California's Great America

• Teachers are provided with a complimentary CD-ROM along with their advance purchased tickets.
• The teacher-designated CD-ROM contains teacher guidelines, along with experiments for upper elementary, middle, and high school students. The CD-ROM offers teachers a choice of beginning to advanced lessons.
• Teachers will assign students the activities of their choice based on subject matter and level of difficulty. Some activities require the student to ride, while others can be completed based on observation alone.
• On the day of the event, teachers simply provide their students with photocopies of the activities they need to complete.

For sample curriculum visit www.physicsday.org. Sponsored by the CGA Physics/Science/Math Teacher Steering Committee.

Who should attend?
Although most of the materials have been developed for middle and high school students, an elementary curriculum is included on the Physics/Science/Math CD-ROM or the www.physicsday.org website, along with great learning opportunities in general science for all ages.

How do we register and what is the cost?
.Complete and mail the ticket order form, along with payment, as soon as possible in order to receive your complimentary CD-ROM prior to the event. Register by April 10, 2009, for maximum savings!

The ticket prices are (Before April 10, 2009)
$22.00 per person • $29.50 for admission+ picnic

At the door
$24.00 admission • $11.00 for the picnic

2009 Season Pass, Gold Pass or Platinum Pass holders pay only $10.00 per person Passes must be processed prior to the date of the event(s) and shown with the lab fee ticket to attend these private events.

What if we can’t come on May 1, 8 or 15? Alternate dates for Physics/Science/Math at California’s Great America

• You can still bring your class to the Park on any other public operating day. The admission price on these alternate days is $29.00
  
• The Park is open to the general public, but your students will still be able to perform experiments and work on activities using the Park as a laboratory. Special Physics, Science and Math Day hours, exhibits, spot measurement signs, presentations, picnic, teachers lounge, contests and other special events are not applicable on these alternate dates.

• Pre-paid admission + meal is only $29.50 (By April 10, 2009)
• Lunch includes- all-you-can-eat jumbo size hot dogs, potato chips, western style chili beans, soft drinks and ice cream novelties
  Served from 12:00pm-2:00pm in the Picnic Pavilion
• Pass holders and Complimentary tickets can purchase the all-you-can-eat picnic in advance for $10.00. The picnic is $11.00 on the day of the event.
• If you choose to have students bring bag lunches, picnic tables are located outside the main gate for your use. We suggest you leave your lunches in your bus/vehicle, then meet and exit as a group to have lunch.

• Park operating hours on Physics, Science and Math Days are 9:00am-5:00pm.
• California’s Great America’s parking lot opens at 8:30am. Parking is FREE for buses, all other vehicles will be required to pay parking fees.
• California’s Great America will be open rain or shine. Most rides operate in the rain, so students can still do experiments, plus participate in the special presentations. Students should dress appropriately for the weather.

On May 1st, for our elementary guests, selected rides inside Nickelodeon Central will be open for experiments.
(In the event of unforeseen circumstances, some rides may be closed and you should have alternate activities selected for your students.)

Teachers Lounge Hours
Enjoy the teachers lounge from 9:00am-5:00pm in California’s Great America Consulate. Meet some of the CGA Teacher Steering Committee members, enjoy some coffee and snacks and check out demonstrations from organizations, such as Intel Museum, Vernier Software, the Tech Museum of Innovation and many more.

Student Contests
9th Annual Roller Coaster Building Contest
Encourage your students to learn more about “real world” physics by entering the Roller Coaster Building Contest.
Roller Coasters are judged on: technical merit, theme and creativity, and most exciting to ride.
Register your teams at www.physicsday.org to receive your competition time and entry number. You DO NOT have to register in advance in order to compete.

11th Annual Egg Drop Contest
A maximum of (20) four-member teams are invited to try to create the ultimate packing device that will prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from 20 feet in the air. Participation ribbons are given to each participating student and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes are awarded.

5th Annual Buoyancy Contest
Teams try to float as many pennies as they can on a 10cm x 10cm piece of foil. Participation ribbons are given to each participating student, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes are awarded.

3nd Annual Paper Airplane Throwing for Accuracy Contest
Teams or individuals build a paper airplane from one piece of 21.5cm x 28cm standard copy paper and launch it through a hula hoop with the diameter of 84cm to a target approximately 5 meters away. Participation ribbons are given to each participating student, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons are awarded.