Huntington is Mad about Science
Science is a subject that has a way of quickly gaining the attention of elementary school students. A series of Science Spectacular shows for second and third graders in the Huntington School District sent imaginations soaring and hearts pumping.
Produced by Mad Science, the world’s leading science enrichment provider, “The Marvels of Motion” was a show with plenty of gimmicks and information crammed into it. “I wish it was longer,” said a Washington School second grader.
Following the sessions in each building, students were treated to hour-long hands-on workshops. On the second grade level, “Optical Illusions” helped students learn just how deceptive a person’s eyes can be when looking at certain types of pictures and objects. Students even had an opportunity to build their own periscope to take home.
Third graders participated in “What’s the Matter” workshops, discovering the specific atoms and molecules contained in matter. They created “crazy colored goo” as their culminating project which delighted many of the youngsters.
The 33 hands-on workshops were originally funded by a 2007 Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education Star Grant written by Maryann Daly, SEARCH program chairperson-teacher. They proved to be so valuable that Mrs. Daly has included funding for them in her program’s annual budget and handled scheduling and other arrangements to bring the workshops into all four primary school buildings.
District science monies were pooled with SEARCH funds to allow for the four Science Spectacular shows that captivated about 700 students this spring. “From the reactions of the students and their teachers, it was an exciting and fun way to learn more about the wonders of science,” Mrs. Daly said.
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