MAGMA Club:
MAGMA is an acronym for Magic, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Astronomy.
MAGMA is an extracurricular student club designed to incorporate the disciplines of Magic, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Astronomy in a way that is both educational and fun.
Goals of the MAGMA Club:
1. Positive, Progressive, and Productive
2. Enrichment
3. Multi-Disciplinary
4. Intellectually Challenging
5. Community Oriented
MAGMA is an extracurricular student club designed to incorporate the disciplines of Magic, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Astronomy in a way that is both educational and fun.
Goals of the MAGMA Club:
1. Positive, Progressive, and Productive
2. Enrichment
3. Multi-Disciplinary
4. Intellectually Challenging
5. Community Oriented
Combining Magic with Science:
Mr. Mars studied science at the world renowned University of California and was formally trained in magic at the world famous Academy of Magical Arts ("The Magic Castle") in Hollywood, California.
Defying Gravity and Newton's Laws...
Magic is an artform built largely upon a foundation of scientific principles which are applied in an outside-the-box manner and which seemingly defy the natural laws of the universe.
Studying these underlying scientific principles, which are combined to create a variety of astonishing magical illusions, helps students to better understand the science.
Studying these underlying scientific principles, which are combined to create a variety of astonishing magical illusions, helps students to better understand the science.
Illusions force the human mind to seek alternative answers...
Science is about forming hypotheses, making predictions, and methodically testing in order to answer questions, solve problems, and increase understanding of the universe.
MAGMA students get the chance to improve their problem-solving skills.
MAGMA students get the chance to improve their problem-solving skills.
MAGMA Students Shooting for the Stars!
MAGMA students have the opportunity to go further with some of the investigations from science class.
For instance, one of the experiments performed in the 8th-grade Regents class at RFK Middle School involves splicing a gene from a luminescent species of jellyfish into a plasmid of Escherichia coli bacteria. MAGMA Club students extrapolate on this activity by exploring the effects of positive regulation during experiments dealing with the lac operon and the pGEM plasmid. One of the goals of the MAGMA Club will be to acquire a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine in order to carry out investigations that most middle schools can only dream about!
For instance, one of the experiments performed in the 8th-grade Regents class at RFK Middle School involves splicing a gene from a luminescent species of jellyfish into a plasmid of Escherichia coli bacteria. MAGMA Club students extrapolate on this activity by exploring the effects of positive regulation during experiments dealing with the lac operon and the pGEM plasmid. One of the goals of the MAGMA Club will be to acquire a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine in order to carry out investigations that most middle schools can only dream about!
MAGMA Students have the opportunity to go on special trips...
Hunter College, in collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, allows MAGMA Club students to go on all-expenses paid trips, including one to the American Museum of Natural History in the late fall/early winter and a very special trip to participate in Molecular and Cellular Biology experiments under the guidance of world renown scientists at the City University of New York City laboratory of Hunter College in Manhattan in the spring.
The Last Piece of the Puzzle:
MAGMA Club students also get an opportunity to expand their horizons by participating in other activities, such as a more advanced study of outer space during investigations of Astronomy.
One of the goals of MAGMA Club is to acquire a high quality telescope which utilizes star-tracking software which allows the telescope to move in unison with the rotation of the Earth.
One of the goals of MAGMA Club is to acquire a high quality telescope which utilizes star-tracking software which allows the telescope to move in unison with the rotation of the Earth.
MAGMA Club students and families enjoying "Star Parties."
Star Parties involve setting up the telescope outside in the quad area of the school and enjoying some hot chocolate while observing the craters of the Moon, the rings of Saturn, and other exciting objects of the universe.
Robotics!
The study of astronomy incorporates the field of Robotics.
Robotics forms the basis of using technology and engineering to create machines, such as the Mars Rover (pictured at left), to explore the final frontier in places like the surface of Planet Mars, also known as the "Red Planet" (hence the background color-scheme of this website).
Robotics forms the basis of using technology and engineering to create machines, such as the Mars Rover (pictured at left), to explore the final frontier in places like the surface of Planet Mars, also known as the "Red Planet" (hence the background color-scheme of this website).
MAGMA Club students expanding their horizons...
MAGMA Club students also experience the intellectual challenges of playing logic-based games, such as the time honored tradition of exploring the strategies of chess, and honing their test-taking skills by mastering some of the fundamental concepts behind New York City's specialized high school exam.
MAGMA Club students giving back to their community:
MAGMA Club students design creative ways to give back to the community by participating in various activities.
A couple of ideas of community-themed work:
Sponsor a Blood Drive by working with organizations such as the American Red Cross and The March of Dimes.
Participate in the nationally recognized charitable organization of PROJECT MAGIC, which was started by the world-famous illusionist/magician David Copperfield. Project Magic utilizes the ancient artform of magic to assist with the recovery of hospital patients, such as stroke victims, by teaching them simple magic tricks in order to help with the reformation of neural networks; this aides in a quicker recovery for patients and MAGMA Club students learn the value of community service while having fun.
A couple of ideas of community-themed work:
Sponsor a Blood Drive by working with organizations such as the American Red Cross and The March of Dimes.
Participate in the nationally recognized charitable organization of PROJECT MAGIC, which was started by the world-famous illusionist/magician David Copperfield. Project Magic utilizes the ancient artform of magic to assist with the recovery of hospital patients, such as stroke victims, by teaching them simple magic tricks in order to help with the reformation of neural networks; this aides in a quicker recovery for patients and MAGMA Club students learn the value of community service while having fun.
