The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry on Friday introduced 15 students at the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology to its Summer Brain Games.
Nicole Kowrach, the museum’s director of teaching and learning, said museum staff members know there is a definite need for activities and programs to keep kids learning during the summer.
“Studies show that some kids can tune out during the summer months and lose critical knowledge and thinking skills they need to begin a successful new school year,” Kowrach said.
The museum works with teachers and parents to give them ideas for hands-on projects in and out of class to help students in the summer, she said.
On Friday, Beth Boston, the museum’s public relations manager, and Angela Mendoza, the museum’s senior education coordinator for community initiatives, brought over a kit for a catapult activity for students at the academy. The students used water balloons, balls, a gallon-size water jug and a yardstick for the physics experiment. ????? ???? ???????
The students laughed and joked with one another as they tried to see whose projectile traveled farthest.
Joe Rizo, 14, and Juwan Davis, 15, who both will be in ninth grade this fall, worked together on the activity and thought it was fun. The teens also were happy at the prospect of receiving credit for the summer class, which runs from June 18 to July 20.
Debbie Snedden, the academy’s curriculum director, said the charter school has had a relationship with the museum since the school opened two years ago. ????? ????? ?? ????????
The academy also offers an after-school science club. Museum officials said the club at the charter school is among 71 that exist at schools in Northwest Indiana and Chicago. ?????? ???????
In addition to the experiment, teacher Chris Sojka said the students will write an essay about the experiment and what they learned.
“What I want them to take away from this experience is the ability to problem solve and how to work in teams,” he said. “Learning something like this can be a lot of fun. It gets their excitement up, and that’s the way I want them to feel about learning.”
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