STEM Monthly Newsletter
February 2026
Winter Olympics Begin February 6th
Get ready to cheer on the world’s best athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics—where speed, strength, and skill meet science and engineering. From designing faster skis to understanding forces, motion, and technology behind winter sports, the Olympics are packed with real world STEM connections. Check out the STEM activities below, think, design, and experiment like Olympic innovators while the games are on!
Celebrating STEM With Heart
National Geographics Celebrates Friendship
February STEM Activities
What Do Animals Love?
Explore Animal Kindness
Celebrate kindness with a meaningful twist. Explore how animals experience love and connection. Read about what animals love, answer comprehension questions, and deepen your understanding of empathy and biology—all while building literacy and scientific thinking skills.
Tunnels In The Snow
10-Secound Guess
STEM Challenge: Design A Subnivean Habitat
In winter, a hidden world exists beneath the snow called the subnivean zone—a network of tiny tunnels and shelters where animals stay warm, find food, and stay safe until spring. After reading Over and Under the Snow, you can explore this concept by engineering your own model of a subnivean habitat.
For this STEM challenge, you can design and build a habitat showing both the over‑snow world and the under‑snow world. You can choose from several base structures, such as:
- A shoebox diorama with the top layer representing snow and the lower area representing tunnels, dens, and animals beneath the surface.
- A paper bowl flipped upside‑down and covered in white paper towel or tissue to mimic a snow-covered mound.
- Aluminum foil‑covered surfaces to represent icy, reflective snow while keeping the structure lightweight and easy to mold.
Under that snowy “ceiling,” you can add:
- Small animal figures or paper cutouts
- Tunnels made from straws, cardboard tubes, or crumpled paper
- Nests or dens built from cotton balls, felt scraps, shredded paper, or natural materials
These engineered models can help you visualize how animals survive freezing temperatures through insulation, adaptation, and habitat design.
Looking Ahead to Olympic History
LA 2028 Ticket Lottery
Did you know, you can now register for the ticket lottery for the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA. It’s an exciting chance to be part of Olympic history and experience the innovation, engineering, and global energy of the Games—right here in the U.S.!
This is the first opportunity for everyone around the world to add your name to those who want to buy tickets for the eagerly anticipated LA28 Games.
Anyone who hopes to buy tickets must register and create a profile on the LA28 website during the registration period, which runs from today, 14 January, through 18 March 2026.
LA28 have already announced venue plans and a detailed schedule of events, so fans can already start planning their trips to attend the Games in two years' time, beginning their journey toward the next Olympic Games.
The LA28 Olympics will mark the biggest Games ever, featuring 36 sports and 51 disciplines throughout the Los Angeles region and Oklahoma City. The Olympic Opening Ceremony will take place on 14 July 2028, and the Closing Ceremony on 30 July 2028.
Matilda 3-Month Update
Matilda had a busy holiday season! She learned how to walk with a lead, just like dogs go for a walk on a leash, and even dressed up with festive antlers.
She’s growing fast! Matilda is now 40 inches tall (about the height of a kitchen countertop) and weighs 200 pounds (as heavy as a large refrigerator). She has grown 5 inches since our last update.
This February, Matilda is spreading the love. Maybe she will celebrate Valentine’s Day with extra cuddles and treats! 💕
Enjoy a Matilda Coloring Page: Download
Florida Dairy Farmers' Winter Recipes
Try out some of these amazing dairy recipes from the Florida Dairy Farmers. Click on the picture for the recipe.
STEM Competitions
2026 Robofest Will Be Hosted at Sunlake Academy of Math & Science!
America’s Field Trip is a nationwide contest that invites students in grades 3 to 12 to share what America means to them through writing or artwork. Winners may earn an unforgettable field trip to famous places like the Kennedy Space Center, Yellowstone National Park, or the National Archives Museum.
Science Buddies- Ball Run Engineering Challenge 2026
K–12 students worldwide are invited to design a ball ramp using only paper and tape—how slow can you make the ball go? Submit your best score between Feb 22–Mar 31, 2026, for a chance to appear on the leaderboard and earn a certificate. Eligible teams in the U.S., Canada, and Australia will be entered into random drawings for $10,000 in prizes!
Future Creatures Challenge
Ready to imagine the creatures of tomorrow? This challenge invites students in grades K–12 to pick a current rainforest animal and design how it might adapt for a future habitat affected by climate change. Illustrate both the present-day and future versions of your animal, and write a short explanation of the changes you envision.
Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Students in grades K–12, get ready to unleash your creativity and engineering genius in the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest! Design a wonderfully wacky chain-reaction machine that completes a simple task in the most delightfully complicated way possible, and show off your STEM skills with style!
STEM Shout Out!
Congratulations to Everglades Preparatory Academy
Everglades Preparatory Academy has received a grant from the Florida Association for Water Quality Control (FAWQC) to bring the ‘Rain to Roots: Sustainable Rainwater Harvesting’ project to life! This initiative will make a lasting impact on water conservation and student learning.
Special Thanks to Mrs. Gregos, CSA Science & STEM Supervisor
cgregos@charterk12.com