Summer Camp Week 6

Clang, Bang, Boom: The Physics of Sound

School Aged Classroom with Ms. Zoia and Ms. Camardese

During this week the children explored sounds in a variety of different ways. We explored how sound travels through vibrations. Here are some of the highlights from this week of summer camp. 

On the first day we explore many different kinds of instruments to see how the sound was made. 

                                   

We used recycled materials to build a wind chime to add to the garden. 

 The school aged classroom worked with the preschool classrooms to create a sound wall on the playground using recycled materials. 

                                     

As we looked at the vibrations of sound the children used handmade drums to move confetti. 

We used straws and masking tape to learn how sound waves move.  

 

We used slinkys to show the difference between sound waves. 

Summer Camp Week 5

Chemistry in Cooking

School Aged Classroom with Ms. Zoia and Ms. Camardese

This week we explored the chemistry behind many different types of cooking methods. We pickled cucumbers to make our own pickles. We learned about fermentation by making pizza dough and watching as the yeast made the dough rise. The children explored emulsion by making our own salad dressing and mixing oil and water on the light table. A big part of our week was learning about recipes and how they help us to know what ingredients we need, how much we need, and the steps on how to make it. We also explored many different chemical reaction by conducting a science experiment each day to see what the chemical reaction would be.  The children were working with many different math and science concepts during the week. 

Elephant Toothpaste: Chemical reaction between dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and yeast (mixed with warm water).  As the yeast reacts with the water it produces the gas, carbon dioxide.  The carbon dioxide reactions with the the hydrogen and oxygen in the hydrogen peroxide and causes the dish soap to foam up.  The children were introduced to the different states of matter: solid, liquid and gas.

Self inflating balloon: Chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda.  During this experiment, we also used yeast and water (since we already knew yeast produces a gas) to see which would inflate the balloon faster.  The children had to make predictions and use the scientific method.  We found the baking soda and vinegar balloon inflated faster, but the yeast and water balloon stayed inflated for longer.

Emulsion

Making our own salad dressing using oil, vinegar, garlic

     

Mixing Oil and Water

We explored the mixing of oil and water in plastic bags. 

Baking Soda and Vinegar

We mixed vinegar in with watercolor then the children used eye droppers to squeeze the mixture onto the baking soda. They noticed how their was a chemical reaction between the two. They described it as fizzling.  

                   

Slime: mixing glue and liquid starch

The starch and the glue react to make a sticky substance.  At first the children were not sure it would mix (it looked very liquidy and wet) but with more kneading the slime turned out great.  (Here is the recipe we used, but we did not include the water ) 

 

Pickling

The children made their own pickles by cutting up mini cucumbers, adding spices, then adding vinegar. They patiently waited for four days before they could taste them. They were delicious! 

                               

Here are the links to the recipes we used this week while exploring chemistry in cooking: 
Blueberry Zucchini Bread
   Vegan Pancakes
   Pizza Dough

    Slow Cooker Apple Sauce
   Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

Summer Camp Week 4

Where the Wild Things Are

School Aged Classroom with Ms. Zoia and Ms. Camardese

                                       

During this week we explored different habitats and the animals that live there. We focused on a different animal habitat each day. 

On Monday we explored the animals that live in ponds. During this day the children got to observe frogs, build an ecosystem and recreate some of Monet's famous water lily paintings. To build our ecosystem we used: pop bottles, gravel, grass seeds, dirt, minnows, worms, aquarium plants and pond water. The children observed the changes throughout the week and discovered the grass was growing!

On Tuesday we discovered all of the creatures living underwater in the oceans . The children went whale watching, researched the depth of the ocean and the creatures that inhibit the deepest and darkest parts, painted colorful fish and constructed a coral reef out of recycled materials. 

On Wednesday we traveled to the Arctic and Antarctica to explore the animals in this habitat. The children experienced how animals keep warm by sticking their hand into a water table full of ice. They used a homemade bag of blubber to protect them from the cold water just like the animals in the arctic. They took on the role of Eskimos and build their own igloo. 

On Thursday the children were archaeologists. We traveled to the dessert to dig for dinosaur bones, paint with sand and create their own fossil using animal tracks. 

On Friday we traveled to the rain forest where we made rain sticks to mimic the sounds we would hear, build a tree house, and constructed animals out of clay. 

                                         

Science Alive came to visit!