Comic Book Science: FlyJack and Jill™
During the Comic Book Science: FlyJack and Jill module, children discover the science behind comic book superheroes and use their new knowledge to create their own comic books and superheroes.
On Day One, after hearing that Overlord Publishing’s sales are in jeopardy (particularly sales of its most popular comic book series), children are challenged to create a new comic book for the publisher that features superheroes with science-based super powers! They then create models of their own superheroes. Day Two is all about a superhero’s ability to “morph.” Younger children explore this unique quality by investigating how the properties of liquids and solids can change by creating oobleck (cornstarch and water) and slime (glue, borax, and water), while older children conduct an experiment that demonstrates how genetics determine traits. Day Three finds children investigating the safe flying and landing abilities of superheroes, which they then apply to their own superheroes. On Day Four, children explore superhero strength, speed, and reaction time and add these features to their comic book heroes. On Day Five, children explore superheroes’ super senses and finish their comic books.
Land Sled X-Treme™
In the Land Sled X-Treme module, children explore engineering principles by building functional vehicles. Children work as a team to complete daily science challenges and accumulate points that they then use to "purchase" materials to build a land sled. Teams spend the week transforming materials such as tape, boxes, and skateboards into their own land sleds. At the end of the week, teams participate in an obstacle course to discover whose land sleds can cross the finish line victoriously.
On Day One, children are recruited as Land Sled X-Treme racers and discover their first challenge: to build a shield to protect them from water in the H20 Throw game. On Days Two through Four, children devise new strategies to stay dry during the H20 Throw game. Children also encounter new challenges throughout the week such as the Lever Launch game. For each win in this game, teams score points to buy materials for their sleds. Children then build, test, and modify their land sleds. On Day Five, children work together to push and pull their teams through the X-treme obstacle course. They swerve around cones, strategically make it over pool noodle speed bumps, and dodge water to win the title of X-treme Land Sled Racer.