This activity does not have any upcoming sessions open for registrations on ActivityHero right now. We can send you an email when they do.
MODELS AND MACHINES
Wednesdays, January 25-April 26 (no class Feb 22, Apr 5; 12 weeks)
12:30pm-1:45pm
Ages 6-10
Students explore how we can use simple machines to manipulate forces like tension, friction, and gravity in order to make work easier. We engineer models of the six simple machines and examine how they are incorporated into our daily lives. All lab costs are included in registration fee.
Instructor: Q Collins, BSc
Location: Discover Science Center (suite 5)
Course fee: $220 OR $20/lab
10% sibling discount
Register for full semester or individual labs.
WEEK 1: Forces - Wednesday, January 25
Students learn how forces affect the way we move, lift, push, pull, or drop objects we interact with, and how machines can reduce the effort we must use.
WEEK 2: Inclined Plane - Wednesday, February 1
Students learn about how ramps make work easier and how different devices use this incline to get work done.
WEEK 3: Pulley - Wednesday, February 8
This week, students learn how pulleys make it easier to lift and lower people and heavy objects.
WEEK 4: Wheel and Axle - Wednesday, February 15
In this class, we focus on the simple machine that has helped all kinds of transportation move further and faster.
WEEK 5: Wedge - Wednesday, March 1
Students look at the wedge, and how these devices can be used to separate two objects or hold an object in place.
WEEK 6: Screw - Wednesday, March 8
Today we discuss a not-so-obvious simple machine as we learn how screws tighten and release.
WEEK 7: Lever - Wednesday, March 15
Students study how a rigid lever can rotate about a point in order to exert an effort, and how moving that point can change the lever’s effect.
WEEK 8: Car Tracks - Wednesday, March 22
This week, we take a look at how cars move and how tires affect the friction on tracks we design.
WEEK 9: Elevator - Wednesday, March 29
In this class, we examine how elevators are able to lift passengers between floors as we build a model lift.
WEEK 10: Catapult - Wednesday, April 12
Today we discuss how levers can be used to launch projectiles as we design and assemble catapults.
WEEK 11: Marble Run - Wednesday, April 19
Students learn and investigate the characteristics of a screw as they build a marble run based on a twisted ramp shape.
WEEK 12: Rube Goldberg - Wednesday, April 26
In our final class, we will find ways to use all six of our simple machines to create complex contraptions to do simple tasks.
I'm so glad that your kid had a blast! I understand that the 8:30 start time can be difficult to navigate, and we are sorry for the inconvenience.