Second grade classes visit the Sciencenter.  The KDT! program at the Sciencenter is called Power the Future; a program in which students use the engineering design process to solve problems, large and small. Students learn about engineering practices as well as  energy and power through a hands-on windmill building activity, and have free time to explore the museum.

​​

Pre-Trip Activities/Lessons

 We recommend watching the SciGirls episode, “Puppet Power”, to introduce your students to the engineering process. In this episode, a group of students must build prototypes, cooperate, and improve their designs to build a large puppet for a parade. This episode is available to stream on the SciGirls Video Page. 

During Your Trip

 The Sciencenter has developed an optional Scavenger Hunt for chaperones to use while exploring the museum with your students. This optional tool is meant to guide student groups to different parts of the museum, and to build on the ideas presented in the Power the Future program. Scavenger Hunt

​

Post-Trip Reflection

• After your trip - either on the bus ride back to school or back in the classroom - you may find it helpful to reflect with your students on what they accomplished during the engineering workshop. These questions will help to draw out the lesson's connections to the Next Generation Science Standards. Reflection Questions

Post-Trip Ideas​

• Post-Trip Activity 1: We recommend watching the SciGirls episode, “Blowin' in the Wind”, to continue the discussion with your students about wind power and renewable energy. In this episode, a group of students design and build wind turbines after seeing a need for a clean power source. They then measure the energy output of their turbine and use it to power a birdbath. This episode is available to stream on the SciGirls Video Page. 

• Post-Trip Activity Handout: Here are two additional activities that we recommend trying in class, or sending home for students to try with their families. We would love some feedback as to which of these you used with your class, how you used it, and how it went!
  Puff Mobile – Design a car using simple materials. Move it with only your breath! (NGSS 2-PSI-3, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2)
  Paper Tower – Explore ways to change the properties of newspaper while building the tallest tower you can. (NGSS 2-PSI-2, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2)

Learning the discourse/language used by a discipline is important for children. Here is a link to a document titled "Talk Like a Scientist/Engineer".

​

​