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

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Session 3 - Week 1

During the first week of this multimedia class, students learned how to use Photoshop for creating and editing digital graphics. They made a self portrait and learned how to use the main Photoshop tools. Later, the students worked on writing a script, recording and editing their voices, adding music and images for their first podcast.
Enjoy the podcast!

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Report on Robotics class

During the last week the multimedia class also created a video podcast about the Robotics class. Many of the students who took multimedia class also took robotics and they prepared this special report on the class.

Edible Science - Session 2, Week 2

This week we focused on food preservation. There are lots of ways to keep microorganisms from growing on food - freezing, drying, heating, etc. We experimented with all of these techniques and ended up with dehydrated mushrooms, some super salty beef jerky, and low acid level canned vegetables.
Later on in the week we experimented with our sense of taste. The students "mapped" their tongues to see if different regions corresponded to different taste sensations. We also discussed and experienced how both smell and sight highly influence what we think we are tasting.

Bible Stories That Speak to Us - Session 2, Week 2

The Bible Stories class studied the Joseph story from Genesis during the first week. We made a coat of many colors, and dressed in nomadic costumes in our tent. The second week we focused on the New Testament; Anna and Simeon in the Temple, the boy Jesus in the Temple, the Calling of the Disciples and the Healing of the Paralytic. Each Friday we watched a movie. The first was, of course, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat" and the second was "Prince of Egypt," about Moses. We took one field trip over to the Cathedral to see the "Calling of Peter" stained glass window, and to see the mosaics in Resurrection Chapel. Later we made our own mosaic fish, made a model of Herod's Temple, and first century houses made from Legos. It was a fun two weeks!

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Invincible

Celeste, Sophia and Jane made this movie to show off their editing skills. They worked hard turning 12 minutes of footage into a one-minute of movie, they added special video and sound effects as well.

Trek Around the World - Session 2

Grades 7–8 • Session 2: July 6–July 17

To begin their study of geography, students were introduced to the five themes of geography; location, place, region, movement, and human-environment interaction. Once they understood the concepts, they created collages finding pictures that best represented each theme. The class then began their project which consisted of a three week trip to a continent, visiting at least four countries, documenting their stay, travel arraignments, and facts about the country. Upon completion of the project, each student presented their travel journal to the class.

Lights, Camera, Podcast! The Battle

Olivia, Camilla, Jamie and Ben worked on making a movie this week. Special video and sound editing effects are the main focus of this fantastic movie. Enjoy!

Lights, Camera, Podcast! - Session 2- A little bit of magic...

During this week, students have been learning the basics of video editing, using iMovie. Students started with this collaborative exercise. They learned how import video, trim clips, and add music and sound effects.

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Celeste's podcast

Last, but not least. Celeste's intro.

Developing Your Inner Actor - Week 1

Grades 4–8 • Morning Class
Session 2: July 6–July 17

Over the past week, some of the fun things we’ve done in acting camp include:
• Doing improvisation (acting without a script) to cover acting basics and character creation.
• Bringing to life “Little Red Riding Hood” in a serious of tableaus (frozen pictures)
• Exploring “Environmental Theatre” by acting scenes outside (2 park scenes) and in the lobby of Woodley (hotel lobby)
• Developing characters with various games (Let’s Be…, Murderer, Join In) and scenes
• Team building – group clay sculpture, emotional freezes, and blind walks
• Exploring an “open scene” (a 1-page scene with generic dialogue that can be interpreted in different ways) to explore characters, relationship, environment, and conflict.

Lighs, Camera, Podcast! Sophia's podcast

Sophia shares her work during the first week of the Multimedia camp.

Lights,camera, podcast! Jamie's podcast

Jamie shares her skills with GarabeBand and Photoshop.

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Jane and Ben's podcast

Jane and Ben's first podcast. Enjoy!

Lights, Camera, Podcast! - Session 2, Week 1

During the first week, the Multimedia class has been working on digital image editing and sound recording. Students learned how to create, edit, crop and optimize digital photos and images for the web using Adobe Photoshop. Students also learned the basics for recording and editing digital sound to create an enhanced podcast using GarageBand.
Check out their final products in the next Light, Camera, Podcast! posts featured on this blog. In this post, enjoy Camilla and Olivia's podcast.

Below, a slideshow with shots of our first week.

Creative Writing - Session 2

Students began the first week of class writing their autobiographies. We then went on to discuss fairy tales, reading a few before the students wrote “round robin” fairy tales, where each girl wrote a few sentences before handing the story off to a classmate so they could add more. The class ended the week playing with words and writing poems.

Bible Stories That Speak to Us - Session 2, Week 1

During the first week of the Bible stories class, we became desert nomads, lived in a tent and about to heard stories about Joseph, his eleven brothers, and his dreams. We also had lentil soup served near the "fire" and performed one of the stories.

Robotics - Session 2, Week 1

During the first week of Session 2, students are building a TriBot. Some have begun programming, making their robot move forward, backwards, turn and change acceleration. Next week, the students should be able to program the TriBot to grab a ball when given a 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.

Edible Science

This week, experiments with bananas and dairy:

We all know that bananas turn from green to yellow when they ripen, but how many of us know why? This week the students examined the chemical composition of bananas and discussed what happens when things ripen. We experimented with the effects of air on the ripening process by creating different environments for each banana. Does it matter if the banana is exposed to air? To another ripened banana? We'll see! And best of all, we'll taste because this is edible science!


To further explore the ripening process, we turned our attention to milk and cream. After a discussion about what happens to milk to turn it to cream, yogurt, or cheese, we tried our hand at it! The students added cultures to cream to create our own version of creme fraiche, a French favorite. Within a few hours the cream should thicken and turn a bit sour. Now the students know what's behind the process... that is, if it all goes as planned!

Digital Photography - Session 1

In this class, students captured important moments in time with friends and family and explored some basic photography concepts. In the photos, students explored perspective.

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Session 1

In this multimedia class, students worked on digital image editing and sound recording.
Students learned how to create, edit, crop and optimize digital photos and images for the web using Adobe Photoshop. Students will also learned the basics for recording and editing digital sound to create a podcast using software such as Audacity, Garage Band and iTunes.

In this posting, enjoy the podcast created by Alexa and Channing.

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Session 1 - Drew and Manny's podcast

Drew and Manny share their podcast

Robotics - Session 1

During Session 1, students built a TriBot, using Lego Mindstorms NXT. TriBot is a flexible and fast 3-wheeled driving robot! It takes advantage of all four sensors to do the the students programmed it to do. TriBot can grab a ball when you give it a sound command (through its Sound Sensor ), can be programmed to follow a line with its Light Sensor , can feel objects with its Touch Sensor , and can see with its Ultrasonic Sensor.

Magical Math & More - Session 1

Session 1: June 22–July 2

This class strengthened the students' math skills to build a foundation for success! A variety of hands-on activities and games helped them find the magic in math. The students explored mathematical concepts and strengthened skills.

Adventures in Art: Crafts & Scrapbooking (Session 1 – Week 2)

"In Art we made 2 scrapbooks - one out of a calendar and one out of a book for kids/toddlers. We also learned how to make envelopes that hide in your page! Art was VERY fun because I learned more about Art than I knew before." - Isabelle J.

Creative Writing (Session 1- Week 1)

During the first week, students wrote musical stories: Each student wrote a short few sentences of a made up story, then the kids switched chairs and went to and kept writing it.
Students also worked on many other writing assignments: Letters to a teacher, fiction, and non-fiction stories. They also wrote poetry and they looked at pictures and wrote about them from the point of view of the photographer and also the subject in the photo.

Top Chef (Session 1 - Week1)

Students are learning a variety of cooking methods and they are gaining confidence using a knife. We started off with how to work safely in the kitchen. Discussed sanitation requirements. Then moved into some “real deal” cooking. We made a puff pastry quiche Loraine with Gruyere cheese and smoked bacon. Then, a variety of fresh fruit smoothies.

In the photos, fresh chunky guacamole used as an ingredient in a Monterey Chicken Wrap.

Adventures in Art: Crafts & Scrapbooking (Session1 – Week 1)

Our class is exploring scrapbooking as a form of “life” art. We have been learning how to scrapbook the moments of our lives -- sharing our stories in a way that's both meaningful and reflects our personalities. From the paper that we choose, to the embellishments we add, we are telling our story, our way, and capturing the everyday moments of life in our beautiful layouts.

Robotics – Week 1

Grades 4–8 • Session 1: June 22–July 2

The first week will introduce students to the exciting world of robotics. Students will become familiar with the basic elements of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics building systems: The NXT or brain of the system, the sensors and the Servo Motors. Students will start building simple structures using Lego elements.

Lights, Camera, Podcast! Multimedia Camp – Week 1

Grades 6–8 • Session 1: June 22–July 2

During the first week, students will become familiar with various types of software and media while building skills within digital image editing and sound recording.
Students learn how to create, edit, crop and optimize digital photos and images for the web using Adobe Photoshop.
Students will also learn the basics for recording and editing digital sound to create a podcast using software such as Audacity, Garage Band and iTunes.

Welcome to the Summer at NCS Blog

Check out what's happening at the NCS Summer camp!

Summers at National Cathedral School offer outstanding enrichment courses and exciting sports camps. In this blog you will be able to follow the weekly activities at the NCS Summer Institute.

From Climbing, Creative Writing, Digital Photography, and Soccer, to Robotics and Cooking with Math, Summer at NCS is a learning adventure.

We hope you enjoy your Summer at NCS!