MVSD Partners with Youth Science Center to Provide Hands-On Summer Science Exploration

For the fifth consecutive summer, MVSD partnered with the Youth Science Center in Hacienda Heights providing four weeks of science enrichment for students. Students learned about robotics and plant life during the program.

MVSD's GATE students discovered the excitement of science as they explored and experimented in the District’s Youth Science Center Summer Program.
For the fifth consecutive summer, MVSD partnered with the Youth Science Center in Hacienda Heights providing four weeks of science enrichment for students. With classes aligned with the State's science standards, the young scientists explored a variety of sciences including biology, chemistry, physics and robotics. Held at Parkview School and led by teachers from the Youth Science Center, the summer science program was geared to instruct, inform and inspire students in the area of science.
During the first session the science scholars spent seven days exploring plants and their influence on our everyday lives. As a culminating activity the students wrote and created recipes using plants. The second session focused on robotics as students built and engineered a robotic amusement park using Legos and the Robo Lab 2.9 computer program. The students enjoyed building and programming a merry-go-round, bumper cars and a tour bus while learning the importance of robotic sensors, timing, motors, speed differential and teamwork.
“Doing robotics is really fun,” said Honorio Cervantes, 8th grader. “Building the robots is pretty easy, but programming them to follow a course and complete a task is challenging.”
In addition to the amusement park, students created replicas of the Mars Rover and programmed them to navigate a simulated Mars’ surface.
Alejandro Guerra, a sixth grader had a great time learning about the Mars Rover and creating his robot with his team.
“I’ve never done robotics before and this is really a great experience,” said Guerra. “I’ve had a lot of fun in the class and we got to build a mini robot that actually moved where we wanted it to. It was pretty cool.”
The sessions were taught by Kim Bach, a computer lab technician and Youth Science Center instructor.
“I really enjoyed my time in Mountain View,”said Bach. The kids were great and it is always fun seeing them get so excited about science and exploration.”
MVSD’s Summer Youth Science Center program was made possible by a grant from Southern California Edison and support from Assemblyman Mike Eng.
“We are very grateful to Southern California Edison, Assemblyman Eng and the Youth Science Center for providing such a great program for our students,” said Darin DeKnikker, Director of Student Support Services and Special Education. “The specialized sessions really give our kids a chance to explore and develop their scientific skills in a fun and creative way.”