This year’s series focused on the PBS character Ruff Ruffman and investigating science concepts such as mixtures, material science, force and motion and structures.

 

Each week began with a meal together, before participating in some team-building activities.

 

Then each family was given the opportunity to use the Science Inquiry and Engineering Design Process to explore, experiment and learn together as they made predictions before performing their experiment, observed the experiment and wrote about what they learned in their journals.

 

In the force and motion lesson, families built ramps and used different materials on each ramp to see how well a Hot Wheels car would travel on each surface. Before they tested each surface, they had to predict which surfaces would allow the car to travel the farthest.

 

The goals of the program are to provide an opportunity for families to learn together and positively impact participants’ perceptions and understanding of science, engineering, technology and design.

 

Penn Teachers Laura Huth and Christine Williams facilitated this year’s Family Creative Learning Series.