Interactive & Structural Engineering - Week 2

For the second week we explored the engineering concepts concerned with water filtration system, wind turbines, the immune system, and human error.

We made water filtration systems and explored the 5 steps to filtering water. We designed a system out of sand, rocks, coffee filters, cotton balls, and fabric. We tested these filters by using water with dirt, sticks, leaves, and food coloring. We discussed the difference between bottled water and tap water, and we talked about water filtration around the world. We watched a video about a new innovative idea to provide clean water to developing countries called an Aquaduct: Mobile Filtration Vehicle.

We learned about wind turbines and explored how energy is turned from kinetic into mechanical. We talked in depth about the components inside the wind turbine that converts the energy. We also discussed the different types of wind turbines and how they effect the environment. We made anemometers, which are similar to wind turbines. Anemometers measure the speed of the wind. We tested our anemometers outside and in front of a fan.

We played a computer game about our immune system. We learned how our body's immune cells battle bacteria and viruses with different proteins that find and destroy anything foreign or dangerous entering our body. We briefly explored other games on the Nobel Prize website, where many of the educational games we played in the class are on.

We discussed engineering projects gone wrong by human errors. We watched videos of buildings and road ways that were not designed correctly due to a calculation error or misunderstanding between workers. We talked about how scary these problems are, but how they really can occur.

The last day we played "Who Wants to Make a Deal to be Smarter Than a 5th Grader Millionaire?", a game that is a combination of game shows. We tested our engineering knowledge and won prizes!

Discovering Wildlife in DC

The campers began their second week of Discovering Wildlife in DC by creating a field guide for the class. We spent Monday touring the Close identifying various tress and animals that live in the area. The girls then chose a tree and animal to research finding out its scientific name, habitat, diet, etc. On Thursday, we took a trip to the National Zoo. The girls certainly enjoyed seeing the many inhabitants of the zoo!

Books into Movies

In our final week of camp, the Books to Movies class finished reading Matilda- which the girls loved! Upon completion of the book, we spent a morning watching the movie of Matilda and then the next day compared and contrasted the two. It was wonderful to listen to the girls discuss the various similarities and differences that they had discovered. The verdict is still out about which was the better- the book or the movie!

Cathedral's Hidden Mysteries

The three campers in the Mysteries of the Cathedral class spent almost all of their time on-site exploring and learning about the art and architecture of Washington National Cathedral. They are now qualified to lead their families and friends on a tour!

Perhaps the highlight, and certainly the highest place visited, was the Gloria in Excelsis or Central Tower. We saw both the carillon and the change bells that are around 300 feet above ground. The views were tremendous. We were also able to discover the Darth Vader grotesque on the NW or Saint Peter Tower.

Amazing Art - Week 2

During week 2 the students took their new knowledge of color and applied it.They created some fantastic finger paintings, and also reproduced portraits by Degas and Van Gogh to combine their color skills with what they learned about the facial structure from our drawing segment.

We finished the week with sculpture. The class discussed the purpose of 3 dimensional art and the value of movement when attempting to communicate an idea in 3D. What talented artists we have in our midst!

Cooking with Math - week 2

Our second week of Cooking with Math proved to be a delicious one. We began the week making banana bread and brownies, and again experimented with measurements and ingredients to see how even a slight difference in measurement can alter the taste, texture and look of the finished product. Wednesday, the girls made their own cinnamon soft pretzels and boy were they a hit! We learned there are many steps to making these and each step is equally important to get the pretzels just right. Thursday might have been the highlight of the week for many of us as we got to divide into groups and “create our own recipes” using just a few ingredients. Needless to say, we had some interesting creations! We finished the week by making our own milkshakes and smoothies that we shared with our fellow peers. All in all it was a great two weeks cooking together, enhancing our math skills and making new friends. We look forward to re-creating some of our favorites treats at home with our families!

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Session 3 - Week 2

During the last session of Light, Camera, Podcast! the students have been working on making a short movie. They wrote a script, made a storyboard and learned the basics of video editing. They learned how to import a movie, trim clips, add transitions, music, special sound and video effects, as well as music. We also experimented with a green screen and the result is this short movie.

Enjoy!

Explore It: Washington Wildlife - Week 1

In Discovering the Wildlife of DC, the girls have spent time investigating the various plants and animals that live in our neighborhood. The girls have created nature journals spending time outside each day documenting all that they see around them. In preparation of creating their own field guide the girls have spent time walking throughout the close indentifying trees. As well, in class they have studied the anatomy of both trees and leaves and discussed the impact of humans on the environment.

Robotics - Session 3 - Week 1

During the first week of Session 3, students spent time building a TriBot. The students are working on programming the TriBot to move forward, backwards, turn and change acceleration. The Tribot also responds to sound command (through its Sound Sensor ), follow a line with its Light Sensor , feel objects with its Touch Sensor , and see with its Ultrasonic Sensor. Enjoy the sideshow below with the building process.

Amazing Art - Week 1

Last week we began with a creation called a "youtube." The students were to communicate the essentials about themselves through different mediums all attached somehow to a cardboard tube. The results were incredible!

Next we moved into the technique of drawing. Using charcoal, the students explored how to make "marks" that reflected the properties of what they were observing. They drew to music, observed and drew different textures, and eventually moved into the details of drawing faces.

This week we began our work in color. The students learned how to mix colors using only the primary colors and black and white. They reproduced paintings using their fingers as well as brushes, all the while focusing on recreating the colors as closely as possible.

Interactive & Structural Engineering - W1

This week we discovered many different types of engineering. This week we did projects that allowed us to be aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, civil engineers, material science engineers, and bioengineers.

We created a rollercoaster on the computer to understand the relationship between force, gravity, friction, and speed. We learned about kinetic and potential engergy and how it relates to a roller coaster.

We assembled a hovercraft, and discussed what makes objects fly. We talked about propulsion and air pressure. We then raced our hovercrafts to see who could go the farthest!

We crafted a solar oven out of a pizza box and was able to bake cookies on a sunny day! We learned about solar panels and how they produce engery. We also looked at pictures of solar houses from the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall.
We played a computer game to understand magnetics and radio waves in an MRI. We also played a computer game to understand diabetes, insulin, and glucose. We discussed how your body produces energy. The last computer game we played was about lasers. We discovered that laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Also, we learned that lasers are made up of electromagnetic wave.

Our most popular project yet is creating non-Newtonian fluid, made up of corn starch and water. We discussed viscosity and the internal friction between gases and liquids. We got to step and run on the non-Newtonian fluid in order to feel the fluid's reaction from the force we were creating

Come up for the engineers....

We will create a water flitration system. We will be discussing the difference between tap water and bottled water. We will also research the up-and-coming innovative ideas for producing clean water for developing countries.

We will craft a wind trubine, and talk about wind energy. We also will make a model of our wind turbine on the computer.

We will make lip balm in order to understand the incredients and chemical reactions that occur in it.

Our last day we will be playing Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to review all we learned!

Cooking with Math

Cooking with Math has been so much fun! This week we’ve put our math skills to work as we’ve whipped up some of our favorite traditional treats. Pizza, blueberry muffins and fruit smoothies are just a few of our favorites! Some of the math skills we’ve been refining include fractions and measuring, as well as time and temperature. We’ve come to realize that baking is all math and science! We’ve had many opportunities to experiment with measurement such as how it can affect, the taste, texture and physical appearance. Additionally, we are very pleased that most of the ingredients we are using are organic. Wow!

Books into Movies

The campers have been reading Matilda in the books to movies class. Throughout the week the girls have discussed the book with one another and drawn pictures demonstrating how they each pictured the main characters. We are looking forward to watching the movie this week!

Lax

Dancing with the Stars - Session 2