Challenge Saturdays
About Challenge Science

Site Schedules

Instructors

Register for
Challenge Science

Other Challenge Saturdays Programs:
Primary Challenge Math
(Grades 3-4)
Challenge Math
(Grades 5-6)
Primary Challenge Language Arts
(Grades 3-4)
Challenge Language Arts
(Grades 5-6)
Math Excursions: Geometry
(Grades 7-8)
Challenge Foreign Language
(Grades 5-8)
Challenge Photography
(Grades 4-6)
Challenge Leadership
(Grades 4-6)
Challenge Latin
(Grades 4-6)

 ABOUT CHALLENGE-SCIENCE

Description of Iowa City Challenge Science
Topic: Forces and Motion (Grades 5-6) from 9 am-12:30 pm

Forces and motion are a part of our everyday life. Learn the science behind different forces. Students will design experiments and solve problems. They will explore problems thoroughly and find more than one way to the correct solution. Activities will encourage students to think about science concepts and the activities will promote an understanding of the concepts being studied. Students will learn how variables affect the outcome of an experiment. Students will look at the evidence, evaluate the data, develop conclusions, and communicate their findings.

Challenge science classes will have students exploring Balloon Racers to learn about Newton's Laws of Motion. Lego Racers will be used to apply Newton's Laws and friction. Students will design and build their own racers. Gravity will be explored through density columns. Magnets will be used to study the invisible lines of force. Tension will be explored through paper boats, adhesion/cohesion activities, Cartesian divers, and bubbleology. Students will design activities to better understand the impact that forces such as asteroids have on the earth.

Description of Des Moines Challenge Science
Topic: Science Investigations: What's Up Doc, at the Vet's? (Grades 5-6) from 9 am-12:30 pm

Explore the world of Veterinary Science. This hands-on laboratory experience will introduce you to a variety of math and science topics related to veterinary medicine: anatomy, genetics, disease management and pharmacology, to name a few. There will be opportunities to expand your knowledge of the vocabulary, tools, and techniques used by veterinarians, and you will learn about the requirements for admission to a veterinary college.

Challenge Science: Overall Objectives
The Challenge Science program is designed to strengthen 5th-6th grade students' science interests and abilities. Students will receive direct instruction, and they will do independent, hands-on work. During class time, students will be expected to explore and solve problems; they will be expected to explain their reasoning. Occasionally, challenging assignments may be provided for home exploration.

Instruction
The Challenge Science program is designed to be an intensive mentorship program. Therefore, the maximum student/teacher ratio is 14:1. We are committed to having high-quality teachers trained in science as Challenge Science instructors. Click here to read more about our instructors.

Class Size
Minimum of ten, maximum of fourteen students per class

Testing
Quizzes may be given periodically to help students maintain previously learned skills.

Text
There is no textbook for the course. Teacher-generated materials will be used.

Dates for Fall
Challenge Science is a semester program with five 3 ½ hour long classes (9AM to 12:30 PM) taking place on five Saturdays during the fall semester (see site schedule link). Challenge classes will not be offered during the spring semester.

Location
Challenge Science class site for the fall semester of 2008 will be in Iowa City and in the Des Moines area.

Cost
Tuition is $340 for the class series.* This fee includes teacher salary, all of the cost for materials, and all curriculum development costs. The Belin-Blank Center underwrites the administrative costs, including the salary for a graduate assistant assigned to help with Challenge Science and any assessments that may be coordinated by the Belin-Blank Center. *This is a semester fee, and we do not pro-rate the fees. There are no refunds or discounts for classes students must miss.

*This is a semester fee, and we do not pro-rate the fees. There are no refunds or discounts for classes students must miss.

Financial aid is available for qualifying families.

Note
Please send a healthy snack (fruit, juice, crackers) to class with your child to enjoy during a mid-morning break.

For more information, please contact:
Catherine Blando, Ed.S - catherine-blando@uiowa.edu or
Susan Assouline, Ph.D - susan-assouline@uiowa.edu
(800)336-6463


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Phone: 1.800.336.6463 or 319.335.6148   Fax: 319.335.5151   Email: belinblank@uiowa.edu
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