero of Alexandria’s early steam devices to modern trains, technology evolves over time. Like bricks building a taller house, each innovation builds on the last.
Technology isn’t just about computers. It’s the application of knowledge to solve real-world problems in every field, including: • Agriculture • Medicine • Transportation
Engineering The steam engine itself is an amazing example of mechanical engineering. The field of engineering applies scientific knowledge to design, build, and maintain systems. Engineering has many branches, including: • Civil Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Chemical Engineering
Through collaboration and education, engineers refine and improve existing designs, pushing innovation forward.
Art Art may not seem like an obvious player in the evolution of the steam engine—but it’s absolutely essential! Art brings imagination to reality. Before anything is built, it’s imagined—drawn, modeled, or sculpted. Scientific illustrations have helped us understand: • Microorganisms • Plant structures (botany) • Insects (entomology)
Art has also: • Depicted future technology before it existed (Star Trek!) • Influenced the aesthetics and design of functional machines A drawing of an early steam engine could have been the first step in making it real.
Mathematics Math is often called the language of science. It can be: • Utilitarian – for everyday functions like budgeting or measuring • Theoretical – existing purely in the abstract, yet influencing real-world inventions Much like art, theoretical math often becomes practical. Inventions like the steam engine required: • Calculations of pressure • Mechanical measurements • Geometry in design ________________________________________ Conclusion: STEAM Powers Progress!
STEAM is more than just an acronym. It’s a framework for innovation, problem-solving, and creativity. Whether it’s a train moving across the tracks, a new invention, or a scientific discovery, each discipline works together to fuel progress. The steam engine is just one powerful example of how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math come together to shape the world.
I suspect that almost everyone has a story of an amazing teacher who took the time to give them the extra support they needed in their life. Perhaps they still know that teacher today. Here are a few amazing teachers from around the world!
Maggie MacDonnell teaches in an Inuit community in Salluit. Salluit is a northern community in Quebec Canada. The area she works in has a high suicide rate, so she strives to bring hope to the community. She incorporates a project based on art and therapeutic methods. One project is called Student feeding Students where a group of students create a healthy snack for all the other students. Getting the students involved in the community helps with connection and gives a sense of purpose. A fellow teacher, Ian Cambell, said,” She is really an expert at having a more open learning environment.” Another project MacDonnell is involved in is The Runners project where students have somewhat of a running club. She says, “When you run by yourself you go fast! When you run with others can go far.” She also says the students she works with are the true northern lights.
Michael Wamaya from Kibera Kenya is a ballet teacher. Micheal had to drop out of school when he was young due to financial hardship. However, he had a chance audition with a visiting Kenya Performance group that set him on a path to live in Nairobi and learn dance! He now teaches ballet to children and he’s very good at it. One community member said, “If you take your kids to Mike there is some future in that kid.” One parent has noticed how her daughter is more focused and organized since being in Mike’s class. Mike believes ballet helps the children get their voice due to the confidence acquired through ballet training. Leonard Wawire, headmaster at valley View Academy, says that Mike has helped make education available to everyone in the area! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAufiNM3Aus
Salima Begum is from Pakistan. She received an education from a two-room private school with very little resources. That did not impede her love of learning! Salima says,” Education is abroad concept that teaches a child humility, harmony, and love for others.” Before Salima girls could not complete their education due to cultural roadblocks. Salima met with the community to create a solution for a way for girls to continue their education. One problem in the community was the accumulation of garbage and debris in the streets. By working with the students and allowing them to come up with creative solutions they began creating compost and then fertilizer from the waste. The classes are activity based. One student says, “’ Ma’ams classes are always fun and interesting, never boring, time flies by” Another says,” My parents brought me into the world, but my teacher has lifted me up and made me reach for the skies”
Tracy-Ann Hall is from Spanish Town Jamaica. She teaches automotive technology at Jonathan Grande High School. Most students are from the low-income bracket. Once they leave high school most students go directly to work. Once they have taken the automotive technology course they will be prepared to work for an established automotive business or begin one of their own. Hall acknowledges that there are students with different learning styles. She incorporates music in the class as well as field trips She has lunchtime instructions where they catch up on current affairs. She tries to prepare them with skills that will get them ahead in life. Daphne Clayton, the Chair of Governors, says “Here is a woman in a man’s world but knows exactly what she was doing!”
Marie-Christine Ghanbari Jahromi majored in mathematics and sports at the University of Munster. She received the Future leader award at Africa’s Go FPEP in 2014. She operates a collaborative sports project helping students build self-esteem. She teaches students that keeping fit strengthens bodies and minds. She works with refugee children in groups with the German students helping them learn different cultures and helps the refugee children integrate more easily into German society. This also makes it easier for them to learn faster.
Boya Yang is in Cumming China with a background in teaching as well as psychology. Both parents were teachers. She uses a technique where she incorporates games so that students will find it easier to participate. She also makes sure to give time to each student individually. She feels in general that China’s education system focusses too much on exams. She hopes to work with other teachers to explore the psychological aspect of learning. She incorporates art drama and music. If the kids seem interested in something she sees that as an opportunity to incorporate learning alongside that interest. She even incorporates parents in the learning process. They too have been learning a lot! Yang says she loves having the freedom to be innovative in her job!
There are many qualities that make a great teacher and from the examples here observation an innovation as well as focusing on each students learning style and needs plays a large part in being a successful and admired teacher. One exceptional teacher I remember is a Western Civilizations teacher in community college who was also head of the drama department. His classes were like one man shows where he acted out the history lesson with a powerful stage presence. It’s hard not to learn history when it is dramatized right before you!
The tree highlighted today is in Ware County GA. It is a Live Oak or as the botanists call it Quercus virginiana. The trunk circumference is massive at 440 inches and reaches a height of 78 feet! The crown spread is a majestic 161 feet!
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova Tereshkova was born in Russia in 1937! She is an engineer and cosmonaut who orbited the earth 48 times in June of 1963. She was an amateur skydiver before joining the air force and was commissioned as an officer after training. She later became a cosmonaut instructor!
Sally Ride Ride was born in Los Angeles in 1951! She began working for Nasa in 1978. In college she did research on the interaction of X-rays with interstellar medium making her an excellent choice as mission specialist in 1983!
Helen Patricia Sharman Sharman was born in Britain in 1963! She was a chemist and a cosmonaut who spent time aboard the ISS in 1991 doing research. Before being an astronaut, she worked for the General Electric Company in London and worked as a chemist for the Mars chocolate bar company.
Roberta Bondar Bondar was born in 1945 in Ontario! She was head of international medicine research for the space station for ten years before becoming the payload specialist on a mission in 1992. She was also the first neurologist to go to space.
Mariam H. Fardous Fardous was born in Saidi Arabia in 1884! She is an epidemiologist, humanitarian (serving as Ambassador for African Impacts), scuba diver, and worked as a doctor. She later became a cosmonaut and flew aboard the Axiom Mission in 2023!
Trees are extremely important! We here at High Touch High Tech want to highlight trees and all the things they do! Have you heard of the heat island effect? This is where hot pavement and reflection from buildings increase temperature in urban areas. Trees help counteract this!
When we think of innovators many people may come to mind suck as Nikoli Tesla, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. However, these popular innovators are simply the ones that have received the most “publicity”. Many more throughout history have been overlooked.
In Honor of National Hispanic American Heritage Month, we here at High Touch High Tech would like to honor a few Latinx Innovators! Dr. Ynes Mexia was a botanist from Mexico who started her career late in life at 51. She collected specimens of plants from N and S America. She discovered close to 500 new species! Many of them were named after her!
Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena was an electrical engineer born in 1917 in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was fascinated with electrical engineering at a young age, which fostered a talent for the field. He studied Electrical engineering in Mexica Cito at National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City. His passion led him to create a chromoscopic adaptar that could easily be added to black and white televisions and in 1940 a patent was filed! The first color image in Mexico was broadcast on Channel 5 with his invention! In 1979 during the Voyager mission his system helped convert images of Jupiter into color! Camarena was also a strong advocate of educational television.
Julio Palamaz of Argentina made advancements in angioplasty surgery! Working with Richard Schatz, a cardiologist, he parented an expandable stent to open heart arteries! He earned a place at the National Inventors Hall of Fame!
Maria Isabel Amorin is a chemist from Guatemala. She recognized the severe devastation caused by the fast fashion industry. Micro plastics and dyes were contributing to severe pollution in rivers. She designed a polymer filter to absorb the contaminating dyes. These filters are created from shrimp shells, which are a waste in the Guatemalan shrimping industry. What better way to utilize a “waste” into a product to eliminate pollution!
Dr Grisel Trujillo is a professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnologico de Monterrey. Along with having a PhD in Biotechnology she invented a 3D printer that could print organs! This invention is patented and could save many lives as they wait for organ transplants!
There are many more contributions from Latinx innovators including Helen Gertrude Dominguez who contributed greatly to higher education, Ellen Ochoa who went on several space missions, Arturo Arias Suarez who designed earthquake sensing technology, and Albert Vinicio Baez who helped invent the X-ray reflection microscope! We here at Science Made Fun hope you get curious to discover more innovators! Please follow the links below to learn more!
The world around us is full of incredible wonders — from soil teeming with life to raining diamonds on distant planets. These 15 science facts will open your eyes to how amazing our universe is. ________________________________________ 1. Soil Holds Billions of Microorganisms A single teaspoon can hold over 8.2 billion microorganisms, including bacteria, algae, fungi, earthworms, ants, and mites. It also filters water, stores nutrients, and supports all plant life. Try this soil experiment: Dig 8 inches down and collect about a cup of soil. Put it in a clear jar, fill it with water, and shake. Let it sit overnight. You’ll see layers of organic material, clay, silt, and sand — a mini slice of Earth’s crust! ________________________________________
2. Octopuses Have Blue Blood and Three Hearts Octopuses are ancient, intelligent creatures that have existed for over 330 million years. Their blood is blue due to a copper-rich protein called hemocyanin. Two of their hearts pump blood to the gills, and the third sends oxygenated blood to the body. Even more mind-blowing? Each arm contains its own neurons — essentially allowing the arms to “think” independently. ________________________________________ 3. Bananas Are Radioactive Yes, bananas are slightly radioactive! This is due to their potassium-40 content, a naturally occurring isotope. Don’t worry — the radiation levels are incredibly low and completely safe. But it’s a fun fact that mixes everyday life with nuclear science! ________________________________________
4. The Bajau People Can Hold Their Breath for 13 Minutes The Bajau, a sea-dwelling people of the Philippines, can dive up to 70 meters and hold their breath for over 13 minutes. Their secret? They have larger spleens, a genetic adaptation that stores more oxygen-rich red blood cells. Generations of diving has literally reshaped their biology. ________________________________________
5. Mosquitoes Are the World’s Deadliest Animal Tiny mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other animal. They spread diseases like malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. According to the CDC, malaria alone causes hundreds of thousands of deaths each year — all from one tiny insect. ________________________________________
6. It Rains Diamonds on Uranus and Neptune Yes, really — diamonds might rain on these icy giants! The extreme pressure and cold in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune can compress carbon into diamonds. Their skies are mostly hydrogen, helium, and methane, which also gives Neptune its brilliant blue color. ________________________________________ 7. Lake Maracaibo Has the Most Lightning in the World Located in Venezuela, Lake Maracaibo holds the record for the most lightning strikes per square kilometer — over 232 per year! The combination of the lake’s geography and the tropical climate creates the perfect storm (literally). ________________________________________ 8. Russia Is Bigger Than Pluto It sounds wild, but it’s true. Pluto is only about 16.7 million square kilometers, while Russia spans about 17 million. So yes, there’s a country on Earth larger than a planet! ________________________________________ 9. The Persian Gulf Feels Like a Hot Tub The Persian Gulf is the warmest sea on Earth, reaching temperatures of 95°F (35°C) during summer. That’s as warm as many hot tubs! Swimming in it would feel less like a refreshing dip and more like a steamy soak. ________________________________________
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10. The Tallest Waterfall Is in Venezuela You might guess Niagara Falls — but the tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls, in Venezuela. It plunges 3,212 feet (979 meters) — over 15 times taller than Niagara Falls! ________________________________________
This new infrared view of the star formation region Messier 8, often called the Lagoon Nebula, was captured by the VISTA telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. This colour picture was created from images taken through J, H and Ks near-infrared filters, and which were acquired as part of a huge survey of the central parts of the Milky Way. The field of view is about 34 by 15 arcminutes.
11. How many stars are there? There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the Earth’s beaches combined. Each star is like our sun — many with their own planets, moons, and potential for life. The scale of the cosmos is beyond imagination. ________________________________________
12. Some Beaches Come in Pink, Green, and Black Not all beaches are tan and white! • Pink Sand Beach (Bahamas) gets its color from foraminifera, microscopic creatures with pink shells. • Green Sand Beach (Hawaii) is made of olivine, a mineral found in volcanic lava. • Black Sand Beaches in Hawaii, Iceland, and the Canary Islands come from eroded volcanic rock. Nature is the ultimate artist. ________________________________________ 13. Saudi Arabia Has No Permanent Rivers Despite being a large, populated country, Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers. Instead, they rely on wadis — dry riverbeds that fill with water only during rare heavy rains. It’s an extraordinary example of how humans adapt to extreme environments. ________________________________________ 14. Sharks Have Been Around Longer Than Trees Bonus fact time! Sharks have existed for over 400 million years, while trees appeared around 350 million years ago. That means sharks were swimming in the oceans 50 million years before the first tree took root. ________________________________________ 15. The Human Body Glows — Slightly Humans emit a faint bioluminescence, though it’s about 1,000 times weaker than what the human eye can detect. It’s caused by metabolic reactions in our cells — meaning we’re glowing with life in more ways than one! ________________________________________ Final Thoughts Science is all around us, in our food, our bodies, our skies, and even in a teaspoon of dirt. So the next time you bite into a banana or look up at the stars, remember: the universe is full of “whoa!” moments waiting to be discovered.
One of our most popular programs here at High Touch High Tech is called Sounds Like Fun! In this program we explore sound waves and perform a few experiments with sound. This class is especially enjoyable by all the students because creating sound is fun!
They know of course that they hear sound, but how? We explore how the ear works and examine the anatomy of the ear. One way to see sound waves is to examine the vibration of a tuning fork when put into still water.
But are people able to see sound? Studies have shown that approximately one in 2000 people experience visuals with sound. The phenomenon is called synesthesia, where one sensory pathway leads to experiences in another sensory pathway. This can manifest in different ways with different senses.
The most common type of synesthesia is when colors are seen while hearing sounds. Most often this happens when listening to music. This is called chromesthesia. The propensity to have visuals when listening tends to happen in families which clued scientists to discover that it is in part genetic.
Chromesthesia is often experienced with musical and visual artists. Reports of this ability have been seen all the way back to the 1800’s. One of those reports is in the early 1900s from a Russian composer and pianist named Alexander Scriabin. He even developed his own color system to organize the 12 chromatic pitches. And he invented a keyboard with lights!
Some examples of artists today who have this ability are Billy Eilish, Billy Joel, Tori Amos, and Kaitlin Hova. Kaitlin is a violinist and a neuroscientist! The visual of colors when hearing sound often comes in the form of a flash of color. According to Kaitlin Hova when she was at the University of Nebraska of Omaha that she realized that she has a form of synesthesia. The lack of information on the subject inspired her and her husband to start The Synesthesia Network. She also, along with her husband, designed a violin that changes color to represent the visuals she has!
Tori Amos speaks openly about her experience and describes it , “Similar chord progressions follow similar light patterns, but try to imagine the best kaleidoscope ever.”
Billy Joel describes his experience as seeing color with either vowel or consonant sounds. He says he sees blue or green with words or song phrases ending in strong vowel sounds and consonants as having more red hues!
Billie Eilish experiences seeing shapes, colors, and feeling textures when hearing music! She says sometimes, for example, a melody could have a yellow hue with a smooth flowing texture. Sometimes she creates music with a color and texture in mind and sometimes she experiences it when the music is created. To express this ability, she designs sets in her live performances to bring the audience along with her!
As an instructor I introduce a variety of experiments to introduce the science of sound waves to children. Imagine having the capability to see those sound waves in the form of flashes of color or even smell them! Kaitlin Hova had no idea others didn’t experience what she had experienced her whole life, until she learned about this trait. I wonder if any of the children I have presented the program to have seen colors or had smells along with the sounds! It is certainly another eye-opening insight into human capabilities.
Have students conduct a claim, evidence, and reasoning investigation about you. This is a great way for students to get to know you right off the bat and organically get to know one another. Before the students arrive, collect some of your personal belongings (car keys, coffee cup, photographs, hobby supplies, etc), sort them into bins, and place them around the room. Once the students arrive, place them in groups and have them collect observations about the items and record those observations as evidence. Next, the students will make claims about you based on that evidence. Finally, they will have to provide their reasoning for those claims.
Create a human sundial
A sundial works because as the Earth rotates, the sun appears to move across the sky. This marks the passage of the day. A sundial can be used to measure the passage of time. A sundial is made up a vertical object, or “gnomon,” and a flat surface, the “dial.” The length of the shadow is determined by the position of the sun on the horizon, the higher the sun, the shorter the shadow.
Group your students into pairs or small groups. Find a spot outdoors that receives sun all day long. Mark a spot where the student will stand. Trace their shadow with chalk. Return outdoors every hour, have the student stand in the same spot, and have the other students trace their shadow again. Bonus points if you have a compass. The sundial can be oriented so the 12th hour faces North.
Make a kaleidoscope
Materials
Empty toilet paper or paper towel roll tube
Construction paper
Hot glue gun and hot glue
Mylar coated cardstock
Transparent plastic
Tape
Clear, colored beads
Instructions
Decorate the outside of the paper tube, if desired.
Cut the mylar cardstock into a rectangle an inch shorter than the toilet paper tube.
Fold the mylar cardstock into a triangle shape, with the mylar on the inside. You want the triangle to fit snugly inside the cardboard tube.
Slide the triangle into the tube. One end should be flush against the edge of the tube. The other end should end approximately one inch before the end of the tube.
Cut two circles out of the transparent plastic, one so that it fits just inside the tube. The other, so that it fits over the diameter of the tube
Slide the smaller circle into the tube, up against the triangle. Secure the circle with hot glue applied around the edge
Insert beads into the end of the tube on the side with the clear circle triangle.
Tape the second piece of plastic down onto the end of the tube, trapping the beads in the gap.
Cut a circle of construction paper a little bit larger than the diameter of the tube.
Cut a small peephole in the the center of the circle.
Tape the construction paper over the end of the tube opposite from the side with the clear plastic and beads.
Look through the kaleidoscope. Rotate and see what happens!
