 |  | Chemicals, Cells & Crime
Full Day - Ages 5-12
Day 1: The Organ Trail
The students will be introduced to the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, skeletal, and muscular systems. In the process they will learn about some of the body’s most important parts: the heart, lungs, stomach, brain and more. They will listen to their hearts, build models of their lungs and muscles, and observe the life-like replicas of real organs.
Day 2: At the Scene of the Crime…
The beginning of the day introduces the campers to the notion of observation and its importance as part of the scientific method. A mock
crime scene is examined, information is presented in many formats, and the challenge is to sort and sift through the data in an effort to solve the "crime". Several forensic techniques are also employed toward this effort. The end of the day brings about a conclusion to the "crime", followed by a recap of the information and methods used to ascertain what actually happened.
Day 3: Cell-ebration
The campers will be introduced to several cell organelles and their functions. The membrane, mitochondria, nucleus, ribosome, and lysosome will receive most of the attention. At times they will imitate the action of each of these parts with special emphasis on the nucleus and the role of DNA in directing and recreating life. They will learn the basics of the code of life, and they will make a model of a cell including the organelles studied.
Day 4: Radical Reactions
What holds atoms and molecules together? What happens to these bonds during chemical reactions? Mad scientists will use this day to study chemical reactions in depth. These reactions will include those that give off heat (exothermic), reactions that require heat (endothermic), reactions that proceed at a very fast pace, reactions that “go to far” and must try to return “home” (to equilibrium), and reactions that proceed in spite of the fact that they shouldn’t.
Day 5: Chemical Counting
Explore fundamental “nuts and bolts” of chemistry, starting with the principle of “chemically counting” using the chemists’ unit of measure, a mole. Figure out the contents of a mystery solution using standard chemical reactions, and then campers will apply the principles of analysis in assaying real, off-the-shelf pain relief tablets for aspirin content. Cool molecular model building introduces chemical structure and bonding, and electrochemistry rounds out the day. The topics here range from creating electrical current using chemical systems (exactly as a battery does) to plating (chemically bonding) one metal onto another.
| |  |
