Science on Wheels — School Assemblies
COVID19 adjustments: We recognize that our normal assembly groups of up to 200 students may not be an option due to social distancing requirements. We are happy to work with schools to come up with a plan that works. Options include doing several sessions for smaller groups, or visiting over multiple days to allow for more sessions. We will work out pricing for these options as they are requested.
Bring Roper Mountain Science Center to your school! Science on Wheels assemblies are designed to bring standards-based science lessons to a large group of students for a very affordable cost. The standard length for these assemblies is one hour, however each one has a shorter version option which is about 45 minutes. The assemblies are targeted for a specific grade level, but some can be adapted for multi-grade groups. For grades K-1 we recommend the shorter length programs and a smaller audience size (100 students or less). We have listed the standards connections for each program as well as our recommendations for the best type of audience for that lesson. Please contact us if you’d like help choosing the best assembly for your venue.
All of our Science on Wheels assemblies demonstrate the safe use of scientific tools, and the scientific and engineering methods as described in standards across all elementary grades.
Click Here to RegisterPlanning Information
Choose from the following program options:
Note: this assembly requires a presentation space that can easily be darkened and re-lit throughout the presentation
Experiments in this hair raising assembly will show how electric energy can be transformed into other kinds of energy and how electricity and magnets are related. Student volunteers will make a giant circuit, lift heavy objects with magnets, use their own energy to power a light bulb and much more. We will wrap things up by using an electromagnet to launch a metal ring into the air!
Standards Connections:
SC2014– 3.P.3A, 3.P.3B, 2.P.3B
Recommended Audience – Grade 3
Shorter version:
The shorter version of "Arcs and Sparks" covers the same topics and standards, but removes the powerpoint and text and has one less demonstration. This version is great for multi-grade assemblies for events like Science Day.
Recommended Audience – Grade 3, Multigrade
Join us as we challenge the laws of physics. We’ll use several fun experiments to explore forces like gravity, air pressure, inertia and friction in this high energy and interactive presentation. All these concepts will be tied together at the end as we launch a small rocket across the stage. We’ll really MOVE you as we explore the what’s and why’s of motion and forces!
Standards Connections:
SC2014– 2.P.4A, 5.P.5A
Recommended Audience – Grade 5
Shorter version:
The shorter version of "Use the Force" covers the same topics and standards, but simplifies the vocabulary a bit and has one less demonstration. This version is great for 2nd grade and for multi-grade assemblies for events like Science Day.
Recommended Audience – Grade 2, Multigrade
Note: this assembly requires a presentation space that can easily be darkened and re-lit throughout the presentation
Students will discover and compare the properties of light and sound in this illuminating assembly. We will investigate what happens when light and sound waves interact with barriers, learn how both are produced and explore the differences between them. Using lasers, musical instruments, chemical reactions and more, we will get to the bottom of these wacky waves.
Standards Connections:
SC2014– 4.P.4A, 4.P.4B
Recommended Audience – Grade 4
Shorter version:
The shorter version of "Catch the Wave" focuses on Light and Shadow and is specifically designed for First Grade.
Recommended Audience – Grade 1
In this supercool lesson we will use liquid nitrogen to show how solids, liquids and gases are affected by extreme changes in temperature. Students will observe the relationship between temperature and volume for each state of matter, and see various substances change from one state to another. We will measure the temperature of liquid nitrogen, shrink balloons down by 700 times (and grow them back again!), and see how super cold temperatures combined with a superconducting material can make a magnet actually levitate!
Standards Connections:
SC 2014 – 2.P.3A, 3.P.2A, 5.P.2A Recommended Audience – Grade 5, Grade 3Shorter version:
The shorter version of "Matter of Fact" covers the same topics and standards, but eliminates the video and text and has a different finale' demonstration. This version is great for 2nd grade and for multi-grade assemblies for events like Science Day.
Recommended Audience – Grade 2, Multigrade
Planning Information
Educator will arrive approximately one hour prior to the scheduled start time for 60 minute assemblies, and 45 minutes prior for 45 minute assemblies to unload, check in and setup.
- Schedule
- Space Requirements
- Payment
- Travel Area
- Fees for long assemblies
- Fees for shorter assemblies
- Combination options
Schedule
Greenville County schools: First assembly can start as early as 8:30 a.m.
Out of County schools: Calculate the drive time from Roper Mountain Science Center to your school, then add that amount of time to 8:00 to determine your earliest assembly start time. If it is a one hour drive from Roper Mountain to your school, add one hour to 8 a.m. and the earliest start time is 9 a.m.
For multiple sessions of the same assembly (same or different length), please allow at least 15 minutes between sessions for your instructor to reset the equipment. For two different assemblies, please schedule at least 90 minutes between sessions to allow for breakdown and setup plus time to eat lunch. Contact us if you need to work out other options.
Space Requirements
A space large enough to fit all of the students (seated on the floor or in chairs), teachers, two six foot long tables, and about 10 feet in between the tables and the audience. Gyms, cafeterias, and auditoriums work well. For smaller groups, classrooms can sometimes be used.
Need help or information: Contact the outreach specialist at jromatelli@greenville.k12.sc.us or 864.355.8940
Payment
Payment is due within 30 days after the date of the program. An invoice will be e-mailed to the booker when the reservation is made. Educators CANNOT take payment. Please mail your payment to Roper Mountain or send by Courier. Credit card payments can be made in person at Roper Mountain Science Center (please call ahead to schedule payment), but we cannot take credit card information by phone or email.
Travel Area
We will travel to locations up to a 2.5 hour drive from Roper Mountain for a single day visit. Sites farther than 2.5 hours (up to 5 hours) may book an overnight trip with an added flat fee of $150 per night to cover hotel and meals for our instructor. There is a mileage fee for locations outside of Greenville County of 85 cents per mile. We use Google Maps to calculate drive times and distances.
Fees for long assemblies
| 1 Assemblies | $175 |
| 2 Assemblies | $250 |
| 3 Assemblies | $325 |
| 2 Different Assemblies on the same day | $300 |
* No mileage fee in Greenville County. For other counties, a mileage fee of $0.85 per mile applies
Fees for shorter assemblies
| 1 Assembly | $150 |
| 2 Assemblies | $210 |
| 3 Assemblies | $270 |
| 2 Different Assemblies on the same day | $250 |
* No mileage fee in Greenville County. For other counties, a mileage fee of $0.85 per mile applies
Combination options
| One short and one long assembly of the same program | $235 |
| Two short and one long assembly of the same program | $295 |
| Two long and one short assembly of the same program | $310 |
| One short and one long assembly of different programs | $285 |
* No mileage fee in Greenville County. For other counties, a mileage fee of $0.85 per mile applies
Science on Wheels Scholarships Available!
Roper Mountain has received a generous grant from Lockheed Martin to fund Science on Wheels programming for schools and community organizations in Greenville County and surrounding counties that serve low-income communities. Schools in Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, Spartanburg and Lauren’s counties serving communities at 60% or higher poverty level and Greenville County community centers are pre-qualified to receive these scholarships within reasonable limits. Prequalified groups just need to mention that they would like to use the grant money to cover their reservation at the time that they make the reservation request. Community organizations such as libraries, after school programs, summer camps, and day cares who believe they should qualify, may apply for the funding. Contact the Outreach Specialist, Jennifer Romatelli jromatelli@greenville.k12.sc.us, for details.
Reservations
Contact the Outreach Specialist, Jennifer Romatelli, at jromatelli@greenville.k12.sc.us or 864.355.8940 or fill out the form below: