Enrichment Science!

Enrichment Science teaches the students about electricity and energy. This course is set up as two parts: the energy part involves group presentations on renewable energy resources; and the electricity part is lab-based on, well, electricity! This course repeats every quarter, when a new section rotates in.

Quarter 1: Section 8-4 

"Potato Power" allows the students to discover that even a common vegetable like potatoes are basic batteries, because they can produce electricity.

As Allie hooks up the voltmeter, Claire reconnects a loose wire.

Danny has a bit of difficulty hooking the wires up, so Mark offers some help with the screwdriver. (Yeah, that's what's happening!)

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The students work on various electrical projects. 

Dani & Gina get their DC motor runnin'.	Cory works on wiring up a switch.
Claire and Allie each work on separate parts of their AC lamp circuit, while Liza shares a secret.	Claire tries to show Jackie and Gina how to attach the plug. Jackie doesn't believe it'll work, and Gina just smiles for a picture.

Quarter 2: Section 8-1

"Orange Cells" introduced the students to natural batteries: oranges!!

Caleb tests the voltage of the battery, while Joe and Ross record the data.

Ben rolls the orange to loosen up more juice (the electrolyte), and Jeremy is just enthralled! Shawn reads the directions to make sure they're doing it right.

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"Potato Power!"

Jason and Luke test their spud.

Amy couldn't wait to taste the raw potato!!!

Quarter 3: Section 8-2

"Potato Power!" This was the only lab of which I could take pictures, and wouldn't you know it? Everyone wanted to quickly finish the lab so they could eat the potatoes!!! 

Brandon steadies the electrodes as the rest record data.

Is Clare copying Kaylee's answer?? Well, they are working together in lab!

Brittany proudly displays her potato.

Val goes one better than Brittany by adding a voltmeter!

Russ takes a big bite outta his potato.

Kim gnaws away on her spud.

Casie, Stephanie, and Jamie dig in.

Quarter 4: Section 8-3

Due to other circumstances, over half the students in this section had Enrichment Science third quarter. That means I had to change the program a bit, so as to not have anyone repeating experiments!

First up: designing and building motorized cars - that really go!! While some groups actually got a working model, the real purpose was to have the students use their creativity  in designing a model, and work to solve any problems that might arise. 

(This actually builds off  of third quarter's ending point - DC motors.)

Austin headed up his group, and after working so hard, took a little nap.	Thoroughly refreshed, Austin demonstrates his design.	Jake took charge in his group.	Jake worked diligently on "his" car.
Jake and Austin display their final designs. Jake's is on the left, Austin's on the right.	Jake tests his, and finds it veers to the right - but gets going fast!	Austin found 4 or 5 variations on a theme all worked well.	Kim & Katherine find a loose wheel the only thing stopping their car.

  Just for the record: Austin did work with Jordan, Ryan, and Eric; Jake had partners in Russ, Nick, and Joe M.; Katie A. worked with Kim & Katherine; Joe B., Mark, and Donavon did get their model working, but tested it while I was assisting another group; Val, Ashley, and Brittany built what appeared to be a good car, but it wouldn't move; and Kim S., Kayla, and Kaylee came up with many good designs but just didn't have the right materials to make them work. I was very impressed with  everyone's quality of work!!

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The students also attempted a lab from the book called "Tune In!", where they are to build a radio receiver. It is difficult to get working, and I spent most of the time helping groups. However, I did capture one picture. Here it is!