Arnold Engineering Development Complex has partnered with the Hands-On Science Center (HOSC) in Tullahoma, TN to provide an exciting and interactive learning environment for teachers and students K-12. The mission is to inspire and develop student interest in STEM careers, especially in communities that surround military bases, laboratories, and other Department of Defense facilities.

AEDC strives to match hands-on activities with the school's curriculum making learning fun for teachers and students. AEDC speakers, with a wide variety of expertise and life experiences, may be provided to assist classes with a specific program of study.

Scientist, engineers and other professionals may be available to set up demonstrations at regional schools. The STEM center is equipped with hands-on demonstrations ranging from flight dynamics and robotics to constellations and moon colonies.

The center's rocket launchers give students
experience with using the engineering process,
building rockets, testing rockets,
and learning physics principles.

Focused on building an interest in science and engineering in children ages 6-9, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) is a hands-on program designed to capture young children's inherent curiosity and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them. Just like FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®), this program features a real-world challenge, to be solved by research, critical thinking and imagination. Guided by adult coaches and the Jr.FLL Core Values, students work with LEGO elements and moving parts to build ideas and concepts and present them for review.

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/jr.fll

FTC is designed for those in Grades 7-12 who want to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams of up to 10 students are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as for well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc

AEDC works with the HOSC to sponsor several STEM summer camps covering a wide range of topics. At the camps students become an active part of the learning process and learn by doing. The camp also stresses being able to work in a team. The entire group becomes a family and the work and build projects in small and large groups.  

For teachers, administrators and home-school educators, the following items are available for check out through the Hands-On Science Center:
 

• Rocket Launchers
• ARIES Exploring Motion and Forces Lesson Kits
• Cubelet Robotics Kits
• Energy Conversion Kits
• Water/Compressed Air Rocket Launchers
• “Trash Can” Air Compressor Gun
• SparkFun Electronics Kits
• Code & Go™ Programmable Robot Mouse Sets

Take-Home Science Kits (THSKs) are available at the Hands-On Science Center for free. With these STEM kits, there are two releases each month. Each kit revolves around a type of science, including a fun experiment and reflects the jobs and technologies available at AEDC.

AEDC STEM Program and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) sponsor Reach for the Stars National Rocket Competitions where students build and launch model rockets as part of a national spot landing contest. Each participant receives a certificate with artwork by Alan Bean, astronaut and moonwalker from Apollo 12. The winners from each state earn the right to compete for the national title at the US Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. This is an annual event conducted at the University of Tennessee Space Institute.
http://www.therocketman.net/index.html

Using the award-winning Max the Dog books flown to the International Space Station (ISS) in January 2014 aboard the Cygnus CRS Orb-1, the AEDC STEM program sends volunteers to schools to hold "Story Time from Space". These engaging books contain interesting technical details scalable to all student levels and chronicles the journeys of Max the Dog who travels to the ISS, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter.