Listed below is a brief description of all (Grades K-12) virtual field triip being offered at the Howard B. Owens Science Center. Field trip descriptions are listed by first semester and second semester including the grade level(s) and brief summary.
ELEMENTARY
Grade K—Do you need what I need? Visit with us to explore ways animals and plants survive! How are animals and plants different? Kindergartners review what patterns are, identify how plant needs can be as different or like animal needs. Zoom with us to evaluate the comparisons as your students explain the difference!
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Grade 2—TAG Tinker Computer Aided Design "Structures" Creativity Enrichment Virtual Program In support of the second grade tag “Structures” curriculum online students led by the Owens Science Center instructor will learn how to use the Tinker CAD platform to use geometric shapes to create a Tinkercad house!
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Grades 3 & 4—Nature Rangers Students work on teams to identify a new mystery plant in a nature reserve to determine whether it is a threat to the ecosystem and, if so, how to respond.
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Grades 3, 4, &, 5—Let's Investigate Start the year off by conducting investigations using a simulation modeling animal responses to various stimuli and explain the investigative process (Scientific Method).
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Grade 4—Cosmic Collisions Launch into the world of energy and motion by exploring some of the most dramatic events in the universe—cosmic collisions! Students connect their lessons on energy transfer, force, and motion to real astronomical phenomena, discovering how these powerful interactions shape planets, moons, and beyond!
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grades 6 & 7—Destination Mars Students work on teams, using data from satellites and rovers to evaluate and compare features of six sites near Mars to determine which is best as a remote habitat for astronauts studying Mars.
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HIGH SCHOOL
Beer's & Breathalyzers This activity introduces students to a practical application of chemistry and provides an opportunity to apply mathematical skills to quantify breath alcohol levels. This activity can be tailored to fulfill inquiry requirements for AP and IB Chemistry courses. (chemistry—all levels)
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Designing a Bioretention Area Students will use a rain simulation of the HBO Science Center campus to determine areas in need of remediation. Then, they will select a type of bioretention area to design with native trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses. They must keep a budget and a few other constraints in mind while designing. (BGCS, environmental)
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ELEMENTARY
Grade 1—Can You Code a Sandcastle? During this one hour introductory program students explore computational thinking through the engaging story of “How to Code A Sandcastle” by Josh Funk.* Throughout the story students engage in “unplugged interactive activities” that allow them to help Pearl solve a big problem with coding and practice simple coding vocabulary. *Permission was obtained from the author to use the book, images and text in this program.
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Grade 2—Can You Code a Sandcastle? During this one hour introductory program students explore computational thinking through the engaging story of “How to Code A Sandcastle” by Josh Funk.* Throughout the story students engage in “unplugged interactive activities” that allow them to help Pearl solve a big problem with coding and practice simple coding vocabulary. *Permission was obtained from the author to use the book, images and text in this program.
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Grade 2—A Place to Call Home Second graders will use their body's observation tools (sight/hearing), as they are challenged with animal sounds and exposures. Teachers, relax and let me teach the science lesson to your students for an hour or so, as we explore our (PGCPS) Life Science theme!
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Grade 3—A Preferred Choice Hop on board as we prepare to drop anchor in the midst of a weather alert, that gives way to a localized, Earth changing disaster for humans, bringing about torrential rains and quickly gives way to a sloppy, soggy, floody mess! During our program students prepare for a flood event, assist another, and use criteria and constraints to provide the best solution for the scenarios experienced.
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Grades 3, 4, & 5—Aquatic Investigators Working on teams, students search for a Hawaiian Monk Seal (endangered species) that has left its habitat, determine what environmental disruptions may have caused it to migrate, and explore possible habitats that meet all of the seal's needs.
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Grades 3, 4, & 5—Dirt Decoders Students work on teams to identify a mystery fossil, and find a likely location for the remainder of the fossil skeleton, based on their estimated age of the fossil and understanding of how fossils that formed below the earth's surface become accessible.
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Grade 5—Star Light: How Far? How Bright? Does a star’s brightness always reveal its distance? Go beyond the textbook and explore the mysteries of starlight with Planetarium Patty!
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grade 6—The FOG Factor Students will investigate how fats, oils, and grease (FOG) behave in different states of matter and how they impact the environment.
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Grades 7 & 8—Destination Moon Working on teams, students launch satellites and a rover to remotely analyze conditions on the Moon and pick a suitable location for a second habitat for astronauts to study the Moon.
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Grade 8—Observation Earth Working on teams, students replace sensors on the International Space Station that monitor Earth processes, events, weather, and biodiversity.
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HIGH SCHOOL
Destination Moon Working on teams, students launch satellites and a rover to remotely analyze conditions on the Moon and pick a suitable location for a second habitat for astronauts to study the Moon.
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Observation Earth Working on teams, students replace sensors on the International Space Station that monitor Earth processes, events, weather, and biodiversity.
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Beer's & Breathalyzers This activity introduces students to a practical application of chemistry and provides an opportunity to apply mathematical skills to quantify breath alcohol levels. This activity can be tailored to fulfill inquiry requirements for AP and IB Chemistry courses. (chemistry—all levels)
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Designing a Bioretention Area Students will use a rain simulation of the HBO Science Center campus to determine areas in need of remediation. Then, they will select a type of bioretention area to design with native trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses. They must keep a budget and a few other constraints in mind while designing. (BGCS, environmental)
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Tuna Be or Not Tuna Be This MISA-style preparatory activity challenges students to refine a simulation to develop a sustainable fishing method. Teachers will receive a MISA-style question set to practice students upon completion of the activity.
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