Details of the School Program

Green Station: Weather

Weather affects each of us every day of our lives. Though we can't, perhaps, "do anything about it!," it is, none-the-less fascinating to watch. Learning to track and understand it helps to center us in our world.

Objectives:

To learn that weather is created from air, water, and the sun's heat.

To identify different types and/or components of weather and how they are measured. (layers of the Earth's atmosphere, clouds, wind, temperature, air pressure, precipitation, humidity)

To encourage the observation, study and recording of weather.

Talk about different kinds of weather and the clothing and safety measures that are appropriate for each.

Explore where rain comes from and make a simple anemometer for measuring wind.

Each quarter-class will make one weather instrument so the class, as a whole, will return with a more-or-less complete weather station (anemometer, wind vein, barometer, thermometer, cloud chart) and basic information on forecasting weather for use in the classroom.

As time permits, students can do simple experiments with each weather component: air pressure, wind, moisture, temperature.

There will be a circuit board to give beginning weather forecasters the idea of which clues to watch for.
 

Yellow Station: Solar Energy

Over 90% of the energy used in the United States today (gas, oil, coal) is from fossil fuels. It's taken millions of years to make these fuels, however, and in less than 500 years we may use them up. At this station we will explore what the sun's energy provides us with today and possibilities for its further use in the future.

Objectives:

To explore how important the sun is to us today: our food (photosynthesis), our energy, etc.

To explore the possibility of more direct use of the sun's energy as an alternative to fossil fuels in the future.

Students will discuss how the sun's energy is used.

Students can explore solar energy displays and receive and solar energy bead.

Students will talk about how, with the sun, plants make our food and then plant seeds.

Displays/experiments utilizing three methods of collecting solar energy will be introduced: parabolic reflectors, solar panels, and photovoltaic cells. Each will have a simple hands-on experiment.

Students will make sun-dial watches and receive a solar-energy bead.

Students will can look at displays, as well as plant slides through a microscope, to learn about photosynthesis and the importance that both sun and plants have in our lives.
 

Red Station: Adaptations to the Night

Our world is an amazing and intricately interwoven entity…a creature for each and ever niche! At night, while we're sleeping, some creatures (taking advantage of fewer predators, less competition, and cooler weather) have special adaptations (often involving their senses of hearing, sight, and smell) which allow them to successfully live their lives in the dark. A basic understanding of adaptations and ecology will be important in the future.

Objectives:

To discuss the concept of adaptation and its importance in ecology.

To explore adaptations certain creatures (especially bats and owls) have made to the night.

Students will discuss what happens at night and what happens during the day.

Students can explore a mini cave "alive" with slides of bats and then fold a bat to take back to class.

Students can listen to bat echolocation through ear phones.

Students can look at "real" (stuffed) owls and listen to owl calls.

Displays will compare bats and humans.

Students can explore a mini cave "alive" with slides of bats.

Students can listen to bat echolocation through ear phones and play an echolocation game.

Students can listen to owl calls and connect them to the pictures of local owls.

Students can look at a "real" (stuffed) owl, as well as one of its wings to see its quieting feathers through a microscope.

Students can play a game dealing with "triangulation", how an owl (or any of us!) uses its ears.
 

Blue Station: Astronomy

Even a basic understand of the stars can't help but induce awe and the humbling feeling of how small we are! Astronomy is a mystery; astronomy is exciting; astronomy may well be the way of the future.

Objectives:

To discuss the arrangement and characteristics of the planets.

To explore night and day and the seasons (younger students) and phases of the moon (older students).

To start learning to identify constellations, especially how to find Polaris, the North Star.

As time permits, to discuss gravity and its importance to us.

Students will discuss with globe and "sun" how day & night and the seasons are made

Students can make constellation cards.

Students will play "I spy" with the planets.

Students will play a guessing game about the planets.

Students will explore (with globe, moon and flashlight) the phases-of-the-moon.

Students will start learning (through a circuit board and/or making constellation cards) to identify constellations, especially Polaris, the North Star.

As time permits, additional activities exploring gravity and light years can be pursued.