Last year I heard about an event geared toward K-8th grade students that would help them understand and explore the various worlds of engineering. I had no idea how much we would enjoy this event.

Here’s the info on the event for this year:

Join us for a fun, free, family interactive event with displays and presentations that will excite children about science and engineering. The DuPage Engineers Week Expo includes cryogenic freezing with a few controlled explosions, model airplanes and a wind tunnel exhibit, robots, bicycle power, load testing and destruction, static electricity, levers and pulleys, building molecules and hands-on activities with ZOOM®, Design Squad, LEGO® Robotics, and the DuPage Children’s Museum. See a list the free public events.

You do not have to be an engineer to enjoy the 28th Annual DuPage Area Engineers Week Expo. The Expo is geared toward children in K-8th Grade, however, all ages will enjoy this event!

Details:
When: Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Where: Illinois Institute of Technology: 201 East Loop Road, Wheaton, IL (Directions)
Cost: Free, and open to the public

Lunch and snack items will be available for purchase as a fundraiser from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

IIT Alumni – Call for information on a special Alumni-only Breakfast!

If you are free and looking for something to keep your kids engaged, I would encourage you to check this out. It was packed last year, but we still managed to navigate our stroller through the hallways somehow. Our whole family enjoyed the event immensely, although our then 8 month old did not like Mr. Freeze’s explosions. If you have seen his show there or elsewhere, you can probably understand why.

Expect parking to be a nightmare, and the building to be crowded, but also prepare for your kids to enjoy themselves and not want to leave. We all learned a lot of new information.  Some displays have kids helping out, but many are staffed by engineers eager to share about their background, their education, the career choice, and their displays. They want to engage your student and help them learn about engineering and the various fields it encompasses.

The program for the event is now available online, so check that out to get a good idea of what to expect from the displays.

You are invited to The Twenty Seventh Annual DuPage Engineers Week Expo:

Date: February 26, 2011
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM
What to find there:

• ZOOM into Engineering and Design Squad
• DuPage Children’s Museum
• LEGO® Robotics — Chicago Robotics
• Mr. Freeze Cryogenics
• 4,500 Years of Structures
• Working Bikes — Robot Design Engineering

Where: The School of Applied Technology
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Campus
Illinois Institute of Technology
201 East Loop Drive
Wheaton, IL. 60189

Visit their Website – http://dupageeweek.iit.edu There you will find all the details as far as schedules, display descriptions, and even a floor plan of the building with what will be set up where. Some of the displays I am familiar with from other events and I know my kids would really enjoy this. It is free and geared toward kids K-8. Definitely looks like fun for everyone.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.   Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 C.H.O.I.C.E. 2010 Curriculum ReSale & Kids’ Sale Monday, May 10th, 2010 Sale: 4:00-7:00 p.m. College Church, Commons Hall, Wheaton, IL * * * We need 15 volunteers in order to host this event! * * * Please contact Debbie Johnson for information on selling fruitlover@gmail.com Monday, May 3, is the deadline to reserve your spots Any educational material is acceptable (curriculum, supplementary materials, books, games, etc.). Kids may sell anything (no nuts or red drinks allowed in the church). Schedule for Monday, May 10, 2010: 3:00 — 4:00 p.m. Sellers can drop off and sort their pre-tagged items. Volunteers are available to help 4:00 —7:00  p.m. SALE SHOP  buyers, bring your own bags, boxes for transporting purchased items 7:00 — 8:00 p.m. All sellers return to sort books. NEW: 2010-2011 Activity Flyers Advertise your homeschooling activity, co-op, service project, or field trip for this summer, next fall, or next winter. Create a flyer (81/2 x 11) with your ideas, dates, rules, and contact information. Contact all of the places or organizations that you participate in as a homeschooling family, and have someone create a flyer (band, math team, dance, music studios, gym classes, art classes, science co-ops, etc). Bring 50 copies! We hope this will help your planing and organization over the summer. Links: C.H.O.I.C.E. Monthly Meeting Schedule eNewsletter Submission Guidelines 09-10

For more information see the full flyer online.