Elementary Workshops Mad Science always gives age-appropriate scientific explanations. Some topics are better suited to different ages and grades. Please note grade recommendations after some program titles. ATMOSPHERE AND BEYOND Students will discover the properties of the air around us and explore the atmosphere of Earth, and those of planets beyond. They use their very own Shimmering Stars box to see how an atmosphere affects our view of the star and the advantage of observing the stars from space! BE TOBACCO FREE best for grades 3 and up Through a completely hands-on, exciting, educational and entertaining in-class field trip, children will experience first-hand the unpleasant and unhealthy aspects of tobacco use. Clear the air on tobacco with activities such as: Smoking and Your Heart and Mechanical Smoke. Also available as an assembly. BLACK AND BLUE OCEANS best for grades 3 and up Students will devise and test oil spill techniques in a mock oil spill and learn all about the pollution that plagues the oceans. CHEM IN A FLASH Hop on board the chemistry express for a high-speed science experience! Perform instantaneous experiments in this fast-paced class on split-second reactions that go like mad! Pick up an Action Flask and have a blast! DINOSAURS best for grades K-2 Examine real fossil casts, and explore the differences in the teeth of herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. Students will participate in a mini dinosaur excavation and make a cast of a dinosaur tooth to take home. DRY ICE CAPADES Requires Electricity or Hot Water Children will be introduced to the scientific concepts of phase changes and states of matter. They will witness the phenomenon of sublimation as we demonstrate the unique properties of dry ice and the spectacular smoke it creates. The children will learn that dry ice is really frozen carbon dioxide and will experience the Mad Science burp, a display of bubbling potions and, finally, a thrilling grand finale! Discover the science behind Hollywood Special Effects like Bubbling Potions and Clouds of Fog.
ELECTRICITY best for grades 3 and up Excite some electrons as you construct some serious circuits during this program all about electricity. Test various materials for conductivity with space-age plasma balls. Make your own circuit tester to keep! GLOW SHOW Discover amazing things that glow bright in the dark and come to light! Probe the properties of light and explore some unusual applications of glow-in-the dark technology! GOOD VIBRATIONS best for grades 3 and up Introduce students to the concepts of sound transmission and creation. See and hear how sound waves travel. Learn about the anatomy behind vocal cords and hearing. Discover how sound effects are created and listen to your voice through our Sound Fx Generator! HARNESSING HEAT Requires Electricity Fast moving molecules are the main attraction in this exploration of energy and heat. Children will see Boyle s law in action, as we show how air behaves when heated or cooled, and will also learn the role heat plays in phase changes. The children will partake in the tasty miracle of science we know as Cotton Candy. JUNIOR REACTORS Create a tiny world of atoms with your very own set of Atomic Coins! Children will learn the difference between physical and chemical reactions as they perform and observe engaging experiments. Junior scientists will discover how small atoms are and mix up reactive ingredients for some sensational results! LAB WORKS Use your hands as a real Mad Scientist in this whirlwind class on how a lab works! Learn to manipulate laboratory equipment at your personal lab bench, and take home your very own Graduated Gear to continue your research! LIGHTS...COLOR...ACTION Requires Electricity & Darkened Room Using a Newton s color wheel that they have built themselves, students in this class will prove that white light really is made up of all the colors of the rainbow! They will witness the wonders of chromatography in an exciting demonstration and will then be introduced to the concept of diffraction.
LIVING IN SPACE Students will set out on a mission to investigate life in space! Children will see the special adaptations needed to live in space, learn about mission training techniques and participate in the construction of a model space station. Students go home with a Cosmic Chronometer to keep track of Earth time! MAGNETS Age appropriate discussions of the concept of magnetism. Students will investigate the powers and daily uses of magnets! In this class, the children will learn about polarity, will visualize magnetic fields, and see how a compass is made. They will even use invisible magnetic fields to levitate magnets! MATTER OF FACT In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of chemistry. They will construct marshmallow molecules. They ll learn to distinguish between physical & chemical changes like true scientists! To finish up, children are introduced to the basics of polymers and get to make their very own polymer putty to take home! MINERAL MANIA best for grades 3 and up Recreate the process of rock formation and devise ways to identify and classify rocks and minerals. Experience the thrill of panning for gems; the gems you find, you can take home for further study and investigation. MISSION NUTRITION Learn the basics about nutrition and fitness while focusing on a healthy diet and lifestyle. We will also look at the role of carbohydrates, protein and fat and improve our understanding of how food is used to fuel our bodies. Everyone will receive a Mad Science Step-O-Meter, a real pedometer! OPTICAL ILLUSIONS Children will build their own periscope while learning about optics, reflection and sight. They will study optical illusions and observe that the brain is easily fooled. Seeing is not always believing... ph PHACTOR Slide down the colorful ph scale and dip into the world of acids and bases! Explore the ph extremes with your Reaction Tube in what is sure-to-be a popping experience! Discover whether liquids found in your home are acids or bases using your personal ph Paper!
PLANETS AND MOONS Explore the farthest reaches of our solar system and create a lunar eclipse in this mad planetary tour! Learn how the planets stack up. Build and take home Kepler s Cube, a fun and educational 3-D Solar System puzzle! PLAYING WITH POLYMERS best for grades 3 and up An excellent vehicle for introducing students to the concepts of basic polymer chemistry. Discussion of the physical and chemical properties of matter. See how different polymers play an important role in our everyday lives and understand the chemistry behind these products and their applications. Students will make and take home their chemical creation: Mad Science Slime! ROCKET DEMO Workshop partially performed outside In this class, students will learn the basic principles of rocket flight. They will learn about forces and propulsion through fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations. The Mad Scientist will then prepare a rocket for flight, explain pre-launch safety procedures, and then will head outside for the grand finale the rocket launch! SEEKING OUR SENSES best for grades K-2 Explore all five senses. Test your vision with optical illusions, experiment with your hearing, and try your hand at reading Braille. SLIME best for grades K-2 It s ooey and gooey, but it s not chewy: a fun introduction to polymer chemistry for younger students. Discuss the properties of polymers and witness their behavior. Make your own cup of Mad Science Slime to experiment with. A fun way to reward students and teach them at the same time! SONIC SOUNDS Discover the exciting properties of sound in these sonic sixty minutes. Children will learn how sound travels and how household items can be used to create amazing movie effects. Students complete the class with a "Sonic Horn" take-home! SPACE PHENOMENA In Space Phenomena, students will explore the phenomenal events that take place in the night sky. Children will create their own impact craters, and observe model meteors fall through a model atmosphere. After exploring the composition of real comets, students will make comet balls to take home with them!
SPACE TECHNOLOGY Space Technology starts with an exploration of space-related technologies used on Earth. Students will help laser light through a maze, use principles of radar technology to find hidden mountains, and discover the importance of points of reference to depth perception. From there, it's out into space with the launch of a satellite into orbit (at the edge of their desks) and an examination of potential threats to spacecraft. Children will leave revved up by an investigation of shuttle fuel! SPACE TRAVEL Students will launch their investigation of rocket propulsion using the compressed air inside balloons for thrust. The class will race balloon rockets and be challenged to devise a balloon-powered rocket car. Experimenting with the fast-moving air produced by spinning propellers, students will build a unique Shuttle Copter to take home. SUN AND STARS In this class, students will investigate the Sun and distant stars, and the galaxies they form. The class concludes with a three-dimensional exploration of the Big Dipper that students will be able to take home with them. SUPER STICKY STUFF Stick experiments to the walls and push the power of tape to the limits in this adhesive hour with things that cling! Children will experiment with different sticky materials and learn about the origins of Velcro. TANTALIZING TASTE Experiment with taste sensations while mapping out your tongue. Use Life Saver testing to compare your sense of smell and taste... THE DIRT ON GARBAGE Learn about garbage and the importance of reducing, recycling and reusing. The other R that we shouldn t forget about is responsibility. Everyone has to work together to try to produce less garbage. How are some ways that we can do that? TURN UP THE VOLUME best for grades 3 and up This workshop introduces the concept of measurement through hands on activities that provide opportunities for children to learn proper way to measure volume. We use displacement to help them visualize!
WATTS-UP Requires Electricity & Darkened Room Children will learn about the phenomenon of lightning and how to avoid meeting with it up close! They will experiment with static electric charges they have created and will then learn & observe how the Van de Graaff generator does it so well. Children will have the opportunity to collect static charges & watch this hair-raising experience with delight! WHERE S THE AIR? best for grades K-2 This dynamic class explores the concepts of air pressure and buoyancy through hands-on experimentation and thought-provoking demonstrations.