Spring Break Science Week Breakdown
While school is out Spring Break Science Week is in at The WaterFront Center, so sign up your child for a week of science activities during April recess! This program is designed to keep your child’s mind engaged through fun, STEM-based constructive learning. Our outdoor classrooms, and ecology wet lab, are the perfect setting to enjoy and explore Oyster Bay's unique habitats. Dive deep into the ecology of the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge, with activities and experiments catering to the diverse ecosystems of Beekman Beach, Mill Creek Inlet, and West Harbor.
The beach is the perfect place for your child to take a break from the classroom this spring. Each day of our Spring Break Science Week, for grades 1st - 3rd, will feature a new theme! Children will explore marine life; participate in scavenger hunts along our beaches; perform scientific experiments; and create wind turbines and other marine science and STEM activities. See below for more in-depth information about each day.*
Sessions :
Afternoons, 1pm - 4pm (AVAILABLE)
Mornings, 9am - 12pm (CLOSED)
*weather permitting
Monday
In your backyard
Children will kick off the week on a bright note by getting to know one another! Outside, educators will help children become acquainted with one another through fun icebreakers. Groups will also spend time on the beach participating in scavenger hunts! As with our icebreakers, our Beach Scavenger Hunt is an excellent way for children to explore and become familiar with our beach and to learn about its native plants and animals. Children will be introduced to our touch tank by WFC educators, who will teach them unique and essential facts about the animals native to Oyster Bay!
Topics
Endemic Species
Touch Tank
Beach Scavenger
Tuesday
Vertabrates
Today's focus will be on the animals lurking beneath the water's surface! Educators will teach children how to use our seine net to catch creatures underwater on the beach. The seine net will trap fish, crabs, snails, and other marine animals! On the beach, educators will show children how to identify marine life. To conclude the day, groups will create fish prints that they can take home.
Topics
Dichotomous Key
Fish Prints
Seining
Wednesday
Mollusks & Echinoderms
On Wednesday, children will learn about echinoderms and sea snails! Our educators will bring children to all three beaches nearby as they hunt for periwinkles, oyster drills, mud snails, and other marine gastropods. They will examine the similarities and differences between each species and take a population count! Children will also learn about Echinoderms, a family of animals, including sea stars and sea cucumbers. In addition, the group will participate in a shell hunt and learn about how each type of shell differs.
Topics
Shell Hunt
Snail Collection
Echinoderms
Thursday
Temperature and Turbines
Thursday is all about wind and water! Educators will teach about the properties of water; how storms form; and the properties of wind! Children will learn about alternative energy methods and form groups to experiment with blade shapes to create a wind turbine! Educators will assist by adding weight to a basket to see how much work each turbine can do. Children will also create anemometers to measure the wind!
Topics
Hot/Cold Water Experiment
Water Thermal and Air
Wind Turbines/ Wind Mills
Friday
Earth Day
Friday is Earth Day! Educators will discuss why the Earth is important and how best to preserve it. Group members will conduct experiments to illustrate how pollution gets into the bay. Educators will assist children in building boats from recycled items to race in the ‘Boat Races.' Children will become Earth's greatest heroes to hunt for litter in this final adventure! The group will discuss the type of litter found on the beach and why some garbage is more common than others. Children will wrap up their day by creating art about their favorite part of the week!
Topics
Beach Clean Up
Gutter Boat Races
Pollution Pond
Sign up for Spring Break Science Week today!
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