Job Description
Renaissance man or woman with background in mechanical or electrical engineering to lead a hands-on, engineering-oriented camp for rising 5th and 6th graders based out of the Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge for 7 or 8 continuous weeks from 9 – 3, and beginning on June 30th and ending August 15th (and possibly August 22nd). Graduate students, recent graduates or current science teachers welcome. Should have a passion for science and engineering, for building things, and for working with bright, focused 10 and 11 years olds. Please send resume and cover letter/note to rachael at wordaroundtown dot com.
Sample Curriculum
Curriculum will combine introduction to a variety of concepts in science and engineering explored through hand-on projects. Instruction will include lectures/presentations on basic principals and hands-on work. Students will continuously improve on their creations as they test out new ideas. They will also be encouraged to document their experiments and learning process with written logs, photos, and video.
Our Bodies, Ourselves (June 30 – July 3rd)
Students learn basics of the brain and biofeedback. They pull together their learning by designing and implementing their own lie detector test. Students will be encouraged to observe biofeedback during their activities in future weeks. Resources: Background on lie detector tests, dana.org brain resources for kids.
Things that Fly (July 7 – 11)
Explore the qualities of things that fly: Learn about the iterations the Wright Brothers went through in making their airplanes. Replicate this process (and improve on it!) with your own balsa wood models, simple motors, and remote controls.
Towers and Bridges (July 14 – 18)
Students get introduced to basic civil engineering concepts by designing and building towers and bridges.
Radio Waves (July 21 – 25)
Students explore electricity and magnetism and build an AM radio.
Renewable Energy 1: Power Your School (July 28 – August 1st)
Students learn about five kinds of renewable energy and the contexts and locations in which each might be most appropriate.
They then do a Power your School activity in which students use real-world data to calculate the potential for solar and wind energy generation at their school location.
Renewable Energy 2: Solar Cooker (August 4 – 8)
Students explore the different dimensions of using heat from the sun. They then apply these principles by building and testing a solar cooker.
Rube Goldberg Machines (August 11 – 15)
Students learn about simple machines [2] and then design their own Rube Goldberg/chain reaction machines using basic/recycled materials.
Sample Daily Schedule
9:00 – 9:30 Morning Work/Warm-Up
9:30 – 11:30 Morning Project
11:30 – 12:00 Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 Sports
1:00 – 3:00 Afternoon Project