Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Katie Krenelka, an employee at the Center of Science and Industry, is one half of a team that travels to schools and other organizations and gives them lessons on science.
Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Michele Gatts, a PTA volunteer at the Lynn Kirk COSI assembly Jan. 29, taught students the difference between physical and chemical changes.
Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Everyone's favorite station at the COSI assembly Jan. 29 was making slime. Alex Pflug is shown with his red slime.
Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Katie Krenelka of COSI passed out goggles to every student at the Lynn Kirk assembly Jan. 29 and told them that the number one rule to having a fun and safe science lesson was to keep their goggles on.
By NATALIE SCOTT
Lynn Kirk Elementary students enjoyed a PTA-sponsored assembly and hands-on science experiment session with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) Jan. 29.
“There are six different shows COSI offers,” said COSI employee Katie Krenelka. “Each presenter has a partner and the partners travel every other week — one the first week and the other the second. That way, no one person is on the road too long. It’s a lot of fun, putting on these kinds of shows for kids. I really enjoy knowing that I may have inspired someone to do something with science.”
Krenelka began the experiment portion of the day by passing out goggles to every student at the assembly. She told the students they were going to have fun and learn, but the No. 1 rule of the assembly was that the goggles had to stay on from the time the experiments began until they left. After one or two other rules about science safety, the students were off to explore science.
PTA volunteers were trained by Krenelka to work each station so that experiments would be safe and fun. Some of the experiments offered at the assembly included pH scales, chemicals that show a reaction to black lights and other chemicals, differences between chemical and physical changes, mixing different chemicals to create glow-in-the-dark material, pressure density, and everyone’s favorite — making slime.
As a special treat, students got to take home their own bit of slime to remind them that science is fun.
To learn more about COSI and the exhibits or live shows, visit www.cosi.org.
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