SUMMARY: In Atmosphere and Beyond, students will discover the properties of the air around us and explore the atmosphere of Earth, and those of planets beyond. Students will be challenged to keep Arny the Aquanaut dry during an underwater walk, and to create their very own sunset. Children will assemble the atmospheres of other planets, and use their very own Shimmering Stars box to see how an atmosphere affects our view of the star—and the advantage of observing the stars from space!
EDUCATIONAL VALUE: Students will gain an understanding of the importance of our planet's atmosphere for life on Earth, and compare the composition of Earth's atmosphere with those of other planets in the solar system. Students learn what it takes to make a planet viable for life as we know it, explore the effects of atmospheric particles on the color of sunsets and rainbows, and study the optical properties of a turbulent atmosphere.
NOTE: Mad Science Programs are fun explorations into science and technology, and they encourage informal learning through hands-on experience. All Mad Science workshops include a lot of fascinating equipment, supplies, and take-home materials which the children build themselves. The Mad Science mission is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children everywhere by providing them with fun, entertaining, and educational activities which instill a clear understanding of what science really is, and how it affects the world around them.
