By Jondi Gumz
These kids at Main Street Elementary School in Soquel love science.
They are in the state-funded Expanded Learning Opportunities Program.
Owen. 4th grade: Kinetic Sand
Once a week, these 20 students in grades 1-5 stay after school to learn about science. Each week, they did experiments with their instructor Mandi Lopez. An instructional aide for 11 years, she provides positive behavior supports for students.
At the end of the semester, the students wanted to put on a science fair.
Each one got to pick an experiment, get their chemicals, write what they did on display boards and explain it to visitors.
Ethan, 9, shared his recipe for starch dough: ¾ cup cornstarch and ½ cup hair conditioner.
Melisssa, 3rd grade: Fluffy Textured Slime
It smelled good and it was fun to squeeze.
Lopez said Ethan, a third grader, didn’t get the right formula on the first try.
At first it was too powdery.
So he added more liquid, but it was too much.
So he added more powder until it the dough was just right.
Trial and error, just like scientists do.Lopez is in her third year teaching after school classes, running the art program as well as Lego engineering, journaling, and helping in brain teasers, healthy living, track and game club.
Ethan, 3rd grade: Starch Dough
She said, “I have found that it is such a successful feeling for the students to see the completed project on display that they have worked hard on.”
She added, “To be able to see students so proud and able to share about their weekly projects and accomplishments makes my heart happy and full. I have also found these shows truly help students grow tremendously in both confidence and pride. And, it helps bring closure to a chapter they are successfully ending.”
TOP PHOTO: Megan, 4th grade: Volcano