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--Astronomy
(return
to top)
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Title
|
Summary
|
 |
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Observatory
|
View galaxies
and seasonal constellations on high-powered telescope in remote
desert location |
|
Solar
System Lecture
|
History
of astronomy from the Ptolomy to Cupernicus' heliocentric theories |
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Cosmology
|
The development
of the solar system and the arrangement of the planets |
|
Dimensions
|
Powers
of ten, micro and macroscopic views of the the universe |
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Mythology
|
How the
Greek, Romans, and other cultures viewed the stars |
|
Lifespan
of a Star
|
A star's
life from birth to black hole |
|
Seasonal
Changes
|
How weather,
tidal phenomena, and other geological activities relate to the
orbital nature of the solar system |
|
|
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--Solar
Energy (return
to top)
|
Title
|
Summary
|
|
Solar
Research Station
|
Latest
solar energy technology explained, along with the future of
solar energy and its physical principles. |
|
Harnassing
Solar Energy
|
Explore
technology
for collecting solar energy and converting it into heat and/or
electricity: solar ovens, solar etching, and water distillation |
|
Simulator
|
Students
run a radio, motor, and lever using solar energy. Run data through
computer to further understand energy transformation. |
|
Solar-Powered
Machines
|
Build a
solar-powered car or other mechanism using a solar cell and
motor |
--Desert
Ecosystem (return
to top)
|
Title
|
Summary
|
|
Dunes
|
Discover
the ecology of the dunes, their animals, plants, and changes
over time. Students spend half a day frolicking in our dunes
and collecting biological and physical data |
|
Nitzana
Riverbed
|
Study the
different organisms, water levels, and topographical features
that house various dessert wildlife |
|
Dessert
Cooking
|
Students
make bread, burekas, and other foods using dessert heat
and environment |
|
En
Avdat
|
Visit a
beautiful canyon full of water and diverse desert wildlife |
|
Ecotop
|
Mini-research
facility to study how plants and animals live off of fresh and
brackish water |
--Desert
Agriculture (return
to top)
|
Title
|
Summary
|
|
Nabatian
Farm
|
Visit
a farm constructed in Nabatian times (~500 AD), featuring water
conserveration techniques, irrigation systems, and well construction. |
|
Smart
Greenhouse
|
Construct
a greenhouse in the dessert, utilizing light filters, brackish
water, and water recycling |
--Natural
Materials Building (return
to top)
|
Title
|
Summary
|
 |
|
Housing
|
Visit
an adobe hut and learn the materials and techniques for construction. |
|
Model
Desert House
|
Build
a model dessert house using principles of heat transfer and
material heat retention. Test for heat retention over time. |
--Water
Conservation (return
to top)
|
Title
|
Summary
|
|
|
Using
Brackish Water
|
How salty
water can used in desert agriculture. |
|
|
Recycling
|
Biological
processes to recycle water used in agriculture and domestic
consumption. |
|
|
Distillation
|
Students
make fresh water from a brackish sample. |
|
--Physics
(return
to top)
|
Title
|
Summary
|
|
|
Optics
|
Students
study the wave nature of light: refraction, reflection, and
other areas of geometric optics. |
|
|
Conservation
of Energy
|
Many of
our activities highlight the conservation of and transformation
of energy in closed systems. |
|
--Biology
(return
to top)
|
Title
|
Summary
|
|
|
Photosynthesis
Laboratory
|
Hands-on
activity extracting chlorophyl from plants and checking the
capacity for photosynthesis when exposed to different wavelengths
of light. |
|
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Oxygen
Production
|
Collect
oxygen produced by Aldea plants, varying light conditions and
CO2 concentrations. |
|
|
Plant
Anatomy
|
Microscopic
investigation of plant cells. |
|
|
Human
Physiology
|
How extreme
dessert conditions can affect the circulatory and respiratory
systems and overall body functionality. |
|
|
Reciprocation
in Nature
|
Live demostration
of the food chain, featuring plants, locusts, and scorpions. |
|
|
Biotops
Research
|
Field
research for 11th or 12th graders testing hypotheses about
the behavior of specific dessert animals in their natural
habitat--eating habits, interaction with plants and animals,
and how biotic and abiotic factors affect them.
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