WWU Youth Programs - Grandparents University Topic Descriptions

Topic Descriptions

Bellingham, Western Washington University Campus

Thursday and Friday, July 18-19, 2013

FULL Astronomy - Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, How I Wonder ...

Examine the birth, life and death of stars, and how one generation of stars affects the next generation in what astronomers call stellar evolution. We will explore the origins of “starstuff” and the fundamental connections between people and stars. Participants will see stunning images from the Hubble Space Telescope and visit Western Washington University’s Planetarium to learn some backyard astronomy and view deep sky objects that dwell within the constellations.

Age Recommended: All ages are appropriate

Physical Activity Level: Low

Instructor: Brad Johnson is a professor and chair of the department of physics and astronomy at Western Washington University. He has a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of Colorado. He worked as a research scientist at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and as a professor on the faculty at the University of New Mexico before joining Western Washington University in 1997.

FULL Chemistry - Not Just Your Parent's Chemistry Set

Do your parents – or grandparents – tell you stories of the fun they used to have playing with their chemistry set in the basement, and how they almost blew up the house? While we won’t be blowing up the lab, we will spend two days exploring the fun and fascinating world of chemistry! Participants will investigate reactions that change color and temperature, make colored flames, experiment with dry ice and liquid nitrogen, explore phase changes and make several plastics to play with. All activities will be hands-on, including some that you will be able to reproduce at home to amaze your friends and family!

Age Recommended: All ages are appropriate

Physical Activity Level: Low

Instructor: Elizabeth Raymond is a graduate from Whitman College and has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Oregon. She has presented at the College of Sciences and Technology’s “Wizards @ Western” youth lecture series, "Lasers ... Photons ... Action!" Elizabeth is a professor in Western Washington University’s chemistry department. Her research group uses lasers to investigate molecules at liquid surfaces.

Science - Feathered Wonders of the Pacific Northwest: An Introduction to Birds and Bird Watching

This class will introduce eager naturalists to the splendors of the birds of the Pacific Northwest. Participants will learn about the art and science of watching birds through mixed media and a field trip to one of Bellingham's bird-watching hotspots.

Age Recommendation: All ages are appropriate

Physical Activity Level: Low while in class; moderate walking while out viewing birds

Instructor: Mark VanderVen is a university lecturer on the natural history of birds of the Pacific Northwest and annually teaches for Western Washington University's Summer Session. VanderVen is also a guest speaker at the North Cascades Audubon Society and is an Ornithological Field Technician.

FULL Technology - Building an Infrared Voice and Music Wireless Transmitter

Students and their grandparents will have the opportunity to build and test an infrared (IR) wireless transmission system using infrared LEDs and electronic components. Participants will have fun transmitting their voices or music through this infrared system. They will learn how to build electronic circuits and become familiar with lab equipment.

Age Recommended: Ages 7-14 only

Physical Activity Level: Low

Instructor: Ying Lin is an assistant professor in Western Washington University’s electronic engineering technology program in the ETEC department. Prior to joining Western, she taught at SUNY, New Paltz for two years and was a visiting scholar at the University of Washington from Oct. 2006 to April 2007. She earned her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Syracuse University. Her teaching subjects include electronic communication systems, digital signal processing and circuit analysis. She is working on wireless communication systems with her students at Western.

Visual Arts - Bringing Books to Life through Art: Writing, Sculpting and Painting Your Own Stories

This class teaches children how to bring books to life through the arts. Students will read a work of literature that will serve as the basis for the writing of their own stories. Students will then sculpt their characters and create watercolor backdrops and sets to use in a performance of their writing that will be acted out on portable stages.

Age Recommended: All ages are appropriate

Physical Activity Level: Low

Instructors: Gaye Green is the chair of the Western Washington University’s art department, a former elementary teacher and art specialist, and illustrator and author of children’s books. She holds a Ph.D. in art education, a life credential in elementary education and an M.A. in school management. Her first publication, “Cowpies in the Night Sky,” is part of the Hilarious Art Historical Anthology (HAHA).

Rosanna Porter is a former elementary and secondary teacher, author of social studies textbooks for Rand McNally and author of two illustrated children’s books series. Her website, www.raisykinderpublishing.com, features her publications, teachers activities and news about her book. Porter’s latest work includes a book that is part of the “Princess Naughty” series.

Visual Arts - Colorful Journals A-Plenty

Make your own “Moleskine” style notebooks or journals with a personal and unique touch. Participants will explore historical techniques of making colorful and patterned paste papers and apply them to simple bindings.

Age Recommended: Ages 7-14 only

Physical Activity Level: Low

Instructor: Elsi Vassdal Ellis teaches digital pre-press, offset and letterpress printing, materials and finishing, graphic design history and book arts at Western Washington University. She has a B.S. in visual communication, M.Ed. in industrial technology education, and a Ph.D. in educational communication from the University of Washington with emphases in visual psychology and statistics. She has been making books for more than 35 years. Her work is housed in many collections including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Brooklyn Museum, National Museum of Women in the Arts and Yale University.

Anacortes, Shannon Point Marine Center FULL

Monday and Tuesday, August 5-6, 2013 FULL

Shannon Point Marine Ecology (ages 7-10)

Discover the organisms and habitats that are part of the Salish Sea ecosystem. Participants will conduct surveys of rocky intertidal, shoreline and plankton communities and identify many of the organisms that live in these habitats. They will also explore the water environment in which these organisms live. This class will give participants experience with equipment used in studies of marine biology and ecology.

Required Age: Ages 7-10 only

Physical Activity Level: Moderate to high. Many activities will be conducted outside, including walks in the very rocky intertidal and mud flats, and conducting beach seining.

Note: The Anacortes program is not able to accommodate requests for additional individual adult or child guests, only pairs. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Instructors: Jude Apple has a Ph.D. in marine ecology and is a marine microbial ecologist and marine science educator at the Shannon Point Marine Center. He studies water quality, eutrophication and climate change in the waters of the Salish Sea.

Sylvia Yang has a Ph.D. in biology and is a coastal marine ecologist and instructor at the Shannon Point Marine Center. She studies sea grass habitats in the Pacific Northwest.

Anacortes, Shannon Point Marine Center FULL

Wednesday and Thursday, August 7-8, 2013 FULL

Shannon Point Marine Ecology (ages 10-14)

Discover the organisms and habitats that are part of the Salish Sea ecosystem. Participants will conduct surveys of rocky intertidal, shoreline and plankton communities and identify many of the organisms that live in these habitats. They will also explore the water environment in which these organisms live. This class will give participants experience with equipment used in studies of marine biology and ecology.

Required Age: Ages 10-14 only

Physical Activity Level: Moderate to high. Many activities will be conducted outside, including walks in the very rocky intertidal, mud flats, and conducting beach seining.

Note: The Anacortes program is not able to accommodate requests for additional individual adult or child guests, only pairs. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Instructors: Jude Apple has a Ph.D. in marine ecology and is a marine microbial ecologist and marine science educator at the Shannon Point Marine Center. He studies water quality, eutrophication and climate change in the waters of the Salish Sea.

Sylvia Yang has a Ph.D. in biology and is a coastal marine ecologist and instructor at the Shannon Point Marine Center. She studies sea grass habitats in the Pacific Northwest.