STEM Project Finish

Little S and Partner P had to come up with an idea/invention/problem to solve for their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project.  P had the idea to invent a blanket that would keep you cool instead of warm.  S asked if I had any fabric.  She was serious.  I guess the room across from hers is so full she never noticed there was actually fabric in it.  Or maybe she was afraid I would not share.  It was pretty funny.

So over the course of 3 weeks there were numerous days of picking them up from school to come to our house to plan 

Measuring the ice packs to calculate the pocket size.

and sew

P learned to sew and iron.

Chalking the sewing line for the envelope flap.  They even figured to make a single flap panel to cover pockets on opposing sides. 

Sewing the line to separate the pockets.

and then conduct an experiment to find out if it actually works.

Stuffing the ice packs in the pockets.  The envelope flap was so much better than the zippers they first imagined.

Yep, it sure does.

Chill Out Cooling Quilt - Success!!

There are some technicalities that need to be worked out, but yes you can make a blanket that holds ice packs and it will keep you cool for at least an hour - before it starts to drip with condensation!

The girls won 1st Place at the school and moved on to the country STEM fair (exhibition, not competition) where 2 people said they should go on Shark Tank with it.  Interesting!!  Can you fund college with a STEM fair project?

P's mother suffers from migraines and that is where the idea came from, so after the country STEM fair she got to keep it.

It was a very interesting experience - learning about STEM, working with a partner at home, teaching an 8-year-old to sew, teaching two 8-year-olds how to make a tri-fold presentation, county STEM exhibition, and especially meeting and making a new friend.  Kind of glad it's over though - except for the friend part!

I think that was the last thing that has been under the sewing machine needle and I'm sure ready for summer vacation and the hopes of sewing something myself again.  It's been a while.

Linking up with  Crazy Mom Quilts   and Confessions of a fabric addict  to show off finishes.