Twitchell Elementary students Livia Shore, 5, left, and Eddy Fernandez, 10, experiment with a bubbling potion during the school’s annual Spectacular Science Night on Tuesday.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | midnight
Mad Scientist Christina Byrne teaches physical science to Twitchell Elementary students during the school's first Spectacular Science Night on Tuesday.
From left, Twitchell Elementary school students Madison Biesinger, 5, James Martin, 5, Hayden Burr, 5, Michael Anderson, 6, and Dominic Lombardo, 7, react to Mad Scientist Dianna "Dynamic" Paul during the school's first Spectacular Science Night on Oct. 21.
At the conclusion of Neil Twitchell Elementary School's inaugural Spectacular Science Week on Oct. 24, second graders couldn't get enough of their soap bubbles.
The bubbles smelled of Froot Loops as they floated through the air.
It was a lesson in the properties of bubbles, using the five senses and working with a partner.
The second-grade bubble experiment was one of several held throughout the week. Normally, Twitchell has the fourth and fifth graders do science projects at the beginning of the school year, but Principal Susan Smith was ready for something different.
"We've done the science fair for so many years, it was just getting old," she said. "We were getting the same projects every year, so we wanted something new and exciting."
Spectacular Science Week included students of all grade levels, and families were invited to participate, too.
The inspiration came from Reading Week, a weeklong reading-appreciation project the School District conducts every year. The idea of doing a similar project for science seemed like a no-brainer, Smith said.
A family fun night was held Oct. 21 where families were encouraged to roam the school and take in different science projects.
Projects exploring Earth, physical and life sciences, along with technology, were included, said the school's science specialist, Amanda Madsen.
The school's new animals were also unveiled: rats, guppies, turtles, hermit crabs, toads and bearded dragon lizards.
"It's been a great adventure this year," Smith said. "I'm glad we decided to do this rather than a science fair."
Parents said they also enjoyed the science-friendly week.
Vijayalakshmi Vijayaraghavan attended the Oct. 24 family-friendly science day with her son, Keshav Anand, 7. She has a master's degree in physics, and her love of science has rubbed off on Keshav.
"I really like science," he said. "I've been doing it a long time. I have a microscope at home, and I study things with it."
Vijayaraghavan said she liked the idea of letting the students do hands-on projects. "It helps them register things much better," she said.
Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or [email protected].
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