Bloomingdale Library Shows Kids The Exciting Side of Science

There was some weird science happening at the on Thursday as Marcey Walsh educated and entertained children about the science of sound.

Walsh presented the program, Catch the Wave: The Science of Sound and Music to a gathering designed for children ages 5 and up.

After all of the children and parents were seated, Walsh introduced herself by saying she has traveled to 100 schools, visiting with 40,000 students across the United States to deliver science in entertaining in an interesting format.

Walsh got right down to business selecting several children to serve as volunteers as she talked about how sound travels. Children were eager to raise their hands and be involved in the question-and-answer period.

Walsh explained how a vibration must occur in order to have sound. She explained that vibrations can travel through air, liquid and water.

The volunteers passed vibrations on by standing in a straight line and gently tapping the person in front of them on the shoulder. The last person in line then struck a vibrating membrane, which looks like a hand-held drum.

That wasn't all that Walsh had in store for the science lovers.

Volunteers moved throughout the room striking a tuning fork on the heels of their shoes and placing the instrument close to to the ears so children could literally hear vibration up close.

Moving on to the next item on her table of tricks, Walsh selected a metal Slinky and almost stretched it the entire length of the room with the help of volunteers. The Slinky was moved from side to side at different speeds so the children could hear the differing variations of sound.

Next up was the inner workings of a music box. The children were quiet as they listened to the melodious sound.

Walsh even offered a bit of practical advice by telling the children that if they listen to music on headphones to never turn the volume up past half way. The reason for this is that if the delicate area behind the ear drum is injured by sound at an excessive level, it cannot repair itself. She also cautioned children who attend monster truck shows to invest in inexpensive earplugs, normally sold for under $1, to protect their hearing.

Ending her presentation, smiles spread across the faces of the children as they rushed Walsh to get a hands-on look at her table of tricks. Walsh said she has been giving her various presentations for 25 years.

Originally a French teacher, Walsh abandoned that profession when her son announced he wanted to be an aerospace engineer. Walsh quickly decided science could be boring or interesting -- she decided to go with the latter.

"Science is fun," Walsh said. "It's easy to make it a fun time when you add the curiosity and fascination that children bring to it. I like to do the presentations when children come with their parents because it's important that they see their children engrossed with science when it's hands on."

Walsh also instructs teachers how to use interactive learning styles to make science interesting and fun for students. She is appearing at many Hillsborough and Pinellas county libraries this summer.

For more information, visit http:www.highlycontagious.com.