After a two year hiatus due to COVID-19, X-Chem is excited to relaunch our school workshop program for Grades Primary to Twelve in northeastern and central Nova Scotia, including both the Chignecto Regional and Strait Regional school boards.
If you are a community group or a school class and you would like to participate in this program in 2022, please contact us. The best time is May to June, but other times may be able to be arranged. The workshops can be held on or off campus. These are typically around an hour in length, and include demonstrations and hands-on activities, with age-appropriate explanations.
There is no fee. This part of our program is funded by Actua, and we are very grateful for their support.
We can offer a variety of presentations in chemistry and science and coding. We have the following suggestions to choose from:
Visits for May/June 2022 can be scheduled for May 16th, on. Please contact us at xchem@stfx.ca We have the following workshops to choose from:
• Magic (Grade Primary)
Exploring the wonders of chemistry.
• Move That Mouse (Grade Primary)
Introduce the basic idea of coding, using language (instructions) that computers/robots understand to have that computer/robot complete a task. Will use a robot mouse and four simple commands, (forward, backwards, turn left, turn right) to guide a mouse through a maze to get its cheese. Use of coding cards to plan the code and to have a copy of the code so it can be repeated.
• Water (Grade 1)
Looking at the nature of water through a series of fun demonstrations and hands on experiments.
• Explore the Town (Grade 1)
Using coding cards, move the coding robot mTiny around town visiting the hospital and the police station. After exploring town take mTiny on a round of golf.
• Forestry (Grade 2)
Forests are very important to the character of Atlantic Canada. This presentation will explore the different types of trees in Nova Scotia, as well as talk about the importance of the forestry industry and recycling.
• Be Prepared (Grade 2)
Introduce the idea of if/then in coding with Botley. Start by using 4 commands (forward, reverse, turn left, turn right) to move a robot around. Use coding cards to plan out a path. How do you deal with something that might happen (something in the way)? Use if/then to plan for obstacles along the way.
• Bones (Grade 3)
With the help of a full skeleton, X-Chem will explore the types of bones in the body as well as their properties. This presentation includes a hands-on activity about animal bones.
• Info On The Go (Grade 3)
Use Ozobots to show how computers/robots can get more instruction while already running. Ozobots get instructions from the color of the lines they are following; different combinations will have the Ozobots do different things. Will solve mazes using different colored lines.
• Food Science (Grade 4)
Eating healthy is an important concept for children to learn at an early age. This presentation deals with the building blocks of food, such as calories, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. This presentation also includes testing food for fat, sugar, and starch.
• Sphero Olympics (Grade 4)
Use different ways of controlling a Sphero Mini robot to play different games.
• Phase Changes (Grade 5)
Many children are familiar with the three phases of water, however not many are familiar with the strange and interesting properties of other materials. Students will be engaged in activities that explore the strange and interesting properties of other materials.
• Loops/Variables & Shapes (Grades 5/6)
Code the Artie robot to draw shapes on a piece of paper using degrees to make different size turns. Introduce loops to make squares and other shapes. Introduces variables to make spirals.
• Metals (Grade 6)
Metals are everywhere! This presentation will guide students through their existing knowledge of common metals and lead them into the exciting and weird world of metals. Topics include: memory metal, mining processes, metals for health, and more!
• Solar System (Grade 7-9)
Use ball robots to make a model of the solar system with orbiting planets. Will involve calculating circumference of a circle and the idea of ratios. Note: To do a full solar system close to scale with all eight planets will require a large open room (gym) Can do fewer planets with smaller room.
• Polymers (Grade 7)
Polymers are extraordinary molecules. It is hard to think what we would do without them! In this presentation students will explore the properties of polymers through a series of engaging demonstrations and hands on experiments.
• Engineering (Grade 8)
Engineers are the built environments problem solvers. This presentation will turn the classroom into multiple engineering firms as students compete to solve a problem as engineers.
• Acids and Bases (Grade 9-12)
Students will test acids and bases and common chemicals. We will talk about weak and strong acids and show how this affects their properties, including conductivity. They will see how dry ice can change the pH of water and discuss this in light of acid rain and the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on the dissolution of coral reefs.
• Electrochemistry (Grade 9-12)
This presentation will discuss galvanic cells and red ox reactions. Students will make batteries and try their hand at electrochemical writing.
We would be happy to discuss the activities with the teacher so we don’t repeat anything that may have been already done in class.
This part of our program is funded by Actua, NSERC (Promoscience), CanCode via Actua and the Canada Summer Jobs program, and we are very grateful for their support.
If have any questions, please contact us at xchem@stfx.ca
