ScienceALIVE: Science through Exploration, Observation & Inquiry
This hands-on learning program engages students with a total inquiry-based experience. They won’t be bored for a minute as they follow their curiosity to become scientific partners with their teachers. Students gain understanding in a variety of areas through the scientific process of questioning, hypothesis-testing and experimenting.
Future Einsteins: Creative and Inventive Thinkers
Future Einsteins is perfect for any student with a curious intellect and an active imagination. Our focus is on classic inventors and the impact of their discoveries, the art of invention and the scientific methodology of resourceful thinking. We explore biology, earth science, chemistry and physics at appropriate age-levels.
Volcanoes
Students learn about the structure and distribution of volcanoes around the world, and how volcanoes shaped life on earth. Using models and pictures, they come to understand the geophysics behind this spectacular force of nature. The second session of this class is built around a group project constructing a miniature volcano out of Oreos, Coca-Cola and mints which the class will blow up (perfectly safe!) and then take home to eat. Ages 7-10.
The Sun, Stars and Planets
This class introduces some key concepts of classical astronomy as well as new insights and theories regarding the sun, the formation of stars and their cultural significance, planets and the structure of the solar system. This is an interactive course which includes demonstrations, pictures and fun activities. Projects include constructing an outdoor sundial, glow-in-the-dark star constellations and a collaborative paper mache model of the solar system. We promise this class will be out of this world! Ages 7-10.
Mysteries of Physics
Our Mysteries of Physics course explores the strange and often amazing applications and theories of modern physics. Beginning with an alternative approach to classical mechanics, students learn different ways of understanding everyday phenomena. We will also explain and clarify the newest secrets of the universe like the puzzling implications of Special Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, and Subatomic Particle Theory. The emphasis of the course is on a conceptual understanding of physics, as well as on problem solving. A working knowledge of calculus and basic physics is highly recommended, as this is an advanced-level class.
Bridge Building
All engineers have to start somewhere, and this is the ideal way to begin. Students are instructed in the basics of bridge construction and force-transfer dynamics. Groups of students construct a bridge out of Popsicle sticks and glue, according to scientific principles. They then hold a friendly competition to see which group’s bridge can hold the most weight. Ages 9-12.
Robots
After learning the basics of robot construction, students are given the opportunity to participate in a competitive robot-building class activity. Within the context of real-world robotics, this class touches on subjects such as artificial intelligence, robots in art and literature, types of robots, as well as different theories of robotics and perception and action systems. Students divide into groups and construct a robot sensitive to touch and sound, experimenting with different wiring architectures to manifest different behaviors. Each group then places their robot in an obstacle course and using sound, steers it towards a finish line, and may the fastest team win! Ages 12-15, four sessions, extra charge for robotics kits.
Plant Biology and Beans
What makes a plant healthy? What happens when you take away one of its basic needs? This class serves as an introduction to scientific method and investigative analysis as well as photosynthesis and plant biology. Students plant beans in various environments in which each plant will be deprived of one of its key resources over the next couple of weeks. They will observe the effect each deprivation has on the plants’ health and will make leaf rubbings to learn about leaf structure, as well as engage in a hands-on observation of various root types and cross sections of different kinds of plants. Ages 8-11, three sessions, spread over a 14-day period (to give the plants time to grow).
Colors and Optics
White light consists of light of every color, whereas black paint consists of paint of every color. These two phenomena will be shown and explained using a suite of hands-on experiments and demonstrations involving (but not limited to) spinning color wheels, using prisms, lasers, coffee filters, markers, and diffraction gratings. Ages 7-10, two sessions, additional charge for materials.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, we would be happy to customize a class to suit your students’ interests and needs.
Contact us to bring our programs to your school
Please feel free to email us or call at (301) 229-8000 for further information. We look forward to hearing from you!\
Video by Tima Miroshnichenko