30 BY 30 UPDATE
By: Jessica Wilson, Engineer-in-Training and Joyti Singh, Engineer-in-Training
Over the past few months we had the opportunity to work with three groups of Girl Guides as part of the 30 by 30 initiative. These groups consisted of Sparks (ages 5-6), Brownies (ages 7-8) and Girl Guides (ages 9-11). The goal of each session was to introduce the girls to the fields of engineering and science through activities and experimentation.
The first activity was an experiment that we conducted using the following seven common household ingredients: ketchup, lemon juice, apple juice, vinegar, glass cleaner, soy sauce and cola. We tested the ability of each ingredient to clean dirty pennies by soaking a penny in each solution and observing and comparing the results. Before we began the experiment, the girls voted on which ingredient they thought would work the best. We ended the experiment with a group discussion on which solutions worked best and encouraged them to think about why certain ingredients worked better than others.
Our second activity was an engineering challenge. The girls were assigned the task of building an egg protector. Each group was given a plain cardboard box and had their choice of a variety of materials including elastics, felt, sponges, bubble wrap, tissue, tissue paper, yarn and cotton balls, as well as some decorating supplies including foam stickers, markers and gems. We tested each of the egg protectors to see if the eggs could survive two small drops (1-metre and 2-metre heights) and finished the activity by discussing which materials they thought worked best. Each girl who participated received a bag of goodies, a small information package and a special Engineers Canada badge for their efforts.
Our experience working with Girl Guides Canada and APEGS was especially rewarding. It was exciting to share our appreciation and passion for science and engineering and to see the girls learn and discover. It was a joy for us to see their faces light up when they realized that ketchup could be used to clean a penny or that their design prevented their egg from breaking. We were also very impressed by how well the girls worked together and helped one another, displaying at a young age the importance of teamwork and a meaningful understanding of the Brownie motto, “Lend a Hand.” We are grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the 30 by 30 initiative and look forward to being involved in upcoming projects and events in the future.
TOP:Jessica Wilson, Engineer-in-Training and Joyti Singh, Engineer-in-Training show off the Engineers Canada badge. BOTTOM: One of the Girl Guides’ egg protectors.