Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts is offering a morning of free classes that will include hands-on activities such as building and launching a rocket, studying chemical reactions and learning how cells use oxygen.
The Science and Engineering Institute will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 20 at the ASMSA campus in downtown Hot Springs. The classes are open to students enrolled in sixth – 10th grades and there is no charge to attend.
Students may choose two of the following classes to attend:
The Cu Cycle: Students will carry out a series of colorful chemical reactions. They will start with copper, form several copper salts and regenerate metallic copper. Each reaction is accompanied by visual changes so it is obvious to the students that something is happening. Students will learn about different types of chemical reactions and the conservation of mass.
To the Skies! Looking for a new use for your old 2-liter soda bottles? Reuse them and create a bottle rocket. In this activity students will explore Newton’s Laws of Motion, learn how rockets work and will build and launch their own rockets. Please bring a rinsed out 2-liter bottle.
Breathing Seeds: Cellular Respiration: Have you ever wondered if breathing is unique to animals? During this session participants will learn about how most cells (including those that make up plants) must have oxygen to convert chemicals with large amounts of energy into smaller, usable molecules. In addition to a quick review of the basics of cellular respiration, this session will include a laboratory that will compare the amount of oxygen used by germinating versus dry seeds.
Pre-registration is required. Students may register online at http://asmsa.me/octsei. The classes fill quickly and class placement will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Science and Engineering Institute is sponsored by a grant from the Ross Foundation. For more information, contact the ASMSA admissions department at admissions@asmsa.org or at 501-622-5116.