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Immersive Learning
Whitaker Center is designed to provide your students with a powerful immersive learning experience – an educational approach that presents the same science concepts in many different ways, including interactive exhibits, large-format films, inquiry-based lab activities, and science theatre presentations.
This fall, experience the thrill of amusement park rides while uncovering the science that takes your breath away.
 Exhibit K’NEX: Building Thrill Rides Sept 30, 2006 – Jan 28, 2007 Amusement parks and thrill rides are a part of almost everyone’s childhood. The breathtaking excitement of roller coasters and wildly spinning rides are truly an American experience. K’NEX: Building Thrill Rides gives students an opportunity to explore and investigate the science, math, and technology concepts that make thrill rides possible. The exhibit includes large animated models of nine different thrill rides, including a roller coaster, carousel, salt-and-pepper ride, and swing rides, ranging from three to 12 feet in size. The realistic action of these models brings science concepts to life for students. Using their observation skills and measurements, students will be able to conduct simple experiments to explore concepts of forces, potential and kinetic energy, and linear and rotational motion. Hands-on activities will be provided for each of the “rides” in the exhibit, including opportunities for students to build their own K’NEX creations. In addition, teachers will have access to pre- and post-visit classroom activities designed to enhance and supplement existing physical science, math, and technology curricula. All activities are aligned with national and state standards for science, math, and technology. Large-format Film Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun Opens Sept 30 Explore the science and psychology of fun and people’s need for thrill seeking by tracing the history of thrill rides, beginning with early roller coasters. Go behind the scenes of high-tech motion simulators, first designed for the aerospace industry and now used for breathtaking entertainment experiences. |
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Science Theatre Equal but Opposite Meet the Shun Sisters, Ack and Rayac, southern belles with one problem: they just can’t seem to get away from each other. Every place one goes, the other goes—without each other, their world may become unbalanced. This lighthearted look at Newton’s Third Law of Motion is sure to get you moving. (PA Academic Standards: 3.4.4B; 3.4.4C) Lever Alone Before microcomputers and robotics, there was the world of simple machines: levers, pulleys, ramps, and wedges. Explore these simple tools and the physics that make them work in this highly interactive and participatory performance. (PA Academic Standards: 3.1.4A; 3.6.4C; 3.7.4A) Discovery Labs Bridging the Gaps (Grades 3-5) Explore the wonders of engineering! What makes some shapes stronger than others? Using K’NEX, build a bridge and test it out. Can your bridge carry the load? (PA Academic Standards: 3.1.4.B., 3.1.7.C., 3.4.7.C., 3.6.7.C., 2.8.3.A., 2.9.3.D.). Amusement Park Physics (Grades 8-10) Engineering, physics and math collide in this colossal exploration of the science of amusement park rides. Using K’NEX, explore how energy, forces, speed and sturdy construction help build thrill and excitement! (PA Academic Standards: 3.1.12A; 3.1.12B; 3.1.10C; 3.1.10E; 3.2.10B; 3.2.10C; 3.7.10A) Professional Development Opportunity Exploring Engineering and Math Topics Using K’NEX Thursday, November 9, 2006 9:00am – 3:30pm Click here for more information.  |
