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Looking for something to do over the Winter Break? We got you covered. Take this quiz created by iBioMed Content Creation Team to help you make a choice. <b>Created by: Madelyn Hogan, Isabelle Ragany, and Jocelyn Xu</b>

Looking for something to do over the Winter Break? We got you covered. Take this quiz created by iBioMed Content Creation Team to help you make a choice. Created by: Madelyn Hogan, Isabelle Ragany, and Jocelyn Xu

Projects for the Winter Break

What kind of project are you looking for?

What kind of supplies would you like to work with?

What project difficulty are you looking for?

How long would you like to spend on the project?

What did you spend holidays playing with as a kid?

What is your favourite holiday movie?

How would you prefer to work on the project?

What is your favorite holiday treat?

With your creative eye for design, you seem suited to create a personal website! Whether you are just getting into web development, or already have a solid understanding in the field, creating a personal website is a great way to showcase your work and explore your design skills.
Feel free to start off with HTML and CSS, use libraries like React, or even create your portfolio on website creator sites like WIX. The best part about this project is that you can keep updating your website as you go!

The resources for this project are endless, but here are a few to get you started:
On Wix: “How to Make a Personal Website: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide.”
https://www.wix.com/blog/2020/03/how-to-make-a-personal-website/ (accessed Dec. 03, 2021).
“How to create a website using HTML and CSS in 7 steps • Code The Web.”
https://codetheweb.blog/steps-to-creating-a-website/ (accessed Dec. 03, 2021).
“How to create your portfolio website using React.js.”
https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/portfolio-app-using-react-618814e35843/ (accessed Dec. 03, 2021).

Create a Personal Website

Tis the season to get creative! A great project for you would be to create personalized lightup greeting cards with LEDs! This is a great way to send your loved ones a nice holiday message, while also learning more about circuits. If you have the resources, you can make your own printed circuit board, or even just purchase a few components and LEDs to add a twist to your regular arts and crafts.

There are many ways you can approach this lit project, but here are some resources with supplies and instructions to get you started:
Pop-up paper cards: “Light-Up Father’s Day Card - learn.sparkfun.com.”
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/light-up-fathers-day-card (accessed Dec. 03, 2021).
With circuit boards: “LED Heart PWM Fading - Introduction | PyroElectro - News, Projects & Tutorials.” http://www.pyroelectro.com/projects/led_heart_pwm_fading/index.html
(accessed Dec. 03, 2021).

Create personalized greeting cards that light up with LEDs!

You seem well suited to create a proposal to help us transition from online to in-person activities! With your interests in research and data, you could investigate the transition for educational institutions, businesses, workplaces, or all the above! There are many factors to consider socioeconomically and health-wise, so take the time to dive into the research and share your proposal with those around you. Feel free to work on this project with a partner or a group so you can discuss your ideas!

Create a back-to-school proposal for transitioning from online to in-person activities

You seem suited to make an Arduino-powered light-up puzzle board! This project consists of making a reed-switch array with light-up LEDs. You will gain an understanding of reed switches and magnetic fields all while creating a fun little puzzle game. You also have the opportunity to use a 3D printer to create the casing for your puzzle! This project is a little more involved and may take several days to a week to complete, but in the end, you will have learned a little bit about Arduinos and their code as well! 
Feel free to work on this project with a partner as well!
“Arduino Magnetic Board : 8 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables.”
https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-Magnetic-Board/ (accessed Dec. 02, 2021).

Create an Arduino-powered light board that glows with the movement of a magnetic -Magnetic Board

Based on your answers, a great project for you would be creating a game using Python’s pygame library. This is a fantastic opportunity to get started with Python or continue building on the skills you already have. A great starting point is exploring the pygame library using the tutorials provided or from your own self-guided research. Once you feel comfortable with the library, you can start the design of your very own game or follow a tutorial!

Exploring the pygame library tutorial: https://coderslegacy.com/python/python-pygametutorial/
“Python pygame - The full tutorial,” CodersLegacy, 19-Sep-2021.
https://coderslegacy.com/python/python-pygame-tutorial/. (Accessed: 05-Dec-2021).
Bunnies and Moles Game Design: https://www.electronicsforu.com/electronicsprojects/
creating-game-using-python 
Saiswetha, “Create game using Python in ten minutes,” Electronics For You, 20-Apr-
2021. https://www.electronicsforu.com/electronics-projects/creating-game-usingpython.
(Accessed: 05-Dec-2021).
Snake Game Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dfePlONtls
“Code a snake game with Python and Pygame 🐍 - YouTube.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dfePlONtls. (Accessed: 05-Dec-2021).

Learn about Python’s pygame library and create your own game

Get ready to test your creativity and engineering skills! A good project for you would be to design your very own Rube Goldberg machine. A Rube Goldberg machine is a machine that is designed to perform a simple task in a complicated and indirect manner. Through a series of chain reactions, you will be able to accomplish a task and witness all the energy transfers as you go! The best part is that you can use any materials around you. Dominoes, magnets, cups, bowls, string, breadboards, and LEDs are only a few of the materials you could incorporate into your design. Be creative and have fun.

Not sure where to get started? Check you this youtube video: https://youtu.be/iemItSAT9Ew
“How to build a Rube Goldberg machine - youtube.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iemItSAT9Ew. (Accessed: 05-Dec-2021).

Design a Rube Goldberg machine

Based on your answers, a good project for you would be to 3D model a holiday-themed object! There are two cool options, depending on what you prefer: a cookie cutter or a gingerbread house! Each of these can be easily created using AutoDesk Inventor and the difficulty of the project is up to you and your imagination! There are many examples available on the internet if you need to get the creative juices flowing. If you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your file and put it to use for the holiday season! 

Some resources to get you started are attached below.
“Making a cookie cutter for 3D printing with Inventor - YouTube.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdTCAJj509w (accessed Dec. 02, 2021).
“Cookie Cutter Screencast: Autodesk Inventor - YouTube.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YIr9iui5U4 (accessed Dec. 02, 2021).
“Gingerbread House | 3D CAD Model Library | GrabCAD.”
https://grabcad.com/library/gingerbread-house-2 (accessed Dec. 02, 2021).
“Gingerbread House|Autodesk Online Gallery.”
https://gallery.autodesk.com/projects/gingerbread-house-1 (accessed Dec. 02, 2021).

3D model a cookie cutter or gingerbread house

Based on your answers, a good project for the holidays for you is an investigatory project! We have provided some possible topics that are currently trending in the news below, but the extent and difficulty of this project is up to you! Feel free to work on this project with a partner and spend as much time on it as desired; this could even be a continuing project past the winter break! The goal is to get a thorough understanding of some of the important topics in the news lately, and the appearance of this is flexible. It could follow the form of a report, a lesson plan,
or a presentation that you can show your friends and family!

Possible topics include: (1) Pesticides in Agriculture (2) BRCA1 Gene Modification (3)
Microfluidic technologies and organ-on-a-chip (4) Machine Learning (5) Self-Healing Materials

Investigatory project into fertilizers (harmful or useful?), sunblock, microencapsulation

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Projects for the Winter Break

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