Project Launch at Pickering College!

Left to right: Camille Viatte, Patrick Sheese, and Keven Roy at Pickering College in Newmarket, Ontario.

Photo credit: Ashley Kilgour.

Ashley, Camille, Patrick, and Keven visited Pickering College this morning (Friday, March 8th) to launch the Student-Researchers Atmospheric Collaboration with kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 students. Students were in good spirits, as it was the last day before March Break! It was lovely to see so many familiar faces and meet a few new ones as well. Students learned more about the Arctic environment and had fun trying on Arctic gear that was WAY too big for them!

Kindergarten and grade 1 students tried on official Canada Goose Arctic gear (parka, snow pants, boot, mitts, scarf, toque, and goggles). 

Photo credit: Ashley Kilgour.

Camille showed kindergarten and grade 1 students how to make their own thermometers using plastic bottles, molding clay, straws, and rubbing alcohol to help them better understand how thermometers work. Everyone seemed to get their thermometers working - well done!  Keven also used a large demonstration thermometer to review steps for reading the temperature.

Keven reviewed the temperature scale in degrees Celsius with students.

 Photo credit: Ashley Kilgour.

Grade 2 and 3 students helped Patrick perform a science demonstration that showed how temperature and pressure affect air density, resulting in atmospheric circulation and winds. They then practiced using their windsock and compass to determine wind direction, and their anemometer to determine wind speed.

Patrick made a bit of a mess doing this demonstration!

Photo credit: Ashley Kilgour.

This year, students will be partnering with students at Ataguttaaluk Elementary School in Igloolik, Nunavut to share and discuss their findings. CANDAC scientists will be visiting Ataguttaaluk School from March 18-22, so please let us know if you have any questions about Igloolik and/or Nunavut!

Point "A" is Newmarket, Ontario (latitude of 44ᵒN) and point "B" is Igloolik, Nunavut (latitude of 69ᵒN).

Image credit: Google Maps.

Thanks again for inviting us into your classrooms. We are looking forward to hearing from you after March Break!!