Science, Technology, and Robotics Combinations
Techno-Science!
This page describes our fabulous Science, Robotics and Technology combination camps. This page includes camps that use LEGO Technology and also other technology. We also have camps that are Robotics only, Science Only, or are combinations of science and technology with art. To see those you will need to click on the links to the left. To see all camps for a specific age group, please click on the Ages link. The next 3 camps incorporate a combination of LEGO® Education Technology and hands-on Science- Option STR 6: Technically Icky(Ages 3-5)
- Option STR 7: TechnoBot (Ages 6-8)
- Option STR 8: Goo, Gas, Great Baslls of Fire (Ages 7-10)
- Option STR 9: TechnoBuild (Ages 7-10)
- Option STR 10: Extreme Builders (Ages 11-14)
- Option STR 11: Energy Bot (Ages 11-14)
These are described below.
Science, Technology, & Robotics Combinations
TechnoScience: The next 5 camps incorporate a combination of LEGO Education Technology and hands-on Science.
Option STR 6: Technically Icky (Ages 3-5)
Parent Letter for Technically Icky Science Part
What a great Combination! We will combine the fun of icky squishy science with the LEGO® Education's Tech Machines and Early Simple Machines! Does your child like to mix, make, laugh and learn? Then this is the camp for you! Dr. Lipid is back and boy is he mad! Our arch enemy is up to no good and we have to stop him! Investigative fun is yours as the O.X.Y.S. (Only Excellent Youth Scientist ) match their wits against Dr. Lipid, Head of the Organization of M.O.R.O.N.S. (Magical Ogres Reshaping Our Natural Systems). The children will learn many exciting science principles as they work their way through the snares Dr. Lipid left behind!
- We will make slime, GAC and Magic Mud!
- We will learn some "interesting" facts about our bodies, bugs and animals!
- We will shrink eggs, make gas, and other things that fizzle and pop!
- What more could you want? Well, how about building the coolest machines to help us along they way?
- Your child will continue with icky squishy exploration using LEGO technology by building worms, snakes and fish. They will also build working machines with moving parts using small hand friendly tools that enhance dexterity such as screwdrivers and integrated screws in order to create boats and planes! All the while they will also be learning about Pulleys and Propellers working with reels, hooks, and scoops and learning how to cooperate with a teammate! Fun, to be had by everyone!
- For parents of girls from the owner of Imagine That!. I am a girl (ok, all grown up now) but as a child I was no priss. I loved anything to do with science, exploration AND art. I studied Engineering at a school where women are still a minority in many technical fields. We want to encourage girls to have fun with science and technology starting now and leading up to a time where they can be leading scientist in the world. We make this fun and funny and girls LOVE IT. I would like to be part of a society where we continue to encourage our daughters to LOVE science. Women make great scientist and can change the world!
Option STR 7: TechnoBot: The Worm Hole Adventure(Ages 6-7)
This will be an incredible combination of science and Technology where we will use the LEGO Education WeDo Robots, Early Simple Machines and Motorized Machines along with experiments that boggle your mind and have the children saying “NO WAY!” We are the O.X.Y.S. (Only Excellent Youth Scientist ) and we must match our wits against Dr. Lipid, Head of the Organization of M.O.R.O.N.S. (Magical Ogres Reshaping Our Natural Systems) AGAIN! We have found the lab of Dr. Lipid, our arch enemy. We discovered that he plans to build a submarine that can go though a worm hole in space! We must discover why and fast! Where is he taking it?
- To help our O.X.Y.S. solve this mystery and understand the strange combinations of diagrams on the wall of Dr. Lipids lab we must:
- Learn how to build a Hydrometer and Submarine!
- Learn Physiology as we investigate bones, muscles and blood. Use microscopes
- Understand Physics and Structures and build, build, build!
- In addition to all of this the students will use LEGO® Technology with the following:
- Students will get their first introduction to robotics with the newly introduced LEGO® Education WeDo™ Robotics Software and Construction Set. Students will learn how to program and create a working model, use software media to acquire information, and use feedback to adjust a programming system output. The students will explore a series of cross-curricular, theme-based activities while developing their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as language and literacy.
- Early Simple Machines and Motorized Machines, the students will focus on one of the following programs: Gears, Levers, Pulleys or Wheels and Axles. Working in teams of two, your child will learn the scientific principles above while getting comfortable with building using the LEGO TECHNIC® pieces. This program will improve your child’s problem solving skills while encouraging team work.
- There is so much more we cannot begin to cover it here,the only question is will you send your child or yourself to this Incredible Camp!
Option STR 8 Goo, Gas, Great Balls of Fire!: Science and Technology focusing on Chemistry, Physics and LEGO Technology (Ages 7-10)
This camp is an incredible combination of Science and Technology where we will use the LEGO Crazy Contraptions and Technics, along with exciting science experiments! This is a great hands-on fun camp. What more could you want in one camp!
- View the Science Parent Letter for this Camp
Science Portion: Make lots of cool chemical and Physical reactions! Use science to determine if something is actually TRUTH or LEGEND!
- Make Explosive reactions that blast 30 feet high.
- Make our own soft drink as we learn about constants, variables and ratios. We will then decide if its Truth or Legend that a soft drink can rot your teeth!
- Make our own dinosaur toothpaste.
- Explore dry ice, make GAC, Slime and so much more!
- Investigate endothermic and exothermic reactions with salts that get hot and cold.
- Perform color changing acid base reactions and flame test!
- Learn about florescence and black lights!
- Can you balance and egg on its head only one time a year?
- Explore magnetism to see if an eel skin wallet can demagnetize a credit card!
LEGO® Technology
- In addition to all of this the students will use LEGO® Technology with the following:
- Crazy Contraptions: These are just plain fun and the teachers (and students) favorites.
- Technic's: These activities really get down to the bones of how things work.
Option STR 9: Techno-Build: Structures & Engineering (Ages 8-10)
- This camp is an amazing combination of fun hands-on Science and Engineering and LEGO® Technology and Robotics. What more could you ask for? For more detail, click the Parent Letter here.
- TECHNOLOGY will incorporate two programs:
- LEGO® Education Pneumatics: The students will build many machines that are operated by a Pneumatic system. Explore power systems and components, sequence and control, pressure, prototyping, kinetic and potential energy and much more!
- LEGO® Powered Science & Technology Program: Here the students will build a different motorized and non motorized models each day. These will be models that MOVE and can be modified by the student teams to perform a task in the most optimal method. This will introduce gears and pulleys, structural design, forces and motion, energy and more. This will help the students understand how robots move.
SCIENCE and ENGINEERING portion we will build a large model pinball machine, model bridges, large domes, skyscrapers, and trebuchets,. They will learn the basic principles of structural design including:
- Strength, torsion and weight and the concepts behind simple and complex machines.
- As the students use scientific inquiry, they will learn teamwork and problem solving in a creative and fun way.
Option STR 10: X-treme Builders Camp (Ages 11-14)
- This will be for those who LOVE building advanced and complicated LEGO Machines and the thrill of archetectural design.
- For the Science, students will incorporate engineering design into drawing, calculating and building a model frame house. They will use their own design using grid paper. They will understand and incorporate the idea of using the materials provided. Doors and windows will be designed to scale. They will then cut the wood beams and glue them together to create the scale model home.
- Time permitting, the students will also learn what is required to heat and cool a home using insulation.
- The technology is reserved for our oldest students only. If your child loves building very challenging structures with LEGO's this will be the camp for them! The builders will need to have a more in depth knowledge of LEGO building and pieces. The activities are motorized, pneumatics powered and also non-motorized. Some of the activities that they build will include a walking dinosaur, a crane, a submarine a zepplin, and a motorized cable car.
- The activities built will be use universal joints, piston connectors, knowledge of structural integrity and an imagination to step outside the box and try new building techniques.
You Tube Videos of the Cranes, Legos and the teachers from 2012 camp.
X-treme Builders Camp with Crane; X-treme Builders Camp with LEGOS
Option STR 11: Energy Bots Renewable City (Ages 11-14)
- Your student will Learn about Renewable Energy Resources through Science and Robotics. They will learn to program the LEGO® NXT MINDSTORMS ™ Robot. They will also build and take home a tin can robot. Explorations include:
- Using a large model Wind Turbine the students will measure how mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. This energy will power a motor and light LEDs. Once they have learned about wind energy, they will program their MINDSTORMS Robot to solve real world engineering challenges at a wind turbine power facility.
- Next the students will investigate another renewable energy source: A hydroelectric dam. The students once again will investigate the science behind the water powered generator and test how this system works. They will then apply their programming and problem solving skills to their robot to train it to solve a problem in at a hydroelectric plant.
- If that's not enough the students will then test a solar powered model car and energy house. Their robot must be programmed to place a solar panel on a house and then return it to the generator.
- Building a TAKE HOME Robot: Each student will build their own motorized Tin Can Robot that walks. The students will also program their MINDSTROMS robot to sort the recyclables out of the trash. They will then use their recycle can to build and TAKE HOME your own motorized Tin Can Robot that walks
- YouTube Video: Building Bots Robot Camp at Sweet Apple Elementary
- Note: MINDSTORMS ROBOTS will not be taken home. The Tin Can Robot will be the take home robot.
