Background
This summer, we’ve hired a gifted Tufts student to do hands-on, engineering-oriented projects with my son Mohan and a few of his friends, boys and girls ages 8 – 10. This “camp”, held at our home in Medford, combines engineering projects with a good dose of outdoor time. The kids are having a blast! As people have different summer schedules, we have space for kids in a number of weeks.
Rough Daily Schedule
9:00 – 9:30 — Morning Work (logic puzzles, etc.)
9:30 – 11:30 — Morning Project (snack in the middle).
11:30 – 12:15 — Lunch and Down Time
12:15 – 1:15 — Sports
1:15 – 2:30 — Afternoon project
2:30 – 3:00 — Wrap up and Clean up
Morning projects are most intensive and will include some of the items below under “curricula.” Afternoon projects may be follow up to morning (as appropriate) and often more creative. This may include sessions with local artists and might also include gardening, fiber projects, and other activities with invited guests including parents.
General Resources
- Instructables Project-based engineering for kids
- ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Middle School Resources
- Arvind Gupta — Making Toys from “Trash”
- Squishy Circuits Lesson Plan
- Pinterest Engineering Projects for Kids
- Forbes Kids and Technology
- 100 Engineering Projects for Kids
- Engineering Projects for Middle Schoolers
Curricula
- Flying Machines: Use paper, plastic, wood, string and bicycle pumps to design flying machines that they race, test, and optimize.
- Lego Mindstorms: Create your own and/or create and program from instructions
- Video Editing: Create and edit 2-minutes videos in iMovie.
- Wind/Solar Energy: Create children’s toys that capture wind/solar energy.
- Kinetic Sculptures/Chain Reactions.
- Straw sculptures, paper bridges, balancing toys, and other civil engineering structures.
- Electricity and Magnetism: (this unit ends with building a speaker and then a simple radio).
- Musical Instruments: make musical instruments, inspired by instruments at Tufts’ Crafts House, from a variety of materials.
- Mapping: Kids take a walk in the neighborhood, examine old maps, and devise ways to map the neighborhood, at present and over time using see-through paper, markers, graph paper and overlays. (For inspiration, see Krista Tippet’s Interview with David Sloan Wilson on Binghamption, NY Neighborhood Project).
Instructor
Chris Hamblin is an Arlington native and rising Junior at Tufts University, an honors student with a double major in Math and Philosophy with a minor in Physics. At Tufts, he participates in Volleyball and Soccer and plays in the Tufts Jazz Orchestra. He has worked as a math tutor (through National Honors Society and at the Stratton Elementary School) and soccer coach. Here’s a personal reference for Chris.
The Venue
We live in West Medford and have a large living/dining area and a large lower level (walk-out basement) where kids can play and do projects. There is a yard behind the house and a garden. There is a large playing field (Playstead Park) 2 blocks away with soccer nets, tennis courts, and a basketball court. Sports time will take place at Playstead park. We are also within a short walk of wooded trails at Brooks Estates. There is also a pool and lake (both with lifeguards) 1.5 miles away. (Any trip to water would include Chris and at least one parent).
Cost
The cost for these sessions is $250/week ($200 for the week of the 4th of July where there are only 4 days). Checks should be made out to Chris Hamblin.
Dates and Availability
Week 1 (June 17 – 21) FULL
Week 2 (July 1 – 5 — JULY 4 OFF)
Week 3 (July 8 – 12) FULL
Week 4 (July 15 – 19)
Week 5 (July 22 – 26)
Week 6 (July 29 – Aug 2)
Week 7 (Aug 5 – 9) — OFF
Week 8 (Aug 12 – 16) — FULL
Week 9 (August 19 – 23) — FULL
How to Participate
If you’d like your child to participate, please get in touch with Rachael at rachael@wordaroundtown.com or 617.620.4940. Thanks!