Download Activity 12 - Derry Area School District

Student Name___________________________________________
HR Teacher______________
C-MITES Spring Programs
We have received information from Carnegie Mellon University (C-MITES) about spring
semester weekend programs. If you are interested in participating in the spring semester
programs or if you would like some additional information about them please see either Mr.
Curcio (E300) or Mrs. Ungvarsky (H417) before Friday, December 13th. Remember, you are
not required to participate in these activities, we are just passing along the information as we
receive it 
~ Mrs. Ungvarsky & Mr. Curcio
C-MITES
C-MITES at Carnegie Mellon University offers challenging weekend classes for students in
kindergarten through 10th grade. Classes offered during the spring semester include:

3-D Laser Scanning of Bridges
o Build a model of a bridge and use a laser scanner from the Robotics Institute at
Carnegie Mellon to take 3-dimensional measurements of your bridge. Use a weight to
damage the bridge, simulating an earthquake, a truck running into the bridge, or the
bridge decaying over time. Then take a second scan of your bridge. Use specialized
software to determine the changes in the scans. Learn how civil engineers and
architects use this type of information in their work. Class meets from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. Instructors: Dr. Daniel Huber, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, and Dr.
Burcu Akinci, Civil and Environmental Engineering. Grades 7-9.

Ace the Keystone Exam
o Do you want an awesome score on your Keystone Literature exam, or an “A” in every
future literature class? Using modern references (such as well-known movie and
television show scenes) in conjunction with short stories and novel segments, we will
make understanding all those important literary elements fun! Warning: this class
may cause you to perpetually over-analyze movies and television shows, thus ruining
your ability to mindlessly enjoy them. Grades 7-10.

Chemistry 101
o Chemistry is an essential part of all areas of science. Learn about some important
concepts in chemistry through demonstrations and hands-on activities. Balance
chemical equations and discuss chemical reactions. Explore the periodic table and
discuss bonding in atoms. Classify acids and bases and learn about their properties
and indicators. Learn how J.J. Thomson, James Chadwick, and other scientists made
important discoveries about the atom. Discover how the Bohr model of the atom
compares to the Quantum Mechanical Model. Grades 8-10.

Extreme Weather Trends, Climate Science and Public Opinion
o The scientific consensus is that climate change is occurring and is anthropogenically
caused. The frequency and severity of extreme weather events are increasing. In
the last two years, the United States has experienced twice the average frequency
of record extremes in temperature, precipitation, drought, and tropical cyclones.
Scientists have rigorously tested possible links between climate change and certain
extreme weather events; the consensus is that climate change has historically
increased and the probability of certain extreme events such as heat waves, heavy
precipitation events, and local flooding is predicted to increase. We will explore
climate change, extreme weather, and possible links between the two. Activities
include brief lectures coupled with student-centered learning activities on flows and
stocks of emissions, weather gauges, and decision-making. Instructor: Dr. Kelly
Klima, research scientist with CMU’s Engineering and Public Policy Department.
Grades 8-10.

Intro to Mobile Robotics
o For girls ONLY! This course will be conducted by members of the Girls of Steel
FIRST Robotics Team, an all girls robotics team mentored at Carnegie Mellon’s Field
Robotics Center. Learn about the basic tools, electronics, and materials used to
build a robot chassis similar to those used for the FIRST® FRC level robotics
competition (www.USFIRST.org). Assemble a 6-wheel drop center chassis and learn
to drive it. Grades 7-9.

Puzzles, Games, and Problem Solving
o Get some tips from a Carnegie Mellon professor about critical thinking and problem
solving strategies. Dr. Raja Sooriamurthi, Associate Teaching Professor in
Information Systems, will share the approaches he teaches Carnegie Mellon
undergraduates. In this fun and interactive class, play with a range of puzzles,
brainteasers and games. The ultimate goal of this puzzle-based learning is to lay a
foundation to become effective problem solvers in the real world. These general
problem solving techinques are useful for careers requiring excellent analytical
skills---future managers, scientists, engineers, computer programmers, etc.
Companies such as Google and Yahoo include such puzzles as part of their employee
selection process. Dr. Sooriamurthi’s pedagogical work has been recognized with
several awards for distinguished teaching. This work on Puzzle-Based Learning was
recognized as an honorable mention finalist at the Decision Sciences Institute’s Instructional Innovation Award Competition. Grades 8-10.

Robotics Programming and Design
o This hands-on course is an introduction to robot-building and robot-programming.
Using LEGO® bricks and the MIT Handy Board, design and build desktop mobile
robots, then program them using IC programming language to do dances, follow lines,
and “sense” different objects in the environment. This is a team-based course. Class
meets from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. No experience in robotics is required. Grades 7-9.

Wacky World of Polymers
o Experience the super absorbent power of polymers by doing fun experiments. Water
poured in a cup can become a solid gel in just two seconds! Make artificial snow. Do a
“crazy putty” experiment. What happens to molecules when you stretch a rubber
band? Discover the bright rainbow-like patterns viewed between polarizing filters
and learn how engineers use this tool to map bridges. Make the gel used as
thickening agent in ice cream and make your own gummy worms. Study osmosis,
diffusion and effusion and the cross-linking of polymers. Learn how information
about polymers is applied by engineers, chemists and other scientists. Class meets
from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Grades 8-10.

What’s so Funny? An Analysis of Humor and Comedy
o Examine the nature of comedy and humor with specific focus on ideas such as satire,
parody, schadenfreude, irony and comedy techniques. Utilize popular culture
resources as supplements to illustrate and reinforce these ideas. The culminating
activity is the creation of your own unique humor pieces. Grades 7-10.

Writing Award-Winning Essays
o Essays are important! They are the key to scoring high on your SATs, getting into
your first choice of college, earning scholarships, and acing your literature classes.
Learn how to write essays so good that people will think you write for the New York
Times. This course is based on college-level curricula, with topics that include
rhetoric, targeting audiences, writing business-quality proposals, and creating highquality research papers. All materials are yours to keep and will be available in
digital copies by request. Class meets from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Grades 8-10.