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Information about what happens during our experiment days

A day at DLR_School_Lab consists of an introductory lecture, a program of experiments, and a final discussion. In the introductory lecture you can learn something about the German Aerospace Center and about the research being undertaken at Berlin-Adlershof as well as be introduced to the topics your students will be working on.
During your time with us you can ask any questions about career choices and about how DLR takes care of up-and-coming scientists, as well as questions that may interest you concerning aviation and aerospace. With prior agreement our scientists can also give specialized lectures appropriate for students at the age level of your group on the subjects of planetary research and the development of optical systems. In the final discussion we forge a link between what students have just learned and work being undertaken by the staff at the German Aerospace Center. And at the very end we request you and your students to evaluate the day's activities.

Click here to sign up for a visit

1. Information for elementary school classes

1.1 Daily schedule

A typical day in the lab lasts about 3-1/2 hours and is modeled on the following plan:

30 minutes - introductory discussion
10 minutes - snack break
60 minutes - 1st experiment session at different stations
15 minutes - break
60 minutes - 2nd experiment session at different stations
 5 minutes - break
30 minutes - final discussion and film

1.2 Experiments

If there are more than 16 students we will work in two groups and several smaller teams. At the break between two experiment sessions the groups exchange rooms and can also have a look at our facilities. 

The experiment sessions over the topics listed below. The maximal number of students who can work on each experiment at the same time is shown in parentheses. Please note that this information is subject to change.

• The eye: Terms and structure, image generation, vision tests, reflection and refraction, phenomena (16)
• Technical Vision: Stereo vision - we will construct anaglyph images and see what can be discovered in 3D images and how it is done. (16)

For grades 5 and 6 the experiments are limited to one hour, whereby the students can move from one station to another. 

• Time schedule: Normally, we expect you to arrive around 9 am. Along with any needed breaks our program should be over between 12:30 and 1 o'clock. If you have other wishes, please let us know when you sing up for your visit. And please inform us if the number of participants changes by more than 2-3 from what you originally announced. In this way we can adapt the deployment of our instructors to your visit.
  
• Preparation: Your students should be aware that they will have a day of actively experimenting in which they will do much of the work themselves. Our instructors will progressively introduce them to their work by posing appropriate questions related to the topic. The students can record their results themselves and take their worksheets home with them.

2. Information for junior high school and high school classes

2.1 Daily schedule

A typical laboratory day consists of an introductory discussion, experiments in the morning, a lunch break, experiments in the afternoon, and a final discussion.

2.2 Experiments

If there are more than 16 students we will work in two groups and several smaller teams. At the break between the two experiment sessions the groups exchange rooms and can also have a look at our facilities. 

We suggest the following experiments. The maximal number of students who can work on each experiment at the same time is shown in parentheses. Please note that this information is subject to change.

• Fuel cells - Hydrogen - an energy supplier with a future (up to 4*4)
• Graetzel cell - The Popeye among the solar cells (up to 3*3)
• Infrared light - heat radiation - How to have a look at heat (5)
• Laser - From laser show to remotely measuring distance (4)
• Meteorites - A danger to Earth? (4)
• Navigation - day to day navigation - With GPS and Galileo through Adlershof Science City (4)
• Weightlessness - Experiments with microgravity (up to 4*4)
• Solar cells - A sunny future for alternative energy (up to 4*4)
• Stereo images - The third dimension in view (2*4)
• Simulating traffic - Traffic jams that don't upset anybody (4)

Since the experiments require different amounts of time, we combine them depending on the requirements of the particular visiting group. We plan each experiment to take from 45 minutes to 2-1/4 hours, depending on the age and knowledge level of the students, as well as on the amount of time available. On workshop days we can offer additional experiments which go deeper into the topics so that workshops extending over one or two days are also possible.

• Time schedule: Normally, we expect you to arrive around 9 am. Including a lunch break and other breaks needed, our program should be over sometime between 3 o'clock and 3:30. If you have other wishes, please let us know when you sing up for your visit. And please inform us if the number of participants changes by more than 2-3 from what you originally announced. In this way we can adapt the deployment of our instructors to your visit.

3. Lunch break

At lunchtime we will accompany you to the nearby cafeteria of Humbolft University, where you and your students can purchase a meal at moderate prices (€3-4). We can provide you with a debit card which includes a student discount, and you can reimburse us for the amount spent. As an alternative you can bring along your own packed lunch and eat it in the cafeteria (there is an automat available for snacks and drinks).

4. List of participants

Along with the confirmation of your visit you will receive preparatory information including important safety pointers. Please fill out the enclosed list of participants so that the staff at our entrance gate can arrange to admit you on the day of your visit. Send us the requested information at leat one week in advance, by email, fax or through the postal service.

5. Getting to us

You will find information about how to get to us on our DLR web pages. You can also consult an orientation plan at http://www.adlershof.de/. The DLR_School_Lab is located at DLR on Rutherfordstraße which can be reached from Rudower Chaussee by going through the IGBZ passageway.

We look forward to your visit!