Vida Winter Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I am teaching at a day camp this summer, and need an activity that will take approx. 1 hour with a group of 12 or so kids (4x per day) for a total of around 144 kids. Every year that number seems to get a bit larger. The activity is outdoors but I am usually in a large tent or at least on a picnic table in the shade. The kids range from 2nd to 6th grade, and the groups of 12 are arranged by grade level. I do the same activity with each group, and the younger kids naturally need more help. In the past we have done various art projects (fabric painting, making large insects from recycled materials), making flubber, making super-big bubbles, fort-building, etc. This year they have requested that I do a science activity. I was thinking of doing something with simple machines, showing how a little kid could lift something large with a lever. The better activities have a "wow" factor but I can't afford to spend too much because I am donating my time and supplies. Sometimes what seems affordable for a few kids becomes unreasonable for 144 kids! If you have any ideas - even vague ones, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 That's a cool idea :) I forget what part of OR you're in..... Good luck... I'm not good at Science ideas.... :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shusband Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I just spent an hour with 7 boys playing with hot water, dry ice and Dawn (from the book). There are some great ideas in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted July 12, 2012 Author Share Posted July 12, 2012 I just spent an hour with 7 boys playing with hot water, dry ice and Dawn (from the book). There are some great ideas in there. I had to see this so I just ordered it on Kindle - thanks for the tip, I never heard of Steve Spangler before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I used to teach a physics of toys class. One of the activities I did was something like the link below. We also dod 'webble' type clowns made from ping pong balls and weighted with clay in the base. there are several other center of gravity type things you can do that need very inexpensive supplies. PM if you want more info and I'll see what I can dig up. http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/cub_/activities/cub_mechanics/cub_mechanics_lesson06_activity2.xml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acablue Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I'd probably do some kind of rocket. My kids made them at science camp a couple weeks ago that they decorated and then had a competition about whose went the farthest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trilliums Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Stomp rockets -- build a couple of the launchers out of pvc pipe and kids can make & keep the rockets made out of paper, add fins, etc. Pencil catapults -- viking catapult style. Is there are Staples near you still having the one cent pencil sale? Alka seltzer/film canister rockets. Cabbage juice pH indicator art: Boil red cabbage, soak coffee filters in the juice, let dry, then kids can use cotton swabs dipped in vinegar, baking soda solution, etc to draw on the coffee filters. Paper helicopters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 The most enjoyable thing our co-op did for simple machines was to make a simple machines amusement park for toy people (a hilarious assortment of Polly Pockets, Lego minifigs, etc.). Kids drew which simple machine they had to do. They worked in small teams. There was a large box of random junk for repurposing as well as duck tape and so forth (if you have a creative reuse center near you, then this would be an affordable thing for a large group). At the end, kids took a toy on a tour of the amusement park. It was pretty awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted July 13, 2012 Author Share Posted July 13, 2012 Great ideas - thank you! Need to see what it will cost now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 Following up... I was able to get (free) a bunch of film canisters from Rite-Aid so we are going to make alka-seltzer rockets. My dc and I have been testing these today. :D In addition to the rocket activity with 144 kids, I will work with a single group of kids each morning all week with a presentation on the last day. We are going to do other science experiments all week and present a "best of" during the presentation. Thank you all so much for your ideas - I think I can finally do this. The most expensive items so far have been safety glasses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougarmom4 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 The most enjoyable thing our co-op did for simple machines was to make a simple machines amusement park for toy people (a hilarious assortment of Polly Pockets, Lego minifigs, etc.). Kids drew which simple machine they had to do. They worked in small teams. There was a large box of random junk for repurposing as well as duck tape and so forth (if you have a creative reuse center near you, then this would be an affordable thing for a large group). At the end, kids took a toy on a tour of the amusement park. It was pretty awesome. Love this idea! Thanks for sharing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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