The Challenger Learning Center of Alaska offers a variety of science workshops that integrate space science, mathematics, technology, problem solving, and teamwork. These programs can be tailored to your group’s interests or needs, and offer exciting hands- and minds-on activities for all ages. Additionally, CLCA’s workshops are adaptable to a multitude of age and grade levels.  Workshop prices vary please see individual descriptions.

All workshops can be set up to be performed on location, at your school, or facility. 

Students will explore vessels that travel by air, land, and water and brainstorm the properties that allow these vessels to move. Students will be introduced to a series of challenges that will test and grow their knowledge of mathematics, scientific explanations, and engineering designs. Finally, students will build, test, and revise their prototype models according to their own calculations and creativity. This workshop is designed for maximum flexibility from one grade to the next!

 

Price: $350

 

Grade Level 6th-8th

 

NanoTechnology in Space

During this workshop, your students will learn what the big deal is about nanotechnology.  Nanotechnology is technology at the nano-scale – one BILLIONTH of a meter! This field of science is exploding with new opportunities and applications in nearly every field of science.  Through hands-on exploration, students learn about size and scale, risks and benefits of technology, forms of carbon and changing chemical and physical properties.

Price: $350

Grade Level : 5th and Up

Alaska State, NGSS, and Common Core Standards Alignment Coming Soon!

 

Climate Change

In this workshop, your students will use scientific data to explore signs that changes are occurring to our climate. Students will explore climate change by defining climate, weather, and what change means.  Using the iGlobe, students will explore changes in sea ice extent and migration patterns of Alaskan animals.  Radiation experiments, mystery surfaces, trans-Neptunian objects, and satellite images of Alaska will provide opportunities for students to investigate climate phenomena.

Price: $350

Grade Level: 5th and Up

Climate Change Alaska State, NGSS, and Common Core Standards Alignment

Thermal Engineering

Your students will be immersed in the engineering design process to develop a thermal protection system for a model spacecraft.  Students will design, build, test, and revise their own solutions to problems that share fundamental science and engineering issues with the challenges facing NASA engineers.  These activities are designed to achieve national standards in science, math, and critical thinking skills;  while exploring heat, heat transfer, and engineering principles.

Price: $400

Grade Level: 4th and Up

Thermal Engineering Alaska State, NGSS, and Common Core Standards Alignment

Ice Cream Matters

Students will explore matter and investigate three of its fundamental states: liquids, solids, and gases, and their properties. Using what they have learned, students will then design, mix, test, and revise their own ice cream creations that share fundamental science and states of matter that food scientists experience. (In the event a child has a dairy allergy, the teacher/parent is responsible for providing alternative supplies.)

Price: $375

Grade Level: K-2nd

Students will explore the Milky Way and it’s constellations, as well as a brief history of Roman and Greek mythology pertaining to these constellations.  Your students will explore both the diversity and vastness of the cosmos in this workshop; from topics of “close proximity” such as the Aurora Borealis and celestial bodies of our Solar System, to stars and galaxies that are thousands to billions of light years away.  The Astronomy workshop includes an informative presentation, a team-based team-teaching student activity, and an optional StarLab planetarium presentation.

Price: $550

Grade Level: K-8th

Astronomy Alaska State, NGSS, and Common Core Standards Alignment

Students learn what light is, where it comes from, and how spectroscopes help scientists study the universe. Your students will learn about light and how it relates to energy, waves, composition of matter, and temperature. Each student will construct their own spectroscope and test it on various light sources.  They will learn how astronomers determine what makes up a star, a comet, and other astronomical phenomena when we can’t touch it but can see the light it emits. The students will discuss waves and how waves travel, using a jump rope as a model.

 

Price: $350

 

Grade Level: 4th-8th

 

How does life change when living in space? That is the fundamental question students study during this workshop.  Students learn about the living conditions of astronauts, and what effects Microgravity has on the human body…sleep, exercise, time, spatial orientation, nutrition, and more!

 

Price: $350

 

Grade Level: 2nd-8th

 

Students will learn the history, development, and mechanics behind rockets! Students will observe Newton’s Three Laws of Motion in action. Students will use these laws as they work in small groups to build a balloon rocket.  They will demonstrate a basic understanding of the laws by experimenting with lifting a payload. Additionally, they build and launch paper rockets from our air-powered PVC Rocket Launch Pad.

 

Price: $350

 

Grade Level: 2nd-8th

 

Simple machines and compound machines are the foundation of many modern conveniences. Engineers use the six simple machines, wheel and axle, wedges, screws, levers, pulleys and inclined planes to develop simple tools we use every day, such as bikes and skateboards. They also create and design compound machines that are created for specified functions.

In this workshop students will gain a better understanding of what a simple and compound machine is, and design four of the six simple machines. In the end students will be provided with a scenario, and in teams will build a prototype of catapult to launch their “grapes.” Students will also integrate math by measuring and averaging their three launch distances to see who gets the “job” as lead mechanical engineer. Hot glue gun use required.

Price $300

 

Grade Level: 3rd-5th

 

Simple Machines Alaska State, NGSS, and Common Core Standards Alignment

Robotics

Students will learn the history of robotics along with how they’re being used in present day. There is discussion of the different industries that use robots and how they will be used in the future. Students will also design and test their own robots to perform a series of tasks.

Price: $350

Grade Level: 3rd-6th

Alaska State, NGSS, and Common Core Standards Alignment and description Coming Soon!