Science Stars

Science Stars –Elementary and Middle School

The SoundWaters Science Stars program motivates, empowers, and develops the skills girls need to excel in science during their formative years. Taking place every day of April school vacation week, the Science Stars program encourages creativity, critical thinking and curiosity in elementary and middle school girls. Our Educators radiate enthusiasm while they create learning experiences that inspire girls to think like scientists. SoundWaters Educators act as mentors and provide a context for exploring and understanding the various disciplines of science through hands-on activities and experiments in our lab, aquarium and outdoors in the local environment.

Each day, the Science Stars hear from an adult female professional in a STEM-related field. The guest speaker will talk with the girls about opportunities for women in science and bring a project that challenges the girls to observe, analyze and experiment. 2017 guest speakers coming from the following companies:

Eastern CT State University
CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
PepsiCo
Q88
Sikorsky Aircraft
South Wilton Veterinary Clinic
Stella Mar Oysters
Xylem

Activities

Each day girls will perform experiments, conduct research, collect data as they explore the local environment.

Research -Water Analysis
Maintaining healthy water conditions in the Long Island Sound is critical to a thriving ecosystem – how does our local water measure up? Use advanced testing equipment to explore the unseen but essential factors in Long Island Sound. Is there enough oxygen in the water for creatures to breathe? Are there invisible pollutants threatening our food chain from the bottom up? Are waste products travelling across the land, only to end up in the water? And what can we do to help?

DNA Mystery
Solve a DNA mystery just like a professional science investigator! Learn all about the inner workings of DNA, then use your knowledge to figure out a whodunit caper. Use advanced techniques of gel electrophoresis and imagine to compare suspects, eliminate red herrings, and identify the culprit!

ROV Engineering
Explore the depths of the Long Island Sound by building your very own underwater robot! Take on the role of chief engineer and construct your ROV from the frame up. Learn all about how ROVs are used for science, research, and exploration around the world, while testing all the principles needed to help your ROV succeed in its mission. Finally, launch your creation and pilot it through a series of tests!

Soil filtration
At SoundWaters, we learn all about the Long Island Sound. So why should we investigate the land? Find out why! The land surrounding the Sound has a critical role to play in maintaining the health of the entire ecosystem. Collect soil samples, test and examine your findings, and use the soil itself to clean (yes, clean!) a sample of “polluted” water. How much pollution can you remove? What does that mean about our watershed? And why is this so important for our own use of water?

Bio-Engineering lab
Get an extra-special close up encounter with one of the most fascinating animals of the Long Island Sound – the horseshoe crab. Learn all about its many amazing adaptations that have helped horseshoe crabs to survive for over 425 million years – millions of years before the dinosaurs ever existed! Explore the fascinating way in which horseshoe crabs are critical to modern medicine, and conduct an experiment to show how medical professionals have used the help of a horseshoe crab to ensure your own health!

NGSS Alignment

Science Stars is:

Investigative and project oriented: focusing on observation, data collection and analyzing samples from the local watershed system;
Aligned with NGSS Components: supporting and amplifying specific grade content and directly fits in the classroom instructional sequence.
- Practice 1 Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
- Practice 2 Developing and Using Models,
- Practice 3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
- Practice 4 Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
- Practice 5 Using Mathematics and Computations,
- Practice 6 Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
- Practice 8 Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information
- Math: MP1, MP2, MP5, MP6, Science: SP1, SP3, SP4, SP6, SP2, SP5, SP8, ELA: EP1, EP3, EP4.

Sample Schedule

9:00 am Gather lab notebooks and begin research
9:30 – 10:30 Experiment 1
10:30 – 11:30 Guest Scientist hands-on workshop
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch & Learn with the guest scientist
12:30 – 3:00 Field Experiments & Activities
3:00 – 4:00 Outdoor Experiment

Pricing

Science Stars is open to girls in grades 3-7. There is a $35 registration fee. For more information please contact education@soundwaters.org.

Next Steps

This program is open to girls in grades 3-7 during the spring school vacation week. The program application will be posted mid-January and acceptance into the program is by lottery.

For more information please contact education@soundwaters.org.