WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP — After mixing a small amount of four powdery substances on a paper plate, 10-year-old Justin Brummett put a small portion of the mixture into his mouth and screamed: “This is awesome!”

In a contest of science and magic, Gail Heitz melts a Styrofoam cup while Mr. Wizard (teacher Ryan Fehrenkamp) creates a blob Wednesday. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        Across the table in his Shawnee Elementary School classroom, Kyle Dickhaus, 11, got a surprised look on his face before proclaiming: “It was like, foaming in my mouth.”

        The mixture of unsweetened Kool-Aid, sugar, citric acid and baking soda formed candy and was one of four experiments fifth-graders participated in during Wednesday's Spooktacular Science program.

        After finishing a unit on chemistry, the students rotated among classrooms to test newfound knowledge of acids, bases, polymers and chemical reactions to make slime, shrinky-dink necklaces, ghost crystals and foaming candy.

        "It's another way to do Halloween and have fun,” said teacher Gail Heitz, who took on the role of a scientist in a 30-minute presentation before the students started their experiments. Ms. Heitz used science to explain the magic of a wizard, portrayed by teacher Ryan Fehrenkamp.

        “It's weird. It made me shake,” said Chelsea Harris, 11, after drinking a cup of water to get the sour taste out of her mouth. “I was expecting sweetness, not foam. I have a real sensitive mouth and it hurt a little and then got foamy. It was because we mixed together opposites.”

        The combination of the substances, when mixed with the students' saliva caused a chemical reaction in their mouths that foamed, Ms. Heitz said. Different combinations of the ingredients are found in some commercially sold candy.
       

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