Last week Preston attended the Little Engineers Science Camp put on by Club Scientific. It was really a neat camp- very well run! Each day he participated in lab experiments and then had a "toy makers workshop" where he made all different kinds of gadgets. Of course, they learned a new scientific principle to go along with each activity. I signed him up for the half-day program thinking that would be what he would want me to do, but after the first day he said, "Mommy, they said I can stay all day. Can I?" Darren and I talked it over and decided that would be a perk to have him go back next year and stay all day. Here are some of the projects he brought home:
a marshmallow gun.
This has been a favorite around the house- even for us grownups. The principle they talked about with this was force- the harder you blow the faster the marshmallow comes out.
A rubber band ball. He made this all by himself! He didn't get to put all the bands on during class time but he insisted on finishing it in the car on the ride home. They discussed energy and how adding more bands gives the ball more energy.
Of course we just love to make it do crazy bounces all around the house.
They had paper airplane kits with special planes that do neat tricks like boom-a-rang and loop-to-loops.
And I remember this one- it's the pocket rocket! Just add water and a Alka-Seltzer tablet and watch the top blow off the film canister. So fun!
They talked about mirrors and magnification while making this telescope (which really works).
The main project which they worked on every day all week long had to do with a circuit board.
They used these cool snappable circuit kits and tried out all different kinds of experiments like voice activation and motion sensors. It's really exciting to watch him try out different ways to make a new circuit on this board.
Although most of his time was spent watching experiments and making the toys, they did other fun activities as well. Everyday they had recess either outside or in the gym (Preston's favorite!) and they played a different "Minute to Win It" game every day where all the campers of every age competed against each other. Preston talked about the minute to win it every day and I could tell he thought it was so neat, but that he was too shy to try it. Well, when I went to pick him up on Thursday the director told me, "Preston did great on the minute to win it today." I couldn't believe it and he was so proud of himself. He had to use his mouth to pick up some coins and put them in a bucket. I wish I could have seen it. This whole experience was a great trial run at what is in store for all of us come this fall when Preston enters kindergarten. For Preston, he overcame a fear of going somewhere new where he didn't know one person. And for Elic, he survived four hours without his best friend. It was neat to watch Elic take on the role of "big kid" while Preston was gone and I can't wait to see what kind of relationship Elic and Holden will develop as they spend more time together, just the two of them. Overall, Science Camp exceeded all our expectations and we look forward to picking out next year's theme.
a marshmallow gun.
This has been a favorite around the house- even for us grownups. The principle they talked about with this was force- the harder you blow the faster the marshmallow comes out.
A rubber band ball. He made this all by himself! He didn't get to put all the bands on during class time but he insisted on finishing it in the car on the ride home. They discussed energy and how adding more bands gives the ball more energy.
Of course we just love to make it do crazy bounces all around the house.
They had paper airplane kits with special planes that do neat tricks like boom-a-rang and loop-to-loops. 
And I remember this one- it's the pocket rocket! Just add water and a Alka-Seltzer tablet and watch the top blow off the film canister. So fun!
They talked about mirrors and magnification while making this telescope (which really works).
The main project which they worked on every day all week long had to do with a circuit board.
They used these cool snappable circuit kits and tried out all different kinds of experiments like voice activation and motion sensors. It's really exciting to watch him try out different ways to make a new circuit on this board.
Although most of his time was spent watching experiments and making the toys, they did other fun activities as well. Everyday they had recess either outside or in the gym (Preston's favorite!) and they played a different "Minute to Win It" game every day where all the campers of every age competed against each other. Preston talked about the minute to win it every day and I could tell he thought it was so neat, but that he was too shy to try it. Well, when I went to pick him up on Thursday the director told me, "Preston did great on the minute to win it today." I couldn't believe it and he was so proud of himself. He had to use his mouth to pick up some coins and put them in a bucket. I wish I could have seen it. This whole experience was a great trial run at what is in store for all of us come this fall when Preston enters kindergarten. For Preston, he overcame a fear of going somewhere new where he didn't know one person. And for Elic, he survived four hours without his best friend. It was neat to watch Elic take on the role of "big kid" while Preston was gone and I can't wait to see what kind of relationship Elic and Holden will develop as they spend more time together, just the two of them. Overall, Science Camp exceeded all our expectations and we look forward to picking out next year's theme.
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