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February 19: School Vacation Program

Thursday, February 19
9:00Am - 1:30PM

for Individual Participants in grades 5-8

Be a Health Scientist! hands-on activities and interactive planetarium program including the Mars: The Ultimate Voyage full-dome film. For individual participants in grades 5-8 during February School Vacation.

February 19 PROGRAM

Time: 9:00am-1:30pm (includes health science activities AND planetarium program)
Age Group: Children in grades 5-8
Cost: $50 per participant

REGISTER: OPEN SOON
 

PROGRAMMING OFFERED

Be A Health Scientist! Activities

Orthopedic Doctor, Cardiologist, Dietician

Youth will discover different health science career paths, solve real-life problems, and build critical thinking skills—all while asking big questions like, “What affects our health? How can we prevent illness? How do we help people heal?” Each activity begins with a story that invites youth to play the role of someone in that field:

  • Be an Orthopedic Doctor: A hockey player broke their tibia bone in the lower leg. Youth designed and tested a solution for keeping the broken bone aligned and supported while it healed.

  • Be a Cardiologist: A person with heart problems was diagnosed with a blockage in one of their arteries. Youth used a model to investigate how the blockage affected blood flow in the artery and then designed a tool to clear the blockage and improve the patient’s blood flow.

  • Be a Dietitian: One patient needed more Vitamin C in their diet but struggled to find easy ways to get it. Youth tested the Vitamin C content of several beverages to find out which one(s) could help the patient get the most out of their drink.

 

Planetarium Program

Including Night Sky Tour, Full-Dome Film, and “Design a Spacesuit” Activity

Mars: The Ultimate Voyage

Full-Dome Film

On a two year journey to Mars astronauts will face extraordinary challenges—long distance, a closed environment, isolation, altered gravity, radiation. What will it take to get astronauts to Mars—and back—safely? This new, animated planetarium production highlights NASA research and training initiatives that are preparing the next generation of astronauts who will head to Mars. The film shows how creativity, collaboration, communication, and expertise in a diverse number of fields are key for the success of deep space travel—while also inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals! Witness what it takes to embark on the first human mission beyond Earth’s orbit.

 

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Drop off: Starting at 9:00am
”Design a Spacesuit” Activity: 9:15am-10:00am
Be a Health Scientist! Activities: 10:00am-11:30am
Break: 11:30am-12:00pm
Planetarium: 12:00pm-1:30pm
Pick up: 1:30pm

Register: OPEN SOON
 

DIRECTIONS AND DROP OFF/PICK UP INFORMATION

  • The McAuliffe Center is located at the rear of O’Connor Hall on the campus of Framingham State University. Entering 7 Maynard Road, Framingham MA, 01702 into most GPS apps will bring you directly to the entrance into the O’Connor Hall parking lot. You may drop off and pick up participants directly in front of the McAuliffe Center entrance.

  • Parents/guardians, if you intend to stay on campus after drop-off and while your participant is doing the program, please get a parking pass from Campus Police.

  • [NOTE: if pick up will be later than 1:30pm, call: 508-626-4050]

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • To guarantee full enjoyment of the program, participants are encouraged to arrive by 9:15am at the latest. [NOTE: should you need to drop off ahead of time, or if pick up will be later than 1:30pm, call: 508-626-4050]

  • This program, though highly entertaining, is designed to deliver a STEM learning experience that requires participants to actively engage in a wide range of tasks in a timely fashion.

  • Participants are encouraged to bring a water bottle. Water can be filled/refilled at the Center.

  • Programming does include a break for lunch but food is not provided by the McAuliffe Center.

 
Register: OPEN SOON

Cost: $50 per participant


Questions? Contact McAuliffe Center at cmc@framingham.edu

Earlier Event: February 18
February 18: School Vacation Program
Later Event: February 24
Community Stargazing