I have been a busy bee getting ready for the Miss US Earth pageant. My duties as Miss Kansas Earth 2010 include spreading the word on my platform ("Be Aware, it's in the Air"). I was extremely lucky to be presented with an awesome opportunity from the University of Oklahoma's College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences to outreach to children about weather in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Clinton Presidential Center and Museum. A summer camp program well named "Nature Unleashed" is for middle-school-ish aged kids to learn about natural disasters and how humans react to them.
Today is Day 1 of camp and we learned tons! We used a rubber mat to see if the kids could lift it off the table from a hook in the center. They learned when they couldn't lift it up that air has mass, and on a 10x10 inch mat it amounts to about 1600 pounds! Next, we simulated the updraft in a thunderstorm with a hair dryer (updraft) and a ping pong ball (hail). Then, we used windbags to teach Bernoulli's principle. An air cannon (trash bin, shower curtain, and bungee cords) was a favorite of the boys, who were fighting over shooting a cup off my head with air. And of course, we couldn't leave out the forecasting lesson, which teaches them that air is invisible and it is really hard to forecast when you can't see it. Last but not least, we made cool waterspouts in pop bottles which taught the kids the importance of pressure.
Well that is all for now, and I will write back tomorrow for Day 2 of camp :)
I am so proud of what you are doing at the camp. What a great experience for the students. Looks like you are enjoying yourself too. Take care and I can't wait to read more. Hugs, Priscilla
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