Anatomy of a Design Challenge
What is a Design Challenge? It is a self-contained course of study that has been co-developed by Mezzacello and a HS intern or the MS Menterns. It has a self-contained, waterproof box, a study guide, durable materials to complete the challenge, and a series of standards-aligned learning goals that function here at Mezzacello, and in school visits or public demonstrations.
Design Challenge: Ecospheres
In this Design Challenge: Ecospheres we will explore the complex relationships between atoms, molecules, cycles, solutions, pressure, location in the environment, and the electrical potential that unites them all. We we will create the attributes and conditions required for each NHCOPS element to cycle through our environment. We will discover synergies and how these systems work together to create conditions we need for life on this planet.
Design Challenge: Making Feed On a Farm
My intern, Marcus, and I are developing a design challenge for Columbus City Schools around how we engineer feed here at Mezzacello. Using feed sources like oats, wheat germ, timothy hay, syrup, and cracked corn, we add other proteins, grasses and seeds grown here at Mezzacello like sunflower seeds, crickets, mealworms, and eggs. But our secret ingredient is edible weeds.
Entanglement, Information, Uncertainty, and Poker
This is a guest camp blog from my MenTern Grady at Mezzacello Urban farm. Grady was in Charge of this creative way of teaching quantum entanglement and uncertainty to camp kids using a modified poker game. It was a lot of fun and a surprising way to model superposition for kids to understand.
Emerging Products at Mezzacello.org
Mezzacello Urban Farm is committed to sustainability and organic solutions to food and resources. Each year we design, build, test and modify a fertilizer product line to share our wealth. Last summer we created “Fintastic Fertilizer” a emulsion of algae, fish waste, gypsum, and comfrey tea. The summer camp kids tested and modified the product and designed the marketing.
BioEngineering Summer Camp 2023 Guest Blog - Max
I love teaching Applied STEM summer camps. It never ceases to amaze me what kids will dream up if you give them a problem, some tools and then get out of their way. These are two BioEngineering Summer Camp 2023 Guest Blogs that were shared with me today.
Biomimicry and BioEngineering
The door to the biodome has been plaguing me. But my 10-year-old bioengineering intern came up with an ingenious design based on a dick’s wing.
BioEngineering Summer Camp 2023 Guest Blog - Liam
I love teaching Applied STEM summer camps. It never ceases to amaze me what kids will dream up if you give them a problem, some tools and then get out of their way. These are two BioEngineering Summer Camp 2023 Guest Blogs that were shared with me today.
Design Challenge: Reframe a Problem
In this design challenge we pretend to be encountering an elephant blind. How does the way we look at a problem change us?
Design Challenge: Mastering Fear
In this design challenge we explore the intersections of time, biology, emotion, and courage by creating an emotion hourglass.
Project BioTech Arts and Crafts
These are the arts and crafts activities we will be employing in the BioTech Summer Camp in 2023. Diverse, fun and engaging.
Project BioEngineering Arts and Crafts
The arts and crafts students will be exploring in the BioEngineering Arts and Crafts section of the 2023 summer camp.
Project BioChemical Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts for Life and BioChemistry Summer camp. The secret of the periodic table of elements! Chemistry in action!
Water From Waste Part Two
After testing the design for a simple plastic solar still, we will build a better more efficient model with wood, metal and glass.
Avian Flu and Sanitation
Avian Flu is deadly for chickens and ducks. When kids visit Mezzacello, I insist they sterilize the shoes in bleach. All feet covered!