Join us and explore the “living laboratory” of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Our Wild Wizards will challenge your mind and foster collaboration in this homeschool science and engineering series. Homeschool classes at Edison Ford are aligned with Next Generation Science and Florida State Standards. Classes are a combination of instruction and hands on activities that are designed to facilitate homeschool or virtual science education. Students will explore engineering, physics, mechanics, and more with Derby Cars, LEGO Mindstorm, robots, and rockets! This popular class is offered twice per month September through March:
- Grades 1-3: 2nd Wednesday or 3rd Thursday, 10am-12pm
- Grades 4-6: 2nd Thursday or 3rd Wednesday, 10am-12pm
Topics will include:
- September: Derby Car Physics
- Students explore the many factors that impact the performance of a Pinewood Derby Car. Concepts such as friction, aerodynamics, potential energy and more are explored in this hands-on class that makes use of an actual derby track.
- October: Derby Car Design and Racing
- Students apply physics and trial and error to test and develop the fastest Pinewood Car. This class makes use of modular Lego pieces to allow students to move quickly through the design process.
- November: Introduction to Lego mechanics
- Students are introduced to fundamental mechanical concepts beginning with simple machines and working towards developing motorized gear systems. Students will learn about mechanical advantage, gearing-up, and down, worm drives, gear trains and more!
- December: Introduction to Code
- Using the code platform “scratch” Edison Ford instructors guide students through the key concepts of computer code. Students will learn about loops, if/else statements, and how create and use variables.
- January: Introduction to Robotics
- Students learn the basic operation of a Lego Mindstorm robot. Basic mechanics of the robot is taught as well as the code used to make the robot go.
- February: Advanced Techniques
- Students are taught, and then challenged to apply, advanced techniques that are used to improve the consistency of a robotics system. Students learn how to design functions, collect and use data from sensors, and other techniques to improve the reliability of their system.
- March: Rocket Science!
- Learn it, build it, launch it. Students explore the science of flight as they learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion, the four forces of flight, and the coanda effect as they design and launch their own high flying water rocket.
Become a family member of Edison Ford and receive discounted registration!
Click here to register.
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