Family School Partnership (FSP) Exploration Night a big success

Kindergarten through eighth grade students from Frankfort School District 157-C recently rolled up their sleeves and wore safety glasses to have fun doing hands-on experiments at a special Exploration Night. Working with erupting volcanoes, creating elephant toothpaste, watching foam cups disappear and making batteries out of pennies were just a few of the exciting experiments they enjoyed.

Approximately 330 students and numerous parents were in attendance. The free event was hosted by the FSP and presented by The Science Alliance of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It included two 50 minute shows and ten hands-on experiments.

The show, “PHYSICS! - Lights, Camera, Action!” was developed for SC Johnson’s Educational Series and demonstrated the wonders of basic Physics. The program explored light and sound, wavelength and
frequency, prisms and ROYGBIV, the colors that make up the visible spectrum. The children learned about angular momentum while balancing on a rotating disk and feeling the forces of a spinning wheel. They also learned about safe static electricity with hair-raising results. Volunteers could ride a real hovercraft and jet-powered tricycle, an exciting way to learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion.

The FSP gives special thanks to some 45 volunteers who made the evening a success. These included parents, teachers and administration, as well as students from Hickory Creek Middle School and Lincoln-Way High School District 210. The Girl Scouts from District 157-C that participated will earn a patch for their attendance. The FSP also held a raffle that awarded six prizes, four home science kits and two $25 gift cards to AMC Movie Theaters. Donations for some of the supplies were provided by Jewel/Osco, Marriano’s, Park Ace Hardware and Office Depot. Services for the evening were provided by The Science Alliance and Tony’s Villa Rosa.