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2007 Location Archive(pdf)  

The DISCOVER Program

Viking Treasure Trek: The Quest Begins™

The Viking Treasure Trek: The Quest Begins module combines creative problem solving and logic as children follow the footsteps of ancient travelers.  Children hear a mythical story of how the travelers, known for their outstanding seamanship, mysteriously hid vast amounts of gold, and it’s up to them to find the buried bounty!  Throughout the week, children employ science, reason, and teamwork skills to find the long-lost treasure.

On Day One, children learn about the lives and voyages of the travelers and are challenged to solve the mystery of the lost treasure.  They work in teams to solve and decipher the first in a week’s worth of clues, riddles, and challenges and build boats to carry them from Norway to Iceland and Greenland.  During Day Two, teams sail the seas once again, this time traveling from Greenland to Newfoundland to solve a series of logic puzzles which will lead them closer to the treasure.  On Day Three, children set sail for New England, where the treasure awaits them!  Before claiming the fortune, teams must use compasses to find clues that will lead them to the treasure site.  On Days Four and Five, children utilize teamwork and creative problem solving to finally uncover the long lost gold.

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.

I Can Invent: Fantasy Inventions & Complicated Machines II™

The I Can Invent: Fantasy Inventions & Complicated Machines II module illustrates the joys (and frustrations) that real inventors face during the process of creating totally new inventions.  This module, divided into separate parts for younger and older children, uses science, creative problem solving, and hands-on applications to further children’s inventiveness and critical-thinking skills.  While younger children focus on building fantasy inventions that will help solve a problem that “bugs” them, older children work in teams to create multi-step, Rube Goldberg-type machines that solve a given challenge.

On Day One, both older and younger children learn tool safety and take apart broken appliances.  During Day Two, all children continue dismantling their appliances; younger children focus on finding gears and magnets within their Take Apart items, while older children begin developing complicated machines that must employ four, separate steps to solve the given challenge.  On Day Three, while younger children continue taking apart their appliances, older children begin building their multi-step machines.  During Day Four, younger children discover how product names are chosen, and older children enhance their multi-step machines.  The week ends with younger children wrapping up their invention process (including applying for and receiving a mock patent) and older children setting their complicated machines in motion!

Recess Remix™

The Recess Remix module combines physical activity and creativity.  Children practice teamwork, cooperation, coordination, and creative problem-solving skills during fun, energetic games.  Recess Remix activities are based on the premise that traditional games can be modified using nontraditional approaches.  Inclusion and creative problem-solving skills are stressed, rather than winning or losing.  Different games are played based on children's ages and abilities.  Like inventions that combine two ideas into one product, different parts of a game can be changed to make a new game.

Each day, the challenges are new and exciting.  Children play approximately four games per day, sometimes featuring water, recyclable materials, and balls.  New experiences are created when children are challenged to use nontraditional equipment or incorporate items like water balloons into classic games.  All activities are designed to engage the mind and body together while children work as a team. Recess Remix games challenge teams to depend on their own inventiveness and inquisitive thinking. Children discover that all games can be adapted and modified to create fun, new challenges!