This week we examine Simple Machines! Simple machines are the basis for modern mechanics. It’s important to understand how these basics create the foundations for tremendous inventions. This week, you’ll get back to the primary building blocks and investigate their importance.  Experiment with simple machines to create or improve upon an existing invention. Imagine how these simple machines effect careers today!

This week we celebrate Homer Hickam! You may not recognize Homer Hickam’s name, but you might have heard of the book Rocket Boys or the movie October Sky. The book and movie are a memoir of Hickam’s time growing up in Coalwood, WV where he aspired to become a rocket scientist. Hickam and his friends studied rockets, designed and constructed their own rockets, and inevitably launched many which exploded. Undeterred, Hickam and his friends continued their work with support from many in their community which would lead them on a remarkable journey. Learn more about an innovator and writer this week!

National Construction Week occurs on the 3rd week of September every year! This is a relatively new celebratory week, established in 2016. This special week we’ll explore the work of dedicated people who develop the infrastructure we depend upon. Experiment with how infrastructure is created and maintained. Imagine how important construction is to our everyday life. We depend on it for transportation, manufacturing, commerce, and more. And with so many opportunities for employment, maybe you’ll find a career path in construction where you build your future and the future of infrastructure!  

Welcome Fall! It’s nearly time for sweaters, apple cider, pumpkin pie, and falling leaves. Autumn is nearly upon us and that means changing temperatures as well as shifts in the crops farmers grow, the movement of the sun, and changes in plant life. This week, learn more about the science of seasonal changes, record and predict effects of seasonal changes, and consider what careers might be effected by the seasons. 

 Agency has sponsored Fire Prevention Week, but in 1925, President Coolidge proclaimed it a national observance making it the longest running public health observance in our country. As we enter fall, many people will plan for bonfires, firepits, campfires, or fires in their fireplaces. Fire safety awareness is vital to keeping everyone and the environment safe. This year’s FPW campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” works to educate everyone about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Learn more about fire safety today!

This week, in coordination with the Oak Ridge National Lab’s Nuclear Science Week, you’ll explore Nuclear Energy! Nuclear is a zero-emission clean energy source that releases energy by splitting uranium atoms through a process called fission. Nuclear energy can produce tremendous amounts of electricity on a very small piece of land than many other clean-air sources such as solar or wind. This week you will look the process used to create nuclear energy, the people that discovered this technology, and how we can best utilize this innovation. 

From fields to forests to your front lawn, soil is everywhere! It is home to plants and bugs but also provides nurishment to the food we eat. While some people might dismiss soil as just dirt, there's so much more to it than that! This week you investigate the diversity of soil and how it effects the area we live in.  You'll also look at how different soil types erode and what can be done to keep the soil healthy. If you find soil interesting, you might enjoy one of the many careers that recognize the importance of terra firma!

November is National Aviation Month! Airplanes and flight changed the world with tremendous technological advancements. From the most rudimentary planes to the behemoths used by the military, there are engineers, mechanical specialists, pilots, and more keeping people in the air. The field of aviation encompasses airplanes, but also other flying machines that help us get where we need to go.  Just imagine what our world would be like if we hadn't discovered the wonderful world of flight!

This week we celebrate the contributions women have made toward space exploration! Before the first female astronauts broke through the atmosphere, women were still contributing to the exploration of space. From researchers to aeronautical engineers to mathematicians, these brilliant women not only broke through the glass ceiling that held women in supportive roles, but they also made space programs possible. These pioneers have led the way for young girls to dream of the stars and see themselves in among them. 

Geology rocks! Geology is a branch of Earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Looking at rocks, minerals, and gemstones can be fascinating. There are endless colors, textures, and patterns that are fascinating and tell the story of each rock. Careers in geology can take you all over the world studying everything from reconstructing history to working toward environmental conservation.