Program Descriptions
Animal Science
It’s What’s INSIDE that Matters
The “Dissection of rats” lesson is designed to educate students about basic mammalian body organs and structures. Emphasis will be placed on location, identification and functions of the organs.
Vital Vitals
During this lesson students will learn how important it is to monitor the body’s vital signs such as temperature, pulse rate, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
This is the Cat that Ate the Rat…
Students will learn about interdependence of animals on one another in an ecosystem. They will be able to define producers, consumers, predators, prey, and decomposers.
Get a Look at THIS!
Students will learn the different parts of a microscope and how it is used to observe minute objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Biology
xCELLent Adventures
This lesson will introduce animal and plant cells. Students will learn about cell structure and function, and will assemble an edible cell model.
Life in Space
Students will learn the characteristics necessary for life on earth and other planets. They will learn about different types of life forms, and will analyze mystery samples for signs of life.
Food Science
What Are You Eating?!?!?
Students will learn how to prepare an iodine solution to be used to test foods. Students will distinguish between foods that contain starch and those that do not.
pHun with pHood
This course will introduce students to the difference between an acid and a base using the pH scale. Students will also be able to distinguish the characteristic tastes of bitter and sour foods and how it relates to the food being an acid or base.
What’s the White Stuff?
Since tasting an unknown white substance can have dire consequences, students will learn how to test several white powders and determine their identities, using scientific means.
Say ‘AHHH’
Students will learn that the several bumps on their tongues are called taste buds and they help us to experience various tastes. Furthermore, they will learn that specific areas of the tongue are more or less sensitive to certain tastes.
The Skinny on Sweets
Students will learn that yeast produces gas and is commonly used in everyday foods we enjoy.
Edible Polymers: Science of Bubblegum Making
Bubble gum is made with five main ingredients: chewing gum base, sugar, softeners, flavorings, and colors. Students will learn how these ingredients work synergistically to produce an edible polymer we know as bubblegum and will leave with samples of their own edible polymers.
Health
OH YEAH! Healthy Habits – Optimal Health: Young Educated and Healthy!
OH YEAH can be adapted for children in pre-school to middle school. The program teaches children to build decision-making skills that promote healthier lifestyles. Topics that could be chosen include nutrition, physical activity, hygiene, “saying no!”, stranger danger, and oral care. Topics for older students may also include puberty related lessons. The emphasis is on healthy habits that promote personal development and improved lifestyle.
Happy Hands, Healthy Bodies
Students investigate what germs are, how germs make people sick and ways to prevent the spread of germs. Students also learn the correct way to wash their hands through interactive games and demonstrations.
Brain Drain (Alcohol and the Brain)
Students learn about brain functions, how alcohol interferes with normal brain processes and how alcohol affects other important organs.
Everything to Lose (Addiction)
Students think critically about what addiction to alcohol or other drugs would take away from their lives.
Up In Smoke
The short term and long term effects of smoking on the heart, lungs and other organs are demonstrated through student-centered learning activities.
Ready for a Fight! (HIV and the Immune System)
Students differentiate between a healthy immune system and an immune system infected with HIV. Interactive methods such as three-dimensional models and role-plays are used to teach basic immune system concepts.
Every Body’s Image
Students engage in learner-centered methods designed to increase awareness that all people are valuable no matter their shape or size.
B.O. is a No-Go (Hygiene)
Students engage in a cooperative learning game that requires them to distinguish between good and poor hygiene practices.
Gambling with HIV
Through a critical thinking puzzle and a roll of the dice, students identify behaviors that are high risk and low risk for HIV.
Food for Thought (Nutrition Bingo)
Students participate in Food Pyramid Bingo©, a low-fat, high-fun nutrition game.
Horticulture
Man’s Garbage Is a Worm’s Meal!
Discover how worms turn garbage into dark, nutrient-rich soil ideal for growing plants indoors and out. Students study worms and their body parts under a microscope, find worm cocoons, and even dig for worms in the compost if they choose. Additionally, students learn important aspects of the environment in this lesson.
Carnivorous Plants
What can a meat-eating plant devour? Discover the quick-witted Venus Fly Trap, beautiful (but deadly) Pitcher Plants, Sundews, slimy Butterworts, and other meat-eaters that use sticky traps, trigger hairs, and death pools to lure and capture prey. Hands-on activities are not incorporated into this particular lesson.
Gardening 101: Get Growing!
There’s no doubt how valuable school gardens are to youth learning—school gardens provide hands-on learning and can be a tool in teaching most subject matters. Starting and maintaining a school garden can be time-consuming, difficult, and intimidating for beginners. Learn the basics in this training and get growing!
Cool Season Crops: Information for Teachers
Many garden crops actively grow in the summer—when kids are out of school. However, there are cool-season crops that thrive in spring and fall when school is in-session. This lesson focuses on growing vegetable crops that are low-maintenance and actively growing in the cooler months.
Be a Botanist!
Students will observe flowers and leaves of four flowering plant families to look for identifying characteristics and unifying botany concepts. The activities will improve their observation skills, and permit them to experience nature in new and delightful ways.
Teach Botany with Ease
Using a beautifully illustrated fable, a card game, and easily obtainable flowers learn to engage youth in a botany adventure.
Math
Can you Feel the Heat?
Students will be introduced to a variety of functions of a graphing calculator including creating lists and graphs. Students will then learn how to use a temperature probe to measure the changes in temperature of their palm and their classmates. They will graph, display and analyze this data on the graphing calculator.
Not Math Problems …Math PUZZLES!
Students will practice and review a wide variety of concepts in mathematics in order to match patterns using Versa Tiles. These activities can be correlated to specific grade levels and objectives. Activities range from number skills and operations to fractions, decimals, statistics and algebra.
What Are the Chances?
Students will design and carry out experiments to solve problems in probability. Theories will be tested using models, dice, and graphing calculators.
Step By Step – Calculating Your Every Move
Students will be introduced to a variety of functions of a graphing calculator including creating lists and graphs. Students will then learn how to use a motion detector to measure distance and create and interpret a linear model for the motion.
Does It Sink or Float? It Flinks!
Students will create something that doesn’t sink or float – it flinks! By experimenting with a variety of objects students will “flink” for 10 seconds
Physics
Light it Up!
This is a PowerPoint presentation on light and electromagnetic spectrum accompanying a hands-on activity where students build their own spectroscope to take with them. Students will use their spectroscope to investigate emission, absorption, and continuous spectra. Light sources include an incandescent bulb, fluorescent tube, and elemental spectra tubes (H2, He, and Ne).
Investigating Black Holes
This is a PowerPoint presentation discussing what creates a supernova and what happens afterwards. Students will construct a model of a star about to become a supernova, they then investigate the results of the supernova and core collapse by measuring the change in density as they slowly collapse the core of their star. The results develop the density/mass/volume relationship as students measure the steadily increasing density of their stellar core.
What’s So Hot About this Plot?
Students will use a temperature probe to measure the temperature change in commonly found land areas (sand, dirt, rock, grass) as compared to warm water when heated under a lamp.
Global Warming - Examining The Greenhouse Effect
Students will use a temperature probe to measure temperature changes solar homes constructed by the students. Students will compare temperatures in houses with no window and various colored windows. Students will also identify the greenhouse effect and differential heating due to varied colors of “glass.”
Runnin’ On Empty?
Fuel cells are big news right now with the energy crunch and soaring gasoline prices. Find out how fuel cells work, experiment with them to measure their power output and run fuel cell cars, totally pollution free!
Robotics
iRobot: The Anatomy of a Robot
As robots become more and more human, your students will have the opportunity to compare the different parts of a robot to the human body. Students will also compare different robots and discuss how they are controlled and how they function. The future is now...
Technology
Cyber Seniors
Don’t be left out of the Information Age. Basic computer operations, internet use, and word processing will be introduced. This class is for anyone who is just getting started with computer use.
PowerPoint for All
You will learn how easy it is to use PowerPoint to create presentations that will wow everyone. From a collection of vacation pictures to a history lesson, PowerPoint will help you tell the story when words are not enough.
