Description
Balloonology Project-Based Learning by Week:
Summer A & B Week 1: Physics and Balloons
-
Project: Race It– 3D Printed Balloon Powered-Vehicles
- Summer A: July 5-9 | Summer B: Aug. 2-6
Summer A & B Week 2: Chemistry and Balloons
-
Project: Game It– code your own game using Scratch
- Summer A: July 12-16 | Summer B: Aug. 9-13
Summer A & B Week 3: Art and Balloons
-
Project: Laser It– create ‘Balloon Art’ using a laser cutter
- Summer A: July 19-23 | Summer B: Aug. 16-20
Summer A & B Week 4: Circuits and Balloons
-
Project: Control It– program your own Raspberry Pi microcontroller computer
- Summer A: July 26-30 | Summer B: Aug. 23-27
Balloonology: A Sci-Tech Summer Boot Camp
As the name implies ‘Sci-Tech Boot Camp’ is not your everyday science camp. Will your child have FUN? Of course! Will your child learn more science in 1-month than 1-school year? Without a doubt! But that’s not what sets Camp STEAMwhiz apart. Camp STEAMwhiz has been created to be a part of the change and help empower the NextGen ‘thinkers & doers’ with the critical tools of creative problem-solving and analytical thinking to be successful!
Our Method of Success
Eliminate the fear and allow our children the time and space to fail forward and succeed. The STEAMwhiz Method will help students build their confidence in themselves and their abilities through discovery, tests, creation, and analysis. STEAMwhiz kids will be able to embrace the idea that failures lead to opportunities to learn and grow. STEM/STEAM learning experiences offer amazing opportunities to develop powerful GROWTH MINDSET attributes, which are pivotal for success!
Prior Knowledge
Each lab is built upon the other. Students will be given the time necessary to develop new connections resulting in new learning. When instruction is not jumping from one new thing to the next, students can develop goals, take on challenges, learn from mistakes, practice new skills, persevere, and ultimately create a culminating “Show-What-You-Know” PBL unit (project-based learning).
Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning empowers students to seize control over their camp and learning experiences, following their interests and passions as they address a driving question or challenge; through investigation and inquiry; student voice and choice; reflection; revision; and finally, a project to be shared and celebrated. As students work with one another to create projects to share, they become responsible for the assessment of their work. Project-based learning frees students from the anxiety of meeting the expectations of school and/or instructors while allowing them the agency to create using the meaning they’ve developed from their experiences. This is a powerful re-imagination of what is possible!
Session details
What is it? Balloonology is a 4-week Sci-Tech Summer Boot Camp
- Camp STEAMwhiz is an in-person, Half-day Sci-Tech Summer Boot Camp
- MON-FRI from 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM
- Summer A: July 5 – July 30
- Summer B: Aug. 2 – Aug. 27
- Small Lab Sizes- 6:1 ratio
- Top Instructors: certified educator Allie Pulecio and Ph.D. Engineering Scientist Dr. J
Who is it for? Capitial District Kids
-
Ages 7-15
- For students who want to be challenged, develop deep fundamentals, and become a ‘thinker & doer’ ready to persevere, innovate, create, fail-forward, and succeed!
Time Commitment? 15 hours per week
- MON-FRI from 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM
- Options Available:
- Full Summer A: 4-weeks –or–
- Full Summer B: 4-weeks –or–
- Pick & Choose: 1 to 4 weeks from Summer A and/or Summer B
Boot Camp Goals? In this Sci-Tech Summer Boot Camp students will be able to:
- Classify materials by physical properties
- color, size, shape, texture, opaque/translucent
- Collect data using the metric system
- Display data using appropriate charts and graphs
- Define and calculate:
- Ratio
- Mode, Median, Range, Mid-Range, Mean, Average
- Volume
- Radius
- Circumference
- Investigate and analyze forces
- Gravity
- Friction (drag, static friction, kinetic friction, air resistance)
- Plan and carry out investigations using:
- multiple trials
- variable manipulation
- Explore Chemistry through experimentation:
- Chemical Energy
- Stoichiometry
- Acids and bases
- Reactions: endothermic vs. exothermic
- States of energy: Potential vs. Kinetic
- Identify how to observe and record qualitative and quantitative changes in a chemical reaction
- Compare and contrast physical change vs. chemical change
- Develop and grow creative problem-solving through the engineer design process
- Research hovercraft technology
- Create the ‘Optimal Design’ by manipulating variables and analyzing results
Instructors? The STEAM Team
STEAM-Team or DreamTeam? 😉 This lab is taught by STEAMwhiz’s lead educator Allie P. She is certified in K-6th education, published STEM education work in a peer-reviewed journal, and has over 15 years of classroom experience and curriculum development. The lab is overseen by STEAMwhiz’s scientist Dr. J who holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences has worked as a physicist at premier U.S. research institutions, as well as an engineer at fortune 500 companies, and authored over a dozen publications in top-tier journals. Together they are driven by their passion to empower students to develop their analytical and critical thinking, necessary to prepare them for the future.
COVID-19 Safety
At STEAMwhiz we are guided by the best-known science and follow the most conservative, best practices to ensure your children and our educators are safe.
Sick/Symptomatic Guidelines – any child that shows any symptoms that are related to, been in contact with, or contracted COVID-19 within the last 14 days should stay home. Related symptoms include but are not limited to: fever, runny nose, shortness/difficulty breathing, cough, loss of taste or smell, nausea/vomiting, sore throat, diarrhea. If you have any doubt please contact us before bringing your child.
Temperature checks – all people entering the lab will be required to have their temperature taken via a non-contact infrared thermometer.
HVAC system – The STEAMwhiz lab has a dedicated air handler that is constantly filtering air 24hr a day and 7 days a week. The MERV filters being used are rated eleven or better and have been tested in our labs to remove particles down to 0.1 microns (similar to N95 masks).
Laboratory Decontamination – On top of the air being cleansed 24/7, the STEAMwhiz lab is decontaminated after every session. All hard surfaces are wiped down using a bleach solution and the lab is exposed to UVC radiation nightly.
Masks – Your child we be required to wear a mask within the STEAMwhiz lab.
Social distancing – There will be a maximum of 4 children per session in the lab and social distancing protocols will be followed.
