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Membership benefits New benefits for U.S. Ice Rink Association facility members! 54 / JULY.AUGUST.2022 USICERINKS.COM PHOTOS: CURIOSITY ZONE SCIENCE U.S. Ice Rinks partnered with Curiosity Zone Science to create STEM activities for our facility members to utilize to cre- ate value and enhance appeal for school field trips. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) based field trips focus on hands-on learning with real world applications. While many ice rinks across the country offer public skating or skating lessons to schools, many of our members have expressed a desire to pro- vide non-skating activities that may have more appeal. Here's a quick look at what we have to offer! All Ages (Grades K-8) • Experiment with Friction Pucks. In this activity, explore the science and engineering behind hockey pucks, then explore friction with regard to pucks and curl- ing stones and experiment with "friction pucks." • Explore Temperature Change. In this activity, explore the concepts of heat transfer and temperature change in the context of the ice rink environment and experiment with insulators. Kids take home their "air head" insulator. • Make a Balancing Butterfly. In this activity, explore the concept of bal- ance in skating, and experiment with a paper butterfly that can "magically" balance on the tip of its head. Kids take home their butterfly. • Make Catapults. In this activity, learn how a hockey stick functions as a power- ful lever. They make and experiment with simple levers (cata- pults) that can shoot pompom "pucks" across the table or floor. Kids take home their catapult. • Make Fizzing Snowman. In this activity, learn the science of ice and snow, then learn about chemical reac- tions by making a fizzing snowman. They learn how an ice resurfacer works, how salt changes the freezing point of water, how ice and snow are related, and how acids and bases com- bine to cause a chemical reaction. • Make Paper Helicopters. In this activ- ity, kids explore the science of spinning, with emphasis on figure skating. They make and experiment with spinning paper helicopters, which they can take home. • Make Pinwheel Rockets. Kids explore the science of spinning, with emphasis on figure skating. They make and experiment with spinning pinwheel rockets, which they can take home. • Make Snow Slime. In this activity, kids explore the science of ice and snow, then learn about chemical reactions and make a batch of "snow slime" to play with and take home. They learn how an ice resurfacer works, how salt changes the freezing point of water, how ice and snow are related, and how a chemical reaction can cause a phase change. Younger Kids Only (Grades K-3) • Make a Balance. In this activity, stu- dents explore the concept of balance and make a balance toy to experiment with. Kids take home their balance. Older Kids Only (Grades 4-8) • Ice Cube Fishing. In this activity, kids explore the science of how ice is made in an ice rink, then experiment with melting and refreezing ice by "fishing" with a string and salt. Kids can take home their "fishing rod." Each of the above activities takes approxi- mately 30-40 minutes and comes with the following: • Materials list • Prep work • Demonstration • Hands-on activity • Presenter notes Find out more by visiting usicerinks.com, then click on the Resources tab after logging in. J Science on Ice STEM program designed to provide fun and learning opportunities for school field trips