SDSM&T hosts local area schools to participate in various science events throughout the year. Photo: South Dakota School of Mines
South Dakota School of Mines campus opens up for area youth
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY- Youth Programs at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is launching its 2013 Fall Science series for students in the third through eighth grades to be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on the first four Thursdays in October. Students will be grouped into two sections according to grade with two sessions running simultaneously each Thursday. Registration is now open and will remain so until three days before the events. To register for third through fifth grade sessions, visit www.sdsmt.edu/FallScienceSeries3-5. To register for sixth through eighth grade sessions, visit www.sdsmt.edu/FallScienceSeries6-8. The cost is $10 per session. Using only recycled materials, students in the third through fifth grade will have the chance to design and create a skyscraper and then test it against nature’s fury in earthquake and high wind zones. In “Mountain vs. Machine,” they will act as engineers, determining which wedge is the best tool to extract rock from a quarry and cut in pyramid blocks. Students will also have the chance to learn about spiders, creating hidden messages in their own spider webs, and test a building of their own creation on a bed of gelatin in “Earthquake Engineering.” Sixth through eighth grade students can take on the role of a small-town engineer to design a landfill that can withstand the elements or capture dinosaur’s breath and discover an element that’s still present today. The “Candy Coated” session offers students the opportunity to design their own pill coating using candy simulations. “Recycled Speakers” challenges them to create their own radio speakers out of an old yogurt cup while learning about the role of electricity and magnetism. Grades 3-5
Recycled Skyscrapers, Oct. 3
Using only recycled materials, you will design and create a skyscraper. Your skyscraper design will be tested when it is introduced into the earthquake and high wind zones! Compete with your friends to see who built the strongest and tallest tower! Mountain VS Machine, Oct. 10
You will act as an engineer and determine which wedge is the best tool to extract rock from a quarry and cut into pyramid blocks. Through the use of different wedges, you will get the chance to be an engineer and determine who will win: the mountain or the machine! Spider Speak, Oct. 17
You will get the chance to learn about spiders and their sticky webs. You will then take your new knowledge and use it to create your own spider webs with hidden messages in them. Earthquake Engineering, Oct. 24
After creating your very own building, you will test the structure on a bed of gelatin. Will your design be able to withstand the mighty earthquake? Come to Earthquake Engineering to find out! Grades 6-8
Leaky Landfills, Oct. 3
You will act as an engineer to create a new landfill for a small town. After creating your landfill, it will be tested against rain, wind and earthquakes. Will your design stand-up to the elements or will you have a leaky landfill? Candy Coated, Oct. 10
Have you ever wondered why pills have a coating on them? Through the use of candy simulations you will design your own pill coating to discover the answer! Captured Dino Breath, Oct. 17
You will see how an element that was present in dinosaur’s breath is still around today. Through hands-on experiments you will discover the way we captured dinosaur breath! Recycled Speakers, Oct. 24
Do you think you could create your own radio speakers out of an old yogurt cup? Come to Recycled Speakers and find out! By creating your own speakers out of everyday objects, you will learn about the role of electricity and magnetism. For questions, contact the Youth Programs office at (605) 394-2693 or at youthprograms@sdsmt.edu. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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