Orlando Day #4 - Disney Physics Program

Today we are back at Disney for another Youth Education Program. This one looks at the physics of Energy and Waves. It also looks at how Disney uses this physics to their advantage in their parks. 

We will be learning about the physics and visiting three attractions - Haunted Mansion, Lilo and Stitch Space Adventure and mickeys philharmonic. 

The students are doing really well. Yesterday afternoon we took sometime out to go shopping. Due to some not so flash weather and a longer school visit we didn't go to a Kelly Springs but the shopping and early night has allowed us to recharge our batteries. 

The group meeting their Disney Graduate Cori. 

Michael, Rebecca, Chris F and Chris W helping to demonstrate forms of energy. 

Cori explaining the properties of the electromagnetic spectrum. Our students are really well versed on these. Good job by the CHS Science Department. 

Very topical UV light discussion especially with today getting to 30 degrees. These UV beads demonstrate the amount of UV light even in the shade. Sunscreen is now applied earlier than previously. 

The students got to ride the haunted mansion then go backstage to see how the illusions are made using light and glass. 

We then headed over to tomorrow land to learn about sound waves. Cori the Disney  presenter used a slinky to get Simon and Matt to demonstrate compression or sound waves. 

Orlando Day #3

We are off to Dr Phillips High School this morning. The students are going to spend a couple of hours with a buddy student before we head off to Kelly Park Springs. 

We had a great day at Disney yesterday the students and teachers were all very excited. The afternoon was spent with free time at Disney. The students were amazed at the size of Walt Disney World and after a bit of research they found out the entire area of all 6 parks is just under half the size of Christchurchd urban area. 

No wonder it has it's own bus and highway within the park. 

The crowds were huge yesterday! 

Gaston and beauty and the beast are one of the new exhibits. 

The students have had fun meeting their buddies with a few games to start off

They have now buddies up and are off to classes for half a day. 

Careers in Marine Science

The students have nearly completed their first youth education program based in the Under the sea with Nemo and Friends aquarium. 

They have been making observations of marine animal behaviour. They have seen all the wonderful marine life in the aquarium which holds around 15 million litres of salt water. All the salt water is produced on site rather than being pumped from the ocean. 

Chris F and Chris W observing the sting rays. 

Below is Alex and Nicole looking at the moon jelly fish. 

A massive moray eel in the Great Barrier Reef exhibit. 

The students have also had a classroom session where they had to diagnose a health issue with different marine animals given symptoms and a key to major problems. 

Harry and Matt diagnosing a white spotty bamboo shark

Michael, Luca and Sam working on their marine animal. 

The students have been able to go backstage and look at how the aquarium runs. We have seen manatees and bottle nose dolphins up close. Unfortunately we can't take photos behind the scenes but the students have some great memories. 

For the rest if the day the students are going to enjoy disney. More updates and photos tonight. 

Disney! Day #2 Orlando

Just a quick note to say we are off and running at Disney with our first youth education program at Epcot 

Gatorland

We are halfway through day 1 in Orlando and having a great time. We have all just finished the screaming gator zip line and it was lots of fun. 

We weren't able to take our cameras due to the height but we have bought a disk of photos for everyone to get a copy of later. 

There are a lot of sights to see here at Gatorland. 

Simon and Jamie looking at the alligators. 

Baby alligators sunning themselves

Extremely rare white alligators. Interestingly these are not albino but rather a rare recessive gene that has only shown up once in the last century. These gators were found in a nest in Louisiana and brought to Gatorland to avoid hunters. 

Beautiful pink flamingos

Morning of Day 1 Orlando

Well yesterday was a travel day here Saturday 19. We had good flights however the first was delayed which meant a quick jog to the next flight but in the end we made it in plenty of time. 

Check in at the motel and it looks great. New accommodation this year and it's a definite improvement. Bit of juggling rooms today just to get us all close together but no dramas. 

In a couple of hours we are off to Gatorland and zip lining fun. 

Below is the view from our rooms down to the lovely pool not bad for a school trip

Space camp fashionistas - Simon and Nicole