Science Stars – Girls Grades 3-7
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.
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?
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
Through a bio-engineering experiment students will conduct an in-depth examination of the horseshoe crab’s anatomy. They will observe the adaptations the horseshoe crab has that has allowed the species to survive for so long. Students will also test and witness the importance of the horseshoe crab blood in protecting them against bacterial infection in the water.
Team Building
At SoundWaters, we work the best as a team! Have fun learning how work together with your peers to be the first to complete a task. Students will work through a series of team building activities designed to increase communication, reasoning and listening skills.
Design a sail car!
New text: After research and planning, engineer the ideal sail car to win the big race! Students will research sail designs and effectiveness. They will then build a model of their ideal sail car. Whose will be the winner at the end of the week?
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.
2019 guest speakers came from the following companies:
Copps Island
Factset
Harman
Legg Mason
Milford Aquaculture Lab
Nestle Waters
NOAA Fisheries
US Coast Guard
NGSS Alignment
Sample Schedule
Pricing
Next Steps
What They’re Saying
“My 8 year had an awesome first day of girl’s science camp yesterday and she couldn’t wait to go back again today. She even asked to sleep there.”
– Lisa, Science Stars Parent
