Saint Patrick School First Graders Conduct STEM Investigation for Dental Health Month

In observance of Dental Health Month Saint Patrick School first graders welcomed Dr. Margaret Farrell, DMD, a St. Patrick School parent and local Dentist, who provided an informative lesson on dental health. Dr. Farrell practices prosthodontics, a branch of dentistry focused on restoration of natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing teeth. Following Dr. Farrell’s visit the children gathered information from several sources and conducted a STEM investigation to learn how different liquids can affect their teeth.

The student’s experiment utilized eggs, which similar to teeth, contain calcium, therefore allowing students to make predictions regarding the impact of sugary substances upon teeth. Students immersed eggs in various liquids including water, milk, soda, and fruit juice, for one day. The students then viewed the results firsthand, observing that sugary drinks colored the eggs and could have a similar impact upon their teeth. Based on these observations, the children vowed to stay away from sugary drinks in the future! The Dental Health unit concluded with students practicing “How to Writing” listing steps they should follow to properly care for their teeth.

Saint Patrick School faculty and staff are committed to providing the highest quality education for each student. We are a STEM school that promotes student critical thinking and application throughout our curriculum in all grades.