In-Class Workshops Would you like to enhance your science curriculum? Mad Science s in-class interactive workshops are aligned to STEM objectives, California Curriculum Standards, as well as the new NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). With professional lesson plans, unique equipment, and animated instructors, Mad Science Workshops are an ideal way to reinforce core science concepts. Our hands-on approach, and focus on science and engineering practices teaches kids about the fun of science and helps to spark their imaginations! Designed by a professional team of educators and scientists, Mad Science workshops are designed to meet curriculum requirements and STEM objectives. Students will have the opportunity to learn by asking questions, observing demonstrations, completing experiments, and building take-home projects. In addition, our programs have been correlated to match your curriculum requirements for every grade level. Benefits for teachers Teachers do not always have the time and resources required to prepare interactive science programs. Mad Science s experienced instructors come right into the teacher s classroom with all the equipment, supplies, and staff. Our programs are fun, educational and focus on real world science and engineering practices that work to reinforce science concepts and methodologies.
How it works for teachers Choose one, or a series, of workshops from our extensive list of science topics. We can help you select topics to meet your specific needs. I have attached a list of our available workshop topics for your reference. Book a date and time (It is suggested that you reserve your workshop approximately 4 weeks in advance) Mad Science workshops last between 30 minutes and 45 minutes for preschool students and 1 hour for K-5th students. The day of the workshop - Have fun! Let us do the work!! Benefits for students Children will learn about science by touching, feeling, and even tasting their science experiments. We leave students inspired and hungry to learn more. We spark imaginative learning! For questions, concerns, or ordering please contact us via Email: workshops@madsciencemd.com Phone: 925-687-1900
A) LIFE & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Biology Bugs!, Children get engrossed in entomology! They find out that insects are arthropods and inspect authentic insect specimens. Insect anatomy is introduced and examined up-close. A container of creepy crawlers is divided into insects and non-insects. An ultraviolet powder demonstration lights up the truth on how insects spread pollen. Children learn how insects adapt by building insect puzzles at habitat stations. They examine a bag of insect defense representations and choose the one they want. An Insect-A-Vision Take-Home kit allows the junior entomologist to get bug-eyed at home! All About Animals What is an animal? Feathers, fins, fur and more! Children explore the animal kingdom and learn about habitats, anatomy and life cycles of their favorite creatures. They experiment with camouflage, and explore the amazing sounds that animals make. Children step into the shoes of a naturalist and make their own animal track cast to take home. Life in the Sea The ocean holds many mysteries and deep-sea creatures that seem more alien than earthly. Children learn about the vast range of life found in the sea from plankton to sponges to whales! Children learn how plants and animals are adapted to their ocean habitats, and find out what humans can do to protect ocean life. Children bring the ocean home with a viewer and 3-D images of some wild underwater wonders. Taste Buds Put on your lab coat and stick out your tongue as you discover the delicious biology behind your taste buds. Body Basics, Study the science of your insides by learning about the major systems of the human body. Learn about how your food is digested, how your blood flows through your body and how your brain controls all of these parts. Dinosaurs 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. Cells
This hands-on workshop provides students with an introduction to cell structure, including an understanding that cells are the building blocks of all living things, basic cell process and cell division. Heredity (Grades 6-8) This workshop is designed specifically for Grades 5-8. It involves a number of hands-on activities that will help students learn about such terms as heredity, traits, genes, genotype, phenotype, chromosome and cell division. This workshop includes a teacher s guide outlining activities to be performed with the class using material left behind after the workshop, and a student activity book. DNA (Grades 6-8) This workshop is being developed specifically for Grades 6-8, and will focus on one of the hottest topics in science today: DNA. An introduction to molecular biology will begin with the study of human chromosomes, how we inherit them and their composition. Students will take a close look at DNA by assembling a DNA model that they will be able to take home and will get to see real live DNA as they learn the molecular technique of DNA spooling. A teacher s guide and student activity workbook will be included with this workshop. Inner Workings (Grades 6-8) This workshop will take an in-depth look at two of our organ systems: what they look like and how they operate. Students will learn to locate, name and orient the organs that make up these two systems and discuss how they interact. Students will examine the digestive tract and develop and appreciation for its length and complexity. Students will have the opportunity to measure their own blood pressure and construct a two-pump heart model to clearly explain the function of this powerful organ. A teacher guide and student activity workbook will be included with this workshop. Nature Play the nature scavenger hunt that combines science exploration with the animal kingdom! Campers learn about life cycles and animal habits, and even replicate an animal's footprints. The Birds & The Beasts Where do owls live and what do they eat? How do some bugs walk on water? How do ants collect all their food? These questions and more will be answered with a walk on the wild side of things to explore owls, birds and all kinds of bugs. Wiggly World of Worms This workshop will provide preschoolers with an opportunity to get their hands dirty while learning all about worms. They will work with magnifying glasses to get an up close look at the lives and habits of worms. Eye to Eye
This workshop will introduce students to their sense of sight. They will experiment with magnifying glasses, kaleidoscopes and binoculars. The preschoolers will also interact with a variety of optical illusions to illustrate that your eyes can sometimes play tricks on you. Digging for Dinosaurs Dinosaurs are always a huge hit with children, especially preschoolers. They will be introduced to the differences between meat eating and plant eating animals and will have the opportunity to look at some dinosaur teeth up close. They will also work as paleontologists by participating in a mini dinosaur dig that will engage their attention as well as their scientific skills. Human Body Meet Mr. Bones and learn about muscles and body systems. Animal Friends Become an animal, identify animal sounds, and learn all about animal s babies and parents. Taste and Smell Join us for a journey through your taste buds and sense of smell. This class will introduce preschoolers to their sense of smell and of taste and how they help them to enjoy all of their favorite foods and smells, as well as those that are not as pleasant. Students will create their very own scented pictures to take home. Butterflies The preschoolers will learn all about butterflies where they come from, stages of their growth, how they eat and even make some of their own to take home during this workshop. Fluttering Birds Children will be excited to learn all about their fine feathered friends when they take an up close look at birds. They will discover how to match bird mates, see what eggs are produced by which species; learn how a bird s beak is a tool and how to identify different bird s songs. Preschoolers will take home bird warblers to practice their bird songs at home. Let s Look Closely Children will discover a world that they might not have realized was there through the use of mirrors, microscopes and magnifying glasses. They will reveal hidden pictures learn about reflection and symmetry and use hand held microscopes to observe objects closely. They will take away plastic magnifying glasses to continue their exploration at home. Botany
Photosynthesis This workshop provides students with an introduction to photosynthesis, including an understanding of the chemical processes at work in the plant, plant respiration, and the role of plants in food webs. Soil and Seeds (Camp) The first session, children will learn where things grow, the different characteristics of seeds, and explore what seeds become. They will perform a seed dissection and compare their seeds to objects like pebbles, learn about the different ways that seeds are planted in nature, and how plants travel through their seeds. Children will make their own seed badges to take home! Sun, Wind and Rain (Camp) In the second session, children will discover what types of weather are vital for a healthy garden. They will, learn to identify basic weather conditions; and perform an experiment to learn about how waterfall and wind shape a garden. Children will make their very own sun visors to wear when they work in a garden! Plants and Leaves (Camp) In the third session, children will explore the different parts of plants and leaves. They will, try some activities to learn more about their characteristics, from performing leaf rubbings to add to their camp journals to examining plants and leaves under a microscope designed for preschoolers. Children will make their very own Budding Bean necklace to take home! Flowers, Fruits and Veggies (Camp) In the fourth session, children will investigate what plants produce. They examine the different parts of flowers, fruits, and vegetables using their microscopes, create their very own plants and flowers in their journals, and make frame-able prints of fruits and vegetables to take home! Butterflies, Ladybugs and Bees (Camp) In the final session, children will examine the other inhabitants of the garden, including butterflies, ladybugs, and bees, and learn how these creatures help a garden grow. They will learn about pollination, how bugs see, and basic bug anatomy. They will make their own butterfly bracelets to take home, together with the camp journal that they have been working on throughout The Garden! camp. Health Mission: Nutrition Step into some healthy habits! Put together a food pie and lay out a perfectly proportioned meal. See how much energy burning calories can give you. Clip on your Step-O-Meter and walk on!
Be Tobacco Free Be Tobacco Free is a one hour workshop designed to target children in grades K-6 to dispel many of the myths surrounding tobacco s effects on the body. A pre and post package provides educators with additional resources to augment the program delivered by Mad Science. This has been used by many franchisees during Red Ribbon Week in the U.S. Be Sun Smart Created for a partnership with L Oreal via its Sun care Institute with its Ombrelle brand of sunscreen, it is a 30 minute workshop targeted for kids in grades K-6. The primary message is that UV radiation created by the sun can damage your skin if you do not appropriately protect yourself. It was promoted during Sun Awareness weeks in the spring in both the U.S. and Canada. The Great Brush Off This workshop was created in partnership with Gillette as part of its Oral B division for education in schools about the need to change your toothbrush every 3 months to maintain proper dental habits to last a lifetime. It was a 15 minute plug-in to existing programs and therefore only contains 3-4 activities. Build Your Bones This workshop was created in partnership with Lactancia for a calcium awareness campaign in Canada. It features experiments for audiences of children in grades K-6 about bone health. It continues to be run as part of a special event sponsored by a large dairy for Mad Science of Hawaii using state funding. Healthy Choices Preschoolers will be introduced to basic nutrition in this hands-on workshop. They will discover what makes a healthy meal and why they need to keep eating fruits and vegetables to grow strong! Environmental Science Super Power Sources Children check out the source behind electric power by working out how to generate electricity and by using mechanical force to turn on light bulbs and fans. They search for renewable and non-renewable resources and find out what makes a battery work. Children take home a hand-crank flashlight as a renewable source of sunshine! Black and Blue Oceans Students will devise and test oil spill techniques in a mock oil spill and learn all about the pollution that plagues the oceans.
Earthworks Children dig-in to Earth science! Earth s layers are introduced with a spotlight on its outer rocky layer. Children check out three rock samples to find out how they were made and where they were formed. They inspect minerals with an ultraviolet light to see them fluoresce. They model the moving plates that cause bends and breaks in the Earth s solid rock layer. Tremors are created to tip a tower, and then things get rocky with the Experi-tube Take-Home. Children can make it and shake it to see sediment settle into layers! Earth Awareness How are we hurting Mother Earth? Discover how science will help us protect our planet. Children will understand the basics of water pollution, acid rain, and the benefits of solar energy. By actively recycling their own garbage, they will make their very own paper to take home and actually use! The Dirt on Garbage This workshop was created for Earth Day programs in schools for grades K-6 as it features the science behind the 3 R s reduce, reuse and recycle. Walloping Weather Children get weather-wise in this climate-controlled class! A demonstration using heat sensitive paper and a flashlight brings to light the reasons for seasons. Children discover how air affects weather, and perform a test to prove that air is everywhere. Children try out tools that meteorologists use to measure weather. They create three-day weather forecasts for cities around the world and stage a statically charged indoor storm. Children take home the color-changing Sun Beads kit to detect ultraviolet light from the sun. Decomposers Take some worms add a little garbage and what do you get - fertilized soil and a whole lot of fun! This workshop allows children to gain an understanding of the concept of decomposition. Exploring Ecosystems Investigate the interconnections present in nature. This workshop will introduce students to the elements of ecosystems. Students will build ecosystem models, explore the elements of energy webs, reflect on how humans impact ecosystems, and use field journals for everyday explorations and more. Mineral Mania 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. Sea, Sand & Surf
Children will explore the science of the sea when they learn about what sand is made from, how shells are used by animals for protection and what animals live in the ocean. They will make their own ocean bottle to take home.
B) PHYSICAL SCIENCE Aerodynamics Fantastic Flyers Take flight into the world of aeronautics as you discover how the 4 forces of flight help things soar into the sky. Build all kinds of paper aircraft and make a Skyhawk plane to take home to continue your high flying adventure! The Wright Stuff Children will explore the fundamentals of aerodynamics in this hands-on program about how things fly. From the basic principles of flight to building airplanes, testing them in wind tunnels, to hovercraft and balloon helicopter building, children will understand what makes things fly and how different types of aircraft fly. Campers will take home a rubber band powered airplane, various paper airplane designs, balloon helicopters, boomerangs and mini Frisbees. It s An Up Thing! This program will explore the role that wind and the movement of air plays on simple flying devices such as kites, hot air balloons and parachutes. Children will experiment with solar bags, parachutes and build their own kites and windsocks during this hands-on look at early flight. The Milky Way What is the Milky Way and how do we know what s up there? Children will explore the celestial sphere, learn about celestial navigation and build their own sextant, sundial, planisphere and even a refracting telescope while discovering the wonders of the Milky Way. Newton s Loco-Motion Sir Isaac Newton was very curious about how things move. Discover Newton s Laws of Motion and something called inertia in this hands-on program all about motion. Children will experiment to learn how inertia works and how gravity is a physical force that keeps all objects stuck to the Earth. They will build a gravity simulator, and an inertia tester to take home to continue their exploration of motion at home. Chemistry Lab Works Students become lab scientists-in-training in this whirlwind program on laboratory techniques! Each student will learn to manipulate an assortment of lab equipment in a series of hands-on activities. They will learn to transfer droplets using a pipette, and larger quantities using a stirring rod. They will also learn
to swirl with an Erlenmeyer flask. The one-hour program ends with a cool demonstration by the instructor to show off the lab techniques learned in class. The students will continue lab training with their Take- Home Graduated Gear kit. Junior Reactors students are introduced to the concepts of atoms and reactions! A demonstration of the differences between physical and chemical reactions is followed by a hands-on series of experiments. The relative size of an atom is introduced in a cutting edge race as the children try to reduce a strip of paper down to its atomic size! The class wraps up with a creative molecular session. The children explore how atoms join together and how molecules react using their Take-Home Atomic Coins kit. ph Phactor Students explore the crazy chemistry of acids and bases in this fascinating one-hour program on the ph scale. The ph Phactors hydrogen and hydroxide give a colorful introduction, and the Phantastic ph test is applied to common household chemicals. Students are challenged to bring a mystery liquid to a perfect ph balance. The Phestival ends with a Stopper-Popper reaction! Slime Time The Mad Science slime recipe is revealed in this ooey gooey chemistry class! Students will learn about slime and its basic ingredients in a series of hands-on activities. Polymer paper clips and cross-linking magnetic marbles will help to examine the key components of slime. Varied concoctions of slime will stir up in scientific style, and the properties of slime will be tested in a team-spirited fashion at the Slime Olympics! Chem in a Flash Children take a trip through several fields of chemistry and discover the factors that can change the rate of a reaction. The class begins with a role-playing activity in which volunteers act out two different rates of reaction. This is followed by a hands-on demonstration on oxidation where the role of salt as a catalyst is observed. The instructor demonstrates quick-acting reactions such as precipitation and acidbase reactions, followed by a balloon-expanding experiment to test limiting reagents (factors). Children will explore crystallization and receive a Take-Home Action Flask kit to perform more experiments. The class wraps up with a color-changing electrolysis demonstration that covers these cool chemical concepts. The Glow Show This class concentrates on how we perceive light and its effect on objects. The concept of how colors are perceived in white light is presented using a hands-on, tricolor experiment. Next, the nature of fluorescence and phosphorescence are unveiled in a black light demonstration. A discussion on the commercial applications of glow-in-the-dark products is followed by a challenge to find fluorescing materials among common objects. Chemiluminescence is demystified using a flashlight analogy. The students take part in a role-playing game that provides them with an understanding of the security features
used in making real money. A Take-Home Blacklight Writer kit allows students to create security codes for their personal Mad Money. Super Sticky Stuff Children will get stuck on science in this one-hour class on sticky stuff! The class begins with a close-up examination of how Velcro hook-and- loop fasteners work. This is followed by a hands-on experiment with different types of tape adhesives. Wet glues are introduced in two inquiry-based experiments. Children learn how to perform a ranking test, and determine the optimal glue to use on various materials. A hands-on activity using scientific labware and everyday items introduce the concepts of suction, hydrogen bonding, and static cling. The children assemble their Take-Home Professor Beakerdude kit, a set of reusable adhesives and a beaker that they can use to perform experiments. Dry Ice Capades Children in this class will probe the shifting states of matter through a series of engaging demonstrations and inquiry-based activities. The class warms up with a molecular movement exercise to learn about the three states of matter. Next, students observe melted and resolidified metal a shift of states from solid to liquid right before their eyes. Dry ice the star of the show used in a series of tests, under the guidance of the instructor, explores the properties of matter at extreme temperatures. Children use balloons to help visualize the volumetric difference between matter in solid and gaseous states. The class rolls toward a grand finale that engages the group in catching a cloud! Che-mystery Discover the differences between chemical and physical reactions. Discover how water can turn into wine, how carbonation makes you burp and what a non-newtonian fluid is. Make your own bouncing polymer to take home! Kitchen Chemistry Children get clued in on the chemical reactions that occur when they prepare, analyze, and digest their food. The class gets cooking with a color-changing solution display. Children divide common kitchen activities into chemical and physical reactions. A balloon blow-up demonstration helps them discover that yeast makes bread rise. Children test food samples in search of nutrients, starch, and protein. They discover what happens after they eat and digest nutrient-rich foods with their own Digestor Inspector Take-Home. Mix It Up Children shake up solutions and make mixtures with common household elements. They learn about the parts of mixtures and filter soap from a salty solution. Children use a carbon filter to clean up colored water and follow a color-changing experiment to see how useful a suspension can be. Children try out the tools and techniques of mixture sorting and take home a sorting kit.
Slippery Science This class demystifies one of the most beneficial molecules know to humankind Polymers! Playing with Polymers Dissolve Styrofoam with a mystery chemical and make your very own slime to take home and experiment with. Crazy Chemistry Become a Mad Science chemist as you learn all about the chemistry things that you encounter everyday in your house and school. Discover how chemical reactions are everywhere and how you can figure out if a chemical change has occurred right before your very eyes. Mix, mush and brew together different chemicals to create things that you can use in this hands-on outdoor chemistry lab. Radical Reactions What holds atoms and molecules together? What happens to these bonds during chemical reactions? Mad scientists will use this day to study chemical reactions in depth. These reactions will include those that give off heat (exothermic), reactions that require heat (endothermic), reactions that proceed at a very fast pace, reactions that go to far and must try to return home (to equilibrium), and reactions that proceed in spite of the fact that they shouldn t. Chemical Counting Explore fundamental nuts and bolts of chemistry, starting with the principle of chemically counting using the chemists unit of measure, a mole. Figure out the contents of a mystery solution using standard chemical reactions, and then campers will apply the principles of analysis in assaying real, off-the-shelf pain relief tablets for aspirin content. Cool molecular model building introduces chemical structure and bonding, and electrochemistry rounds out the day. The topics here range from creating electrical current using chemical systems (exactly as a battery does) to plating (chemically bonding) one metal onto another. Matter of Fact Explore molecules and how they are held together. See the dramatic differences between physical and chemical changes as you mix up a batch of your very own Mad Science Putty to take home. Spin, Pop Boom (Special Event) The audience will be amazed when the Mad Scientist is able to defy gravity in this energetic and spectacular special event. The children will be enthralled with the exotic sounds of the didgeridoo tubes. They will watch as the Mad Scientist creates an extra hand, to help with some of the more complicated experiments. An explosion of foam will help to end this event and leave the audience begging for more. Reactions in Action (Birthday Party)
What a party this will be as children get to see sand that is afraid of water and money that appears to disappear in thin air. They will also get to try a plasma ball and make their very own superballs to take home using a Bouncing Polymer Kit. Air Blast (Birthday Party) The guests at your party will be amazed by this spectacular event where they will see amazing experiments performed right before their eyes. Kids check out disintegrating foam, tornadoes whirling about indoors and that a pin that can pierce a balloon without breaking it. They will have their picture taken with a twist and will make their very own unique Mad Science Putty to take home. Engineering Super Structures Calling all junior engineers! Test out the basics of architectural design and structural engineering in this hands-on class about structures. Explore how triangles, arches and bridges shape our structures and apply some engineering to your very own bridge. Jr. Engineers Check out shapes and why they are so strong! Investigate arches, and geodesic domes. Discover why an egg s shape is so strong and how you can find this shape in buildings. Test loads and build some bridges when you put on an engineer s hat and learn about structures. Shapes and Structures Children will discover different shapes and structures by using different kinds of equipment like Geoboards and Magnatiles. They will create their own structure to take home using cornstarch based noodles. Space Planets and Moons: Students set off on a voyage to discover the Solar System. Students impersonate the planets to compare their sizes and distances from the Sun, recreate a solar and lunar eclipse, and become particles on a voyage into a planet's core. Students build planetary puzzle cubes to take home; these cubes can be put together to form images that are out of this world! Atmosphere and Beyond: Students will discover the properties of the air around us and explore the atmosphere of Earth and those of planets beyond. Students will be challenged to keep Arny the Aquanaut dry during an underwater walk,
and to create their very own sunset. Children will assemble the atmospheres of other planets, and 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! 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 a friendly game of satellite tag designed to teach students about reflected light, students watch a model comet form right before their eyes. After exploring the composition of real comets, students will make comet balls to take home with them! Sun and Stars Students will investigate the Sun and distant stars, and the galaxies they form. Children will explore stellar life cycles, create new solar systems, and make their own constellations. The class concludes with a 3 dimensional exploration of the Big Dipper that students will be able to take home with them. 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. For our grand finale, students will witness a thrilling model rocket launch, and learn the meticulous preparations necessary to send up a rocket! 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! 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! Space Day Young astronauts explore the mysteries of the solar system. Children will discover how astronauts live and work in space. The sun, the moon, the stars, and gravity are only a few of the things that must be dealt with on this Mad Science space mission.
Space Frontiers Take your class on a trip through the solar system and sign them up for the Mad Science Astronaut in training program where they will learn all about the elements of space. Students will even get to take their very own mini rocket home. Physics Harnessing Heat Take on temperature! Shake up a storm and see how friction creates heat. Feel how hot and cold can change at a touch. Apply your red-hot knowledge on your very own Heat Sheet! Lights... Color... Action! Celebrate the science of color! Split your name in ink and reveal numbers with color filters. Make a rainbow out of white light and try on diffraction lenses. Color the world with your very own Technicolor Blender! Magnetic Magic Explore the power of magnets! Create electromagnets and control a compass needle. See a magnetic accelerator in action. Take home your very own Magnet Lab to continue your research! Optical Illusions Work against your eyes! Trick your brain with lines and coils. Discover how mirrors and their reflections can play tricks on what you see. Try to touch a mirage. Make a Periscope to see above and beyond! Sonic Sounds Uncover the source of sound! Tap into sound wave transmission and fill your ears with vibrations. Create a story with sound effects and change the pitch of your voice. Use your Sonic Horn to make some noise! Watts-Up Charge up on static electricity! Make indoor lightning and conduct hair-raising experiments with our electro-static generator. Use your Static Stick to test the movement of electrons in your home! Current Events Build series and parallel circuits while learning how moving electrons make electricity flow. Test a circuit with a fuse, build a stress tester and challenge your friends to a circuit maze in this electrifying class on the basics of electricity.
Funda-mental Forces Find out about forces by doing experiments on gravity, centripetal and inertia. Check out a gyroscope, make cars fly down a track and do a few balancing tricks to discover how forces shape motion. Under Pressure Air is all around us, it has mass and it takes up space. Discover how Bernoulli s principle can keep things in the air and how we can use air pressure to move things. Build an air blaster and harness the power of pressure at home! Mad Science Machines Children discover how simple machines make our lives easier. They learn about the six different types of simple machines: the screw, lever, inclined plane, wedge, pulley, and wheel and axle. Children launch with levers, secure with screws, and work with wedges through hands-on activities! A large child-operated pulley system demonstrates how pulleys help us move heavy objects easily. Children apply their newfound mechanical knowledge by building their very own Drag Racer Take-Home! Science of Toys Children test, play, and ponder over what makes toys work. They spin into action with kinetic top toys. One changes color and one flips over, but they all release stored energy. Children balance bugs and birds to reveal their centers of gravity. They learn that opposites attract with magnetic toys and then take a turn at creating a gear train. Don t forget to move out of the way for The String Thing it s motorized! The class winds down with a Yo-yo Take-Home. Energy Burst! Children explore the energy of motion (potential versus kinetic energy), and how energy can be conserved. They pop, jump, and flip with hopping, swimming, and swinging toys. Children check out the kinetic energy in rubber, band-wound gadgets and reach their potential with a kinetic marble-bounce take home. Moving Motion Children learn all about the forces behind the movement of planes, trains, and automobiles. Catapulting into Newton's laws of motion lets children get a feel for friction, inertia, and gravity. They see how mass affects movement and try out some motion tricks! Children build an action-reaction car to take home. Sound Basics Surf sound waves in this off beat class. We will explore how sounds are created and transmitted. Magnificent Magnets Discover the invisible fields surrounding magnets with our iron fillings. Devise and perform experiments to test magnetic strength.
Where s the Air? This dynamic class explores the concepts of air pressure and buoyancy through hands-on experimentation and thought-provoking demonstrations. Good Vibrations Investigate the science of sound in this hands-on introduction to the basics of vibration, frequency and pitch. Discover how instruments use vibration to make music and you will be amazed as you hear church bells through your fingers and music though your teeth. Electricity 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. Finally, create and play an electronic game. Mischievous Magnets What makes metal magnetic? What shapes do magnetic fields invisibly form around different shaped magnets? Can compasses really help you to find your way? Discover the answers to these and many more questions about magnets and their fields. Shutterbugs! How does a camera work? What does a lens do? How do our eyes work? What is a camera obscura? How does film capture light and store an image? How did the idea of motion pictures start and how did early filmmakers figure out how to make images move? All these questions and more will be answered in this hands-on program wherein campers get to experience all aspects of photography. Measure for Measure Children will have a unique opportunity to learn all about the metric system of measurement and trek through a treasure trail. Turn Up the Volume Students will be introduced to the scientific process involved in the measurement of volume through a series of activities and experiments. How Big? How Much? Preschoolers will learn the basics of measurement during this workshop when they get to measure all kinds of objects using balance beam scales, bathroom scales and even their own feet! Children will be introduced to the concept of estimation and take home a measuring foot to cut out with their parents. Sounds Like Science (Special Event)
This event gets children excited about science, with a particular focus on the science of sound. Kids will get tuned-in to learning with exciting demonstrations and experiments including the surprisingly loud Dinosaur-in-a-Can, the glowing Electric Pickle, and a kid-created Thunder Storm! This Special Event can be performed in school gyms, at summer camps, or for anyone who has a large group of children to entertain and amaze! Up, Up and Away! (Special Event) This spellbinding special event introduces children to the principles of air and pressure. Children are amazed as a soda bottle is crushed before their very eyes and understand how pressure affects the world around us. The Mad Scientist will make a hot air balloon out of a dry cleaning bag and have a volunteer show the audience how a parachute works. A vortex generator will create giant smoke rings and a special powder will be used to surprise everyone. The children will get to see an incredible exothermic reaction take place and will even get the chance to watch a hovercraft in action. Finally, a special finale will illustrate how pressure can be used to create special effects in the movies. Marvels of Motion (Special Event) Discover all about the science of sports in this dynamic, interactive event. Children will see Newton s laws of motion in action and participate in different experiments to get them moving. They will even see a rocket pack blast off! Energize It! (Birthday Party) Get set for some sparks in this animated romp into energy! Party goers will be engaged in capturing a string of lightning beads, levitating with static electricity and hopping to a heat beat! This energetic party ends with a blast! Fizzy Physics (Birthday Party) It s an outdoor party, which is great for both parents and kids! The birthday children will have a blast at this party launching mini and jumbo water rockets, concocting crackling Mad Science potions, and doing many more activities that allows the kids to have fun doing science outdoors. They will explore the concepts and cool properties of a gas and the 3 states of matter and how it affects many of the things that we do in our everyday lives. There will be cool color changes, booming balloons and lots of fizzy water fun. The birthday child will get a special birthday message, and each child will receive their very own candy experiment to take home with them so that they can continue to explore science on their own. Mad About Blue - The Science of Color & Light (Birthday Party) Come one; come all to the coolest party on Earth! This event will dazzle and amaze children as they watch water disappear in a glass, see how light is really quite colorful and have some of their very own indoor fireworks to help celebrate. They will also get to make their very own Mad Science Slime to take home.
Robots Radical Robots Children focus on service technology! They learn to tell the difference between a robot, an automaton, and a remote control device. Children explore how robots make our lives easier, program a robot to move through an obstacle course, control a robot through sound and light and check out the trick s list for Wrex the Robotic dog. Children get to design a robotic device to take home. Ready for Robots Children will explore the fundamentals of robotics and discover how robots are used through activities and games. They will begin to build their very own Rockit Robot that they will take home at the end of the week. Circuit Science This program will explore the nuts and bolts of robots as children will build simple circuits, test for conductors and non-conductors and discover how switches work. Children will make their own Bugbots to take home. Use Your Common Sensors! Children will explore the concept of sensors and discover what they enable a robot to learn about its environment. They will play games that involve their senses and do activities that involve communication. Children will make their own Circuit Sensor to take home. Robots 101 Campers will learn about Asimov s Laws of Robotics and applications of robotic technology in this funfilled program. They will continue building their Rockit Robot and make their own Puppet Robot to take home. Advanced Robotics Children will complete the building of their Rockit Robots and spend time using their imaginations to create robot designs of their own. They will experiment with special robots that play soccer and discover how to program robots via a sequence of commands. Each child will take home their Rockit Robot to continue their exploration of robotics at home. Rocketry Rockin Rockets
Campers will learn the fundamentals of rocketry throughout this day including the parts of a rocket, the stages of rocket flight and how Newton s third law applies to a rocket traveling to space. The children will build their own Estes Mach 12 rockets, experiment with water rockets and stomp rockets during this fun, day filled with hands-on activities. Rocket Basics Campers will create a rocket journal that they will use during the camp to record all of their experimental data. They will learn about the parts and functions of a rocket and learn the model rocket safety code. Children will build and launch bog-roll rockets, build Estes Alpha rockets and their own altitude trackers during this exciting introduction to model rocketry. Rocket Flight This program will explore what makes rockets fly, the parts of a rocket are involved in flight, and how energy gets things moving! Children will make and launch Paper Tiger rockets, experiment with devices called food flingers and rocket pinwheels and divide into their launch teams to launch Estes Alpha Rockets. Mission Control Campers will learn about the history of NASA s rocket program and begin their exploration of the universe by making devices called nanorovers. They will build their own galactic mobiles and create lunar prospectors while they talk about how the galaxy can be explored via rocket flight. The children will end the day with launches of Paper Tiger and Airwalker rockets. Rocket Propulsion & Recovery Rockets can travel into space but how are they propelled and how are they recovered? Campers will explore the concepts of propulsion and recovery systems through various hands-on activities. They will compare the features of different types of rockets and even design their own rocket to the moon! The children will prepare and launch X-Ray, Skywinder (or Cosmic Cobra), Quark and Condor rockets at the end of this fun, filled day. Go for Launch! The final day in this week long program will focus on rocket transportation, rocket staging and advanced rocket launches. Campers will discover the advantages of rocket staging attaching small rockets to the tops of larger rockets, create their own rocket that has two stages, and participate in the launching of Redstone, Snitch, and Echostar rockets. Rocket Science Students will follow a detailed construction plan to build their very own model rockets while exploring the science of rocketry. Children will play a fun game illustrating the four forces of flight. A model rocket launch will be part of the Space Travel class.
Telecommunications Get Connected Children take on telecommunications and check out the power of sound. They make vibration waves by testing telephone cables, chat on a self-made telephone network, and find the limits to low-power radio signals. Children wind their way through a cell tower relay and learn how to track cell phone users. Children build a pocket oscilloscope to take home! Forensic Science Detective Science Children use science to crack a case! The crime happens just before the Bustertown bake-off. Mr. Baker s big, fat, chewy, chocolate chip cookie is sabotaged and his recipe is stolen. The case kicks off with a crime scene investigation. The children examine fingerprints, mystery powders, ink samples, and teeth impressions. They also practice their memory skills to create a composite! Analyzing all the evidence is what helps pinpoint the perpetrator. The children take home a Personal Profile kit. They can use it to record their own fingerprints and other important information. Mad Messages Discover how to send secret messages to your friends using special codes! Children learn how to talk with numbers, just like computers, and create their very own code "crackers"! In the afternoon, they become detectives and use their Mad Science observational skills to discover the writer of the "Mystery Letter". Discover Detection Step into the shoes of a detective uncover the science involved in evidence gathering and analysis. Using the power of observation and the Inspecti-Kit, our young detectives will have all they need to get started with their investigations. Children use the gear in their kit to find, collect, and analyze evidence. Then they will explore fingerprint analysis and use the Fingerprint Finder to place and identify UV prints. Funky Forensics Explore forensic science in this hands-on look at crime scene investigation. Children use the Case Stamper to stamp out a mystery on a case card, and discover the science of tracking. Got clues? With the Spynoculars, children stealthily observe clues from afar. These build-your-own binoculars are used to test the limits of magnified observation and are a sneaky way to refine observational skills. Science of Security Sharpen your surveillance skills with the science of security! Children discover the science and technology behind locks, surveillance systems and burglar alarms! They will use Spyglasses on short surveillance shifts
to test their observational abilities. Then, they will put their security skills to the test by building their very own Secret Safe and challenging friends to crack the code! Sleuths on the Scene Suspects, schematics, and sleuths oh my! Connect the dots using science to help solve a crime in this hands-on investigation of the science of sleuthing. Children will use the Scene Solver to reconstruct the scene of a crime. Using the Whodunit-Kit, they can practice their skills of recall and observation matching character descriptions to reconstruct the face of the culprit! Spy Academy Look out 007 the Mad Science Spy Academy is in session! From decoding messages to metal detectors and night vision, children will have the opportunity to check out spy equipment and even create their own edible messages! They will use the Secret Code Breaker to communicate in code, like real spies. With the Undercover Observer, children step into the shoes of spies in action. What looks like an ordinary camera is actually a sneaky surveillance device that lets children spy on the side. Invention-ation Who gave us Morse code? How about earmuffs or the light bulb? Children will be guided from observation through presentation on their journey to becoming a great inventor.