Our educational science workshops for grades 6-8 are designed to inspire curiosity and critical thinking. Each activity is aligned with North Dakota Science Standards and encourages students to explore concepts like growth, matter, engineering, coding, and more. Our STEM Educators provide everything necessary for the experience, including all materials, set up, and facilitation. They also offer professional development for teachers to help bring new hands-on learning opportunities into the classroom. These workshops are designed to empower educators while engaging students in meaningful, interactive science education.
Custom Workshops
Have a specific need for a workshop that you don’t see on this list? Let us know! We create custom workshops for individual needs and make sure they align to standards, are hands-on, and highly interactive.
Thank you for teaching a forensic workshop to my students! It was a fantastic opportunity. – Haley Beauclair
Available Workshops for Grades 6-8
Sphero RVR Coding
Coding at the Next Level
Students will take basic coding to the next level by coding the Sphero RVR robots. Robots will be programmed to circle objects and other programmed tasks based on how the student progresses. Depending on age range and skill level, several programming topics and coding/engineering projects may be introduced using the RVR robot.
Length: 60 min
ND Computer Science & Cybersecurity Standards: MS.DD.1
Bridge Design Challenge
Structural Engineering and Design
Students will act as structural/civil engineers. They will be able to follow the engineering design process to create a bridge with given specifications (height, stability, and strength). Focus will be given to the cyclical nature of test, fail, and rebuild.
Length: 60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-ET1-1, MS-ET1-3, MS-ET1-4
Sturdy Structures
Designing Earthquake-Proof Skyscrapers
Students will be able to follow the engineering design process to create a structure with given specifications that will withstand earthquakes and wind (height, stability, and strength). Focus will be given to the cyclical nature of test, fail, and rebuild.
Length: 60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-ET1-1
Bucket Towers
Collaborative Engineering Challenge
Students will design and test a freestanding tower that can hold the most weight before collapsing. This activity teaches 3D shapes, variables, and construction engineering.
Length: 60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-ET1-3; MS-ET1-4
Doosan Bobcat Manufacturing
Students will create a grabber to move three sizes of Bobcat skid steers from one end of the “factory” to the other.
Length: 60 min
ND Standards: HS-ET1-2, 9-12.PSA.1, 9-12.IC.1
Dissection (Earthworms)
Studying Earthworm Body Systems
Students will study the body systems of an earthworm, dissecting the digestive, circulatory, reproductive, and nervous systems. Non-refundable materials fee of $50 and 4 weeks advanced booking required.
Length: 60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-LS2-1; MS-LS2-3
Dissection (Grasshoppers)
Exploring Insect Anatomy
Insects are the most diverse class of animals on the planet, with over 1 million named species. Students will examine the entire grasshopper, explore basic insect anatomy, and identify the major subdivisions and parts of the body. Non-refundable materials fee of $50 and 4 weeks advanced booking required.
Length: 60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-LS1-1; MS-LS1-3
Forensics
Case of the Missing Diamond Maker
Students will work as forensic investigators, using scientific techniques, such as fingerprints and chromatography, to analyze evidence at a crime scene.
or
Case of the Missing Hiker
Work as a forensic investigator and use forensic science to analyze evidence left behind at a crime scene. Students will use deductive reasoning to evaluate footprints, fingerprints, bite marks, hair samples, spilled powders, blood, and handwriting to determine the criminal’s identity/what happened.
Length: 60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-LS1-1; MS-PS1-2
Aquatic Nuisance Species with ND’s Watershed map
Students will learn about North Dakota’s aquatic nuisance species, the impacts they have, how they spread, and what we can do to prevent or slow the spread. They will find locations of these species and track their spread on our 20ft by 30ft map of North Dakota’s watersheds.
Length: 45-60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-4
Robots with ND’s Watershed map
Students will learn about North Dakota’s watersheds, our aquatic nuisance species, the impacts they have, how they spread, and what we can do to prevent or slow the spread. They will then learn how to drive our Sphero RVR robots and explore North Dakota’s main drainage basins on our 20 ft by 30ft map of North Dakota’s watersheds.
Length: 45-60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-4, MS-ESS2-4
Assessing Water Quality
Students will explore water quality and turbidity, investigate how light interacts with suspended particles, and use engineering and coding skills to build a turbidity meter for classifying water samples using the Climate Action Kits by Forward Education.
Length: 45-60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-ESS3-3
Wind Energy in Action
Students will explore how wind energy is captured and stored for reliable electricity and will build and code a wind turbine model that generates power and stores surplus energy in a battery using the Climate Action Kits by Forward Education.
Length: 45-60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-ESS3-3
Data Driven Smart Farming
Students will investigate how indoor farming uses technology for sustainable food growth and will build and code a prototype automated system that monitors soil moisture and tracks watering data using the Climate Action Kits by Forward Education.
Length: 45-60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-ESS3-3
Harnessing the Sun’s Energy with Solar Panels
Students will explore how solar panels harness sunlight for renewable energy and will build and code a prototype that senses and tracks the sun to optimize power generation using the Climate Action Kits by Forward Education.
Length: 45-60 min
ND Science Standards: MS-ESS3-3