YouthRAP – Science Workshop Week
YouthRAP’s Science Workshop Week
funded by the “Raise Your Voice Grant” from
Rhode Island Campus Compact
Monday April 11th, 2011: North American Bird
Lesson Content and Activities:
- Bird Sounds: Identifying birds by their sounds
- Typs of Birds: discuss differences between: seabirds, shorebirds, and waterbirds; Forest Birds; Woodland Birds; and Open-Country Birds
- Wings and Feathers: Explaining their functions and handing out feathers for observation.
- Eggs and Nesting: Examine a boiled egg and identify the different parts
- The youth each made their own bird-feeder using recycled plastic bottles.
Tuesday April 12th, 2011: Rainforest Reptiles & Amphibians
Lesson Content and Activities:
- Introduction: Determine the difference between reptiles and amphibians. Youth were able to play a game, each having their own reptile or amphibian and placing them in the correct category.
- Reptiles & Amphibians Handout
- Frog Anatomy and Life Cycle worksheet
- Youth were able to create their own reptile or amphibian key-chains using pony beads.
Wednesday April 13th, 201: Under the Sea Creatures
- Predator vs. Prey: Youth were asked to determine which sea animals were predators and which were prey. The youth were shown a computer clip of “Finding Nemo” and a real-life clip from Predator and Prey encounters.
- Dissection: Perch fish and clams were brought in by a biology student-volunteer from Providence College. He walked the youth through a dissection of both the fish and clams.
- Important Beta Fish Facts
- Fish Aquarium: the youth were given two new pet fish to maintain and take care of. They were taught about the type of fish, how to feed and take care of them, and how to clean their water and the tank. The youth named their new fish: Marco and Polo.
Thursday, April 14th, 2011: Bug and Insect Life
- Outdoor Hunt: Youth initiated a discussion of the difference between bugs and insects and their environments. The youth lead an outdoor hunt for different bugs and insects around their neighborhood.
- Snack / Craft: The youth were given instructions tocreate their own insect or bug using jelly beans, gumdrops, Twizzlers, and frosting. They created an environment for their snack creation according to what they previously discussed and learned through their hunt.
- Game: The youth were split into two teams and competed to correctly classify as many insects and bugs as they could.
Friday April 15th, 2011: Zoology
- What is Zoology?: Youth discussed what they think of when they see the word zoo or zoology, what they have learned this week and what it has to do with zoology, and if they think they would like to be a zoologist.
- Camouflage Icebreaker: Everyone is given a moth cut-out and then the youth were divided into two teams. Each team had to color their moth to camouflage with the outside environment, and then each team had a chance to try and find the hidden moths.
- Adaptations: The youth discussed what adaptations are and then, using pictures, decided on which each animal’s adaptation was.
- Natural Selection Bead Lab Activity: Different colored beads were hidden throughout the grass and outside area. The youth were given the task to find the beads, and discussed the natural selection process with the beads they did and did not find.
Saturday April 16th, 2011: Trip to the Boston Children’s Museum for access to their Critter Day: “Bug World” and Science Playground exhibit.
** A special thanks to RI Campus Compact for making this experience possible and to all of the volunteers from Providence College who facilitated the workshops and helped supervise the field trip. Thank you!!**