Friday, September 29, 2000

Chemistry program seeks big reaction

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Hands-on learning is aim

By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer Contributor

        MOUNT HEALTHY — Nine-year-old Sarah Schreiber didn't really believe that pouring a little vinegar on baking soda would do anything interesting.

        Then she stirred the mixture and watched as the balloon she placed over the top of the tube began inflating.

Stefanie Robertson, 12, creates “green slime” at Jane Hoop Elementary School as part of a chemistry program of Columbus' COSI. With Stefanie are fellow students Jacob Schreiber (left) and Whitney Williamson. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        “It made it blow up,” exclaimed the Jane Hoop Elementary School fourth-grader Wednesday. “I thought it would pop, it got so big. It was really fun.”

        The exercise at the “What's the Matter” station in the school's gymnasium was one of seven chemistry experiments every student in the school got to try as part of It's Simply Chemistry, a show put on by the Wheels Outreach Program of COSI, the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus.

        “It's pretty cool. You get to do experiments you never do before,” said Edmund Pagan, right after discovering the washing soda he thought was an acid really was a base.

        “We try to relate things to everyday life,” said Heidi Sigler of COSI. “Chemistry is something that's often intimidating. We want the kids to learn it's not scary and make it simple so they can understand.”

        After a presentation the students had about 45 minutes to try experiments at each station. Parent volunteers and Mount Healthy High School students manned the stations under COSI direction.

        “I like working with kids,” said Stephanie Hutton, 17. “I think the kids were surprised at how the balloon fills when the baking soda and vinegar form carbon dioxide.”

        This is the third year the elementary school has paid to bring the COSI program to the school, said Principal Todd Bowling. Teachers worked at Paramount's Kings Island over the summer to raise the needed $750.

        “We like it because it's a hands-on way to learn chemistry,” Mr. Bowling said. “It's all proficiency (test) related. It's a different way of learning — something we can't do here in the classrooms.”

        Learning concepts they would need on the proficiency test wasn't on the minds of the students gathered at the Super Slime station.

        “Oooooooh, it's sticky,” Monay Metcalf said after stirring the polyvinyl alcohol, blue food coloring and sodi um tetraborate.

        “It was easy to make,” said Monay, 9. “I'm going to take this out and stretch it.”
       

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