GEAR UP Physics and Astronomy camp Draft schedule
Time
Activity
Leader
Objectives
Astronomy concepts,
nighttime observing
Mike Braunstein,
Hans Berghoff
Become familiar with
telescopes, science
content
Sunday June 22
8:00-10:00 pm
Monday June 23
9:00-10:40 am
Group A: Designing
Bruce Palmquist
experiments (using sound
level meter as a guide)
Learn and practice
components of the
methods of science
9:00-10:40 am
Group B: Build “acoustic
lasers”
http://www.livescience.co
m/3705-sasers-soundbased-lasersinvented.html
Andy Piacsek, Peter
Zencak, Austen
Stone, Addison
Wenger
Tool skills, basic
electronics
10:50 am-12:30
pm
Group A: Build “acoustic
lasers”
Andy Piacsek, Peter
Zencak, Austen
Stone, Addison
Wenger
Tool skills, basic
electronics
10:50 am-12:30
pm
Group B: Designing
Bruce Palmquist
experiments (using sound
level meter as a guide)
12:45-1:45 pm
Lunch
2:00-3:45 pm
Group A: Introduction to
sound and acoustics
Andy Piacsek
Science content
2:00-3:45 pm
Group B: Experiments
with “acoustic lasers”
Peter Zencak, Austen
Stone, Addison
Wenger
Measurement skills,
taking and recording
numerical data
4:00-5:45 pm
Group A: Experiments
with “acoustic lasers”
Peter Zencak, Austen
Stone, Addison
Wenger
Measurement skills,
taking and recording
numerical data
4:00-5:45 pm
Group A: Introduction to
sound and acoustics
Andy Piacsek
Science content
6:00-6:45
Dinner
7-8
Free time
Learn and practice
components of the
methods of science
8:00-9:30
Intro to CCD
astrophotography
Mike Braunstein,
Hans Berghoff
Astronomical tools
9:30-10:30 pm
Collect astronomical
images
Mike Braunstein,
Hans Berghoff
Apply astronomy
knowledge
9:00-10:40 am
Group A: Measure sound
levels on campus
Andy Piacsek,
students
Data analysis
9:00-10:40 am
Group B: Manipulate
astronomical images
Mike Braunstein,
Hans Berghoff
Data analysis
10:50 am-12:30
pm
Group A: Manipulate
astronomical images
Mike Braunstein,
Hans Berghoff
Data analysis
10:50 am-12:30
pm
Group B: Measure sound
levels on campus
Andy Piacsek,
students
Data analysis
12:45-1:45 pm
Lunch
2:00-5:00
Using Google Drive,
Develop presentations on
Google Slides (Need a
computer room)
Bruce Palmquist,
Mike Braunstein,
Andy Piacsek,
students
Presenting research
5:30-6:30
Dinner
7:00-9:00
Develop presentations on
Google Slides (Students
will present work on
sound level testing,
acoustic lasers or
astronomical images)
Physics and science
ed students
Presenting research
8:30-9:00 am
Drive to wind farm
Bruce Palmquist,
students as needed
or desired
9:00-9:30 am
How to give constructive
feedback
Bruce Palmquist
9:30-11:00 am
Group presentations
Bruce Palmquist
11:00-12:00
Wind farm tour
12:00-1:00
Lunch, awards for best
Tuesday June
24
Wednesday
June 25
presentations
Next camp
Material needed
Use
End result
Acoustic laser
materials
Build acoustic laser
Each GEAR-UP
school keeps their
finished product
Sound level meters
Measure sound level on
campus and at the wind
farm
Each GEAR-UP
school keeps their
finished product
Cost
Camp summary for the brochure
During this camp, students will learn to use many scientific tools while doing investigations of
nature. Learning about and practicing a variety of experimental designs will be the focus of the
camp. In addition, you will build an acoustic laser and take high quality pictures of objects in the
night sky using the Central Washington University Observatory. Session highlights include using
the CWU observatory, building and testing an acoustic laser, using a sound level meter to
measure the intensity of a variety of sounds, taking a field trip to a wind farm, learning methods
to quantify noise levels in your town, and developing a presentation of your investigation to
share with other campers.
Lunar image taken with the CWU Observatory 10/9/09