USF STARS Summer 2004: Water Splash Summer Science Camp

USF STARS Summer 2004: Water Splash Summer Science Camp

The USF STARS summer science camp is an annual event that exposes elementary school (specifically 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade) students to advanced science concepts. This year, the camp focus wason the science of water and water treatment. The “Water Splash Summer Science” (WSSS) Camp was a two-week endeavor; from June 7 to June 18 beginning at 8 am and concluding at 1:30 pm.

The WSSS camp was split into two one-week lesson blocks, depending on the lesson content. The first week served as an introduction to basic water concepts. The second week’s lessons were geared towards the Olympiad’s theme: building a mock water treatment facility. The campers were provided with a CampBooklet that contained background information as well as activity and experiment worksheets for all of the lessons taught during the camp.

As mentioned above, the first week of the camp was full of exciting lessons that introduced the campers to basic water facts as well as other topics. The first day, June 7th, the campers were divided into five groups. The groups were given names that related to bodies or phenomena of water, such as the Typhoons and the Mighty Geysers. The campers also attended a presentation sponsored by the City of Tampa Water Department, where they learned about Tampa’s water source was well as conservation. To help the fellows understand the students’ knowledge base, a pre-test was administered on the first day as well. The day concluded with the first lesson taught by the fellows. The lesson included facts about water on Earth, in their bodies, as well as in their backyard – Florida.

The rest of the first week continued with lessons taught by the fellows. The campers rotated between nine lessons from Tuesday to Friday along with a tour of some engineering labs on Thursday. The lessons covered during this time introduced the students to important concepts such as

water atomic theory,

mass,

volume,

density,

pH,

water properties (surface tension, adhesion)

and the water cycle.

Lessons, such as the Sailboat Simulation and Cave Formations, demonstrated uses and effects of water. The campers where also introduced to computer simulations and the basics of genetics, DNA, through hands-on activities.

The second week of the camp included lessons that were focused on concepts required for the Olympiad. The advanced concepts covered included hands-on activities on:

water electrolysis,

reverse osmosis,

filtration,

water power,

water monitoring,

and water power.

Upon completion of these lessons, the students had the basics of water treatment. A review of water treatment was also provided on Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday of the second week was the big day for the campers, the culminating event. In groups of 6 – 8 campers, their task was to demonstrate the procedures that municipal water plants use to purify water for drinking. The winning team was chosen based on the following criteria:

turbidity of the water,

correct steps of water treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, and storage),

and by the results of the tests they learned in the water monitoring lesson.

The end of the camp included a trip to the Museum of Science of Industry and an awards banquet. The awards banquet was an event used to show parents the fun and educational lessons and activities their campers had experienced. Awards were presented to the winning team of the Olympiad, as well as best campers.

The Summer 2004 WSSS camp was considered to be a great success. The parents expressed, with enthusiasm, how much their children had enjoyed and valued the camp experience.