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July 11-15th 2011 - Explorers II

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July 11-15th - Explorers II Parent Show Projects

How do scientists explore worlds, objects, and environments that can't see or handle? In this camp students will use Scratch and LEGO NXT Robotics to create simulations of world objects to explore molecules, cells, animal behavior, gravity, and space!

Scratch is free software from MIT which makes it easy to explore computing concepts using drag-and-drop programming. For more information see http://scratch.mit.edu. LEGO NXT robot kits can be used to create a variety of robots. For more information see http://www.legoeducation.us/store/detail.aspx?CategoryID=178&by=9&ID=1263&c=1&t=0&l=0.


Agenda for Explorers II:  Simulations!
(Schedule subject to adjustments as needed)

Monday:
Morning:
-Pre Camp Survey
-What are simulations and why do we use them in Science?
-Dry Ice Activity - How do molecules work?  How do molecules react to changes in temperature?
-Scratch Project:  Molecule Simulator
Lunch
Afternoon:
-Robotics:  Ramp Climbing Activity Overview
-Must Climb the Ramp and Knock Over the Cup without falling off
-Design Phase:  What is Center of Mass and how does it influence stability?
-Building Phase:  Use Lego NXT Robot kit to build a robot to complete the ramp climbing mission.
-Open Time with Scratch - Start Orbit Simulator
-Clean Up and Questions

Tuesday:
Morning:  
-Space Ship Simulator in Scratch - how do we simulate inertia and motion in a friction free environment?
-Robotics:  Programming the Ramp Climber.  Using motor blocks and sensors to control robot action.
Lunch
Afternoon:
-Ramp Climbing:  Finish activity and test robots.
-Robotics:  Build Basic TriBot for exploring Animal Behavior
-Scratch:  Finish Space Ship Simulator
-Open Time with Robotics and Scratch
-Clean Up and Questions
    
Wednesday:
Morning:
-Campus Tour
-Robotics:  Following a Light.  Using Light Sensors to take in information about the environment and process that information into motor action.
-Scratch:  Line Following Ants.  Create a program that simulates ants following trails left by other ants.  
Lunch:
Afternoon:
-Robotics:  Simulating Animal Behavior.  We will create algorithms that demonstrate basic animal instincts and responses to the environment.  (Light, Touch, Sound, and Perception of Distance)
    Aggression
    Fleeing
    Hunting / Seeking
-Design and Build new robotic animal.  Students will develop their own design for animal motion.
-Open time with Scratch
-Clean Up and Questions

Thursday:
Morning:
-Animal Cell Simulator in Scratch - what organelles are in an animal cell?  How can virus objects damage cells?
-Robotics:  Finish and program Robotic Animals with behaviors from Wednesday.
Lunch:
Afternoon:
Recreation

Friday:
Morning:
-Open time to develop Scratch and Robotics Projects for Parent Showcase
-Do Post Workshop Survey
Lunch:
Afternoon:
-Parent Showcase (1:30 to 2:30 PM)
-Clean Up

Scratch Activities may be found at http://www.nebomusic.net/scratch.html
Robotics Overview and Activities may be found at:  http://www.nebomusic.net/neborobotics.html


Scratch
-Molecule simulator
-Cell simulator
-Solar System orbit simulator
-Gravity / Falling simulator
-Simple Machines

Lego NXT
-Simple Machines - Gears and Levers
-Lifting Contest
-Ramp climbing contest
-Flashlight following robot
-"Artificial Life Forms" Robots that react like insects (Explore the room, hide from light, be aggressive or passive)

Pre-survey: http://findings.GaComputes-ES-Pre-L.sgizmo.com/s3/
Post-survey: http://findings.GaComputes-ES-Post-L.sgizmo.com/s3/

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