Suncoast Science campers explore engineering

At Suncoast Science Center camps children are encouraged to think outside of the proverbial and physical box. 

Each student is given a kit of littleBits, electronic building blocks that will be used to build makeshift alarms. The alarms will be hidden in obstacle courses that teams of campers will build to attempt to outsmart classmates “spy skills.” In one week campers built obstacle courses using foam tiles, yarn, paper, tape, bells, plastic cones and party streamers. Tucked throughout the courses are alarms that can be set off from sound, pressure and movement. 

Marie Rosander teaches the Electrolab camp and is also a teacher at Lake View Elementary School. She teaches the students how to use the littleBits pieces but prefers they use their imagination and inquiry skills to solve their problems instead of the instruction manual included in kit. 

“They have to think for themselves, because that’s what engineering is all about” Rosander said. “It’s fun especially if they can figure it out for themselves. We don’t always have the time to do that in a classroom [setting].”

After completing construction of the obstacle courses, campers must complete the courses of opposing teams with out setting off any alarms.