Huron Valley Rec and Community Ed - Empower Hour / Kurtz Elementary Empower Hourhttp://hvs.ce.eleyo.com/courses2024-03-28T22:29:57-04:00Kaczor Clay Club Empower Hour: Forest Dwellingshttp://hvs.ce.eleyo.com/course/2072/winter-spring-2024/kaczor-clay-club-empower-hour-forest-dwellings2023-12-01T00:00:00-05:00<p>In this hand-building clay project, students will create dwellings for mythological creatures or amphibians, choosing to create a home for a fairy or a toad! Beginning with flat clay slabs, students will learn how to use slump molds to shape the slabs into three dimensional forms. They will create texture for their roof and embellish their structures to simulate trees, leaves, knot holes and burrows reminiscent of natural habitats found in woodlands. Students will also develop an understanding of clay, clay properties and clay forming techniques, and investigate various glazes and application tools and methods. </p>Hands-On Science Hour!http://hvs.ce.eleyo.com/course/2063/winter-spring-2024/hands-on-science-hour—42023-12-01T00:00:00-05:00<p><b style="background-color: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif;">“Wave Power”</b> -- <strong style="background-color: initial;">a 6 week program of physics fun</strong> where students will explore sound waves, light waves, and electricity, each for 2 weeks. Sound activities will have students using vibrating balloons, slinkies, and rubber bands to understand the wave properties of sound, and follow that up with squonkies and a trampoline to “amplify” the fun (pun intended!). Finally students will compare sound and light in their use for communication. Light activities provide an opportunity to make rainbows, bend light beams, and try an “obstacle course” for light beams using mirrors! Students will take “charge” when learning about electricity, using their own power to light lightbulbs and “spark” their curiosity!</p><p><strong>“It’s Alive”</strong> <strong>– a 6 week adventure through nature. </strong> Hands-on activities encourage students to engage in the daily tasks of being a plant, such as by making a bookmark using capillary action and by building a variety of “fruits” to carry seeds. Students will visit with some live insects, including Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (and if parents permit, they may adopt a male to take home) and then get a chance to build their own bug from crafty parts to fit a specific niche of their choosing. Students can choose between animal communication activities, a plant vs insect battle royale, or evidence of microorganisms as the week 5 topic. It all wraps up with a day devoted to fossils in week 6!</p>Brugger Dodgeballhttp://hvs.ce.eleyo.com/course/1993/winter-spring-2024/brugger-dodgeball2023-12-01T00:00:00-05:00<p>Join us in this before school empower hour with Mr. Brugger and let's play some dodgeball! Softer balls will be used and safety precautions will be in place to keep everyone safe and having fun! For more details or if you have any questions, please contact Mr. Brugger directly at <a href="mailto:robert.brugger@hvs.org" style="background-color: initial;">robert.brugger@hvs.org</a>. Now let's play!!</p>