Weird Body Science
About the Teacher
Mr. Calderon is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors degree in Psychology (Pre-Med) and a Masters degree in counseling from St. Edwards University. He has been a middle school teacher for Pflugerville I.S.D. at Westview Middle School for 7 years. He has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math and science. He has also been a cheerleading coach and a boys soccer coach for at Westview for 4 years. The Westview Middle School Cheerleading team achieved a National Championship in 2010 and a Regional Championship in 2012. The boys soccer team also recently won the district championship for P.I.S.D. in May of 2012. Mr. Calderon is also a GED instructor for Austin Community College where he has personally achieved over 120 graduates from program. Mr. Calderon’s philosophy in teaching and coaching is to create a positive, comfortable environment where students have the ability to learn and excel. He is an avid chess player and always enjoys a quick game to keep his students engaged. During his off time, Mr. Calderon enjoys spending time with his daughters (Victoria -15 and Isabella-7) bike riding, swimming and golfing. As an ongoing project of 6 years, Mr. Calderon has volunteered time to collect blankets and clothing for Austin’s homeless as well as donations for the Boys Scouts Club #2 in his home town of Chihuahua, Mexico. He is excited to join this wonderful organization and looks forward to spending time this summer with his new students.
A note from the teacher & some of the things the campers learned while in camp
Dear Parents,
This week was very fun as the students learned incredible and weird things about their body, discovering how each of their bodies is strange and special in their own unique way.
On Monday campers began studying the different parts of the human body. Campers diagrammed the major body system with special focus on the skeletal system. We finished the day with a challenge in which students had to name all the major bones of their body.
On Tuesday the campers combined different materials to make a replica of human snot by combining corn syrup and gelatin as well as some added food coloring to make it a deliciously weird color. Young People also began to investigate their own bodies by building a stethoscope. Campers also learned how to check vital sounds on themselves and their peers.
On Wednesday campers conducted mock triage rooms in which one student was a patient while three others in the group were the doctors. The doctors were responsible for checking vital signs and diagnosing different problems. The “doctors” rotated through these roles. Campers were also challenged to label different bones within a certain time period.
On Thursday campers began by reviewing the laboratory safety rules. Campers then dressed with latex gloves, smocks and safety goggles.The kids were than given the appropriate equipment for a full dissection including scalpels, probes, scissors, and trays. Students than followed a step by step demonstration of the dissection of a frog. The dissection required each student to make at least one cut with the scalpel (I had helped some of the younger students by holding the scalpel together). Students also identified and removed the heart, small intestine, and lungs. Although they were some queasy stomachs in the group, it was overall a magnificent and successful for all.
On Friday campers ended their exciting week by tracing and cutting out a full scale model of the human skeletal system. Campers then put all the bones together to build a Halloween style skeleton. TRICK OR TREAT!!
Click here to download the 2013 YPW Camps Catalog