Science Night Fun 'Explodes' at Melville Elementary School

Science Night "exploded" at Thursday night under the direction of first-grade teacher Val Seveney.

"I love science'" said Seveney,"and I want these kids to love it, too."

Armed with everyday items like baking soda and vinegar, rulers, pennies, markers, and more, Seveney created an obstacle course of events to challenge the kids, and, some of the parents.

About 15 challenges were placed on tables throughout the Melville cafeteria ranging from making parachutes to explaining gravity and air resistance to "whirligigs" made from coffee filters, markers and a spinning top.

All of these challenges are part of STEM education which promotes Science, Technology, Math and Engineering. 

The STEM incentive was introduced in 2009 by the Obama administration to "tie in nicely" with what we are doing at the school, said Seveney, who is "happy to see national attention brought to these areas of education."

"Our children need to come out of school with an opportunity to be more internationally competitive," and "these standards help."

Seveney says, "parents tend not to know that science can be fun," and with events like these, both are exposed to different concepts.

"Anything to make science and education fun is good and it is a great way to get parents involved," she said.