Maria Majchrowicz meticulously squeezed drops of food coloring into a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to create a chemical reaction that formed a ‘fizzing rainbow.”
“Wow, that's awesome,” said the Glen Oaks’ fourth grader. “This is so much fun!”
Maria was one of more than 150 students and parents who attended Conrady Junior High School’s annual S.T.E.A.M. Night (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). “I really enjoy the different activities they have here but I also came out to see my (former) teacher Mrs. (Kate) Ziel.
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Mrs. Ziel and Mrs. Mazzone were the teachers showing the students and
parents how to create the Fizzing Rainbows. Maria’s mom Anna said she likes the event because “you can attend as a family. That's important.”
The popular S.T.E.A.M. Night event featured more than two dozen activities ranging from making Slime and exploding a volcano (in a glass) to designing a breath-propelled rocket and discovering density. (Slime-making has become so popular over the years that there are now three separate classrooms offering the activity).
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Glen Oaks’ fourth-grader Gabi Patro was building an exploding volcano in another session. “This is so much fun, especially being able to hang out with your friends,” Gabi said.
Gabi’s mom, Maria Komperda, said this was her first time attending the event and added: “I think it is great for the kids to learn about so many different topics while having fun learning.”
Natasha Ferguson attended the event with her 3-year-old daughter Nova. Mom and daughter were using marshmallows and toothpicks to create pyramids and other 3-D shapes. Natasha, herself a science teacher, reiterated how nice the event was as a way to spend quality time with family while piquing kids’ interest in science, technology and engineering classes.
Four-year-old Karol Acosta-Mendoza attended the event with dad Marco and big sister Naty, 16, a student at Stagg High School. Marco said the night was “a perfect way to spend time as a family doing something constructive.”
He was assisting daughter Karol in designing 3-D shapes with toothpicks and marshmallows. “This is great when kids get to put down their computers, phones and iPads and really focus on something that takes creativity.”
