Science Saturdays | ||||
Machines on Earth | ||||
For middle school students | ||||
Saturday Mornings
March 27, April 17, and April 24 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the University of Wisconsin-Madison | ||||
Are you Ready for Fun? Are you in grades six to eight — or the parent of a student in those grades — and are the two of you ready for three Saturdays of fun? Are you ready to build your own scientific apparatus and use it to investigate the world around you? Then you need Science Saturday: Machines on Earth and Lights in the Sky! | ||||
Build and Experiment Each Saturday children and parents work together on different and challenging science projects. The three Saturdays may be taken as a series, or you can pick and choose the sessions you want. For example, on March 27, you’ll assemble a small telescope and a crystal radio to pick up different forms of energy from the far reaches of the sky. On April 17, you’ll use star-finders and sundials to navigate with the sky. On April 24, you’ll learn why we call a bridge a machine and what makes cars run and airplanes fly. During each of the Saturday sessions, you will conduct and observe fun experiments in university laboratories. You will also receive instructions for performing additional experiments at home. | ||||
The sessions may be taken as a series, or you can
choose just the sessions you want. During each of the Saturday sessions,
you will conduct and observe fun experiments in university laboratories.
You will also receive instructions for performing additional experiments
at home. Learn New Skills
As you record your observations, you will be doing real science—raising questions, making observations, and conducting experiments to find answers. You will be responsible for keeping good records in your own personal notebook so that you can save and share all your exciting findings.
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About Machines on Earth
and Lights in the Sky
Science Saturdays: Machines on Earth and Lights in the
Sky is prepared and presented by Professors Peter Timbie
and Converse Blanchard of the Physics Department, and Dr. Jim Lattis and
Kay Kriewald of Space Place and the Astronomy Department. March 27: The Sky at Many Wavelengths April 17: Astronomical Observations April
24: Energy and Simple Machines | |
Science Saturdays This and other Science Saturday programs are brought to you by the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy (WISL). WISL is directed by Prof. Bassam Z. Shakhashiri of the UW-Madison Chemistry Dept, who is well known for his “Science is Fun” programs.
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This program is for one child and one parent together. In fact, we require that the parent (or grandparent or guardian) make a firm commitment to attend all selected sessions and fully participate in the hands-on activities. Parents will be paired with their children in small teams aided by staff. Child and parent will get more out of the session because the other is present. | |
Cost for one session for one child and parent together is $15. The cost for two or more sessions is $10 each. This covers all materials and a snack at each session. | |
Parents should complete the registration form and also write a brief statement about what your child and you hope to gain from the Saturday Sessions. We must receive your application by March 12th. You will be notified of selection during the following week and will receive directions to the program site |