March 2010 Discover.ed

The Imagination Station’s Rubber Band Car Challenge

It’s off to the races you go!

Your class will stretch the limits of science with rubber bands. Join us for a special Rubber Band Car Challenge in anticipation of our newest exhibit, Energy Factory. Your students can explore hands-on exhibits that make understanding energy production and consumption fun!

When researching and developing alternative energy vehicles and generators, mechanical engineers experiment with harnessing potential energy from a variety of sources like wind, sun, water and biofuels. This energy is converted into kinetic energy, which can power a car or light a house. Imagination Station is asking your class to explore how to harness the energy of a rubber band to make your car travel the furthest!

The Rubber Band Car Challenge kit is designed to help build excitement in the classroom about energy. Included in each kit, in addition to the Rubber Band Car Challenge, are many different activities designed to appeal to students of all ages, abilities and interests.  These are easily adaptable across the curriculum from kindergarten to high school.  Some investigations can be performed individually, while others foster cooperative team skills.  The time and the length of the investigations may vary from 15 minutes to an entire week of fun – it is completely up to you!

All entries for the Rubber Band Car Challenge must be received by May 11, 2010. The top five distances will be invited to Imagination Station for an official race-off. The car with the greatest distance will win. Please only one entry per class.

The top cars will be displayed for all visitors to see at the Imagination Station. The winning entry will receive an Extreme Science Demonstration for their entire school!

If your classroom does not receive a Rubber Band Car kit in the mail, all activities and challenge details are available on-line at www.imaginationstationtoledo.org.

Display Your Student’s Masterpieces at Imagination Station!

Has your class completed a project that you would love to showcase to the community? Imagination Station is the place! In our Science Studio, we have a display case that is looking to showcase local talent. Submit your latest science project or artistic creation. We are open to a variety of different topics and mediums. Our display case has space to account for up to 30 separate pieces (depending on size).

An Imagination Station team member will happily pick up the pieces you would like displayed and return them to your school after approximately one month.

If you are interested, contact Sloan Eberly, Public Programs Manager, at 419.244.2674 ext.120.

STARLAB

Our portable planetarium, STARLAB, is an experience that your class does not want to miss. STARLAB allows your class to explore the night sky in the comfort of your gymnasium or cafeteria!

Our trained Imagination Station staff member will navigate the night sky for your students.

Topics of exploration include:

• The earth’s rotation
• Differences between the daytime and nighttime sky
• The sun as a star
• Why stars appear as points of light
• Why the North Star is only found in the northern part of the sky
• What causes day and night

Book your StarLab today to lock in our low rates!  Call Jamie Pafford at 419.244.2674 ext. 107 for more information.

Classroom Activity

Paper Rockets

Materials:

• Tape
• Scissors
• Sharpened Pencil
• Straw (must be smaller in diameter than the pencil)
• Construction Paper

Procedure:

1. Cut a narrow rectangular strip of paper, approximately 5 inches wide and 7 inches long.
2. Place the tip of the sharpened pencil at the corner of the paper and tightly roll the paper around the pencil. Tape the end to form a cylinder and remove it from the pencil.
3. Fold the pointed end of the cylinder over and tape.
4. Check the cylinder for leaks by blowing into the open end of the cylinder and feeling for escaping air. Tape all leaks.
5. Cut out 2 sets of fins and tape near the open end.
6. Slip the straw into the open end and blow sharply through the straw.

Why:

The movement of the air across the rocket directs it path of flight.  The fins help to stabilize the rocket, impeding it from spinning.  The burst of air that you send into the rocket propels it forward and will continue to do so until its airspeed decreases and it loses altitude.

Extension Activities:

Try building and flying your paper rocket first without fins.  Try placing the fins on different parts of the rocket. What happens?

Did You Know?

Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman to travel in space. She made this trip aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992. Mae developed an interest in anthropology, archaeology and astronomy early in life and enrolled in Stanford University at the age of 16 to study chemical engineering and Afro-American studies. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Cornell University in 1981. Jemison speaks fluent Russian, Japanese and Swahili, in addition to English.

Coming Events

Now through May 2, 2010

The Big Draw

The Big Draw is a special addition we are making to Imagination Station that coincides with our new traveling exhibit Animation, featuring Cartoon Network, which focuses on the science behind cartoons. We are encouraging visitors to contribute to a large 4′ x 8′ community art piece.

Throughout the run of Animation (January 30-May 2, 2010), visitors will be prompted to draw their favorite cartoon, animate themselves or practice a little something that they learned while exploring the exhibits inside Animation. Sections of the artwork could be displayed in the Science Studio after the project is completed.

Exhibit Now Open!

Explore how art, math, science and technology come together in the exciting world of animation.

March 6 & 7, 2010

Make Your Own Comic Strip

with Comic Strip Artist, Brian Houdashelt

Bring the kids out and enjoy this unique comic strip workshop. Get hands on and draw your own cartoon to take home. Brian published his first weekly Web comic “Victor” from 2005 to 2008. He is a graduate of Davis College in Toledo and works as a professional graphic and web designer. He pursues his love of cartooning in his free time.

In Science Studio; 10am – 5pm on Saturday/Noon-5pm on Sunday

March 20, 2010

Mr. Etch-a-Sketch, Tim George

“Shake my hand, not my art” is a fitting motto for this unique artist. His canvas is the classic toy, the Etch-a-Sketch. Tim George, began his artistic career over 20 years ago as a way to entertain his hospitalized daughter and pass the time.  George will be entertaining visitors with his natural wit and charm, educating them about the science of his art, and challenging kids of all ages to turn the knob on an Etch-a-Sketch while he demonstrates his talent.

10:00am-5:00pm in Science Studio

March 21, 2010

Mosaic Masterpiece, Stacy Marino

Learn how your eyes play with individual colors and blends them to become one big picture. Design a mosaic masterpiece with local artist and educator, Stacy Marino.

12:00pm-5:00pm in Science Studio

March 27, 2010

Scooby Doo Visits Imagination Station!

Bring your kids and your camera for this awesome experience. America’s most beloved pooch will spend the day roaming around Imagination Station, posing for pictures, shaking paws and signing autographs. Don’t miss this opportunity to hang out with this legendary pup!

10:00am-5:00pm

April 24, 2010

Astronomy Day

Start your out-of-this-world experience at Imagination Station exploring the daytime sky and all its glory with the Toledo Astronomical Association. Then venture over to Olander Park in Sylvania, where we will be helping visitors learn about the night sky by seeing it up close and personal.

1o:00am-5:00pm at Imagination Station

At Olander Park, time TBD (this is a Toledo Astronomical Association event)

April 25, 2010

Earth Day: Plants – The Green Machines

Local biology students will be on hand in Science Studio helping to educate our visitors about the earth using interactive activities.

10:00am-5:00pm in Science Studio