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Learning By Doing

LOIS KINDLE/Tampa Tribune photo.

Javier Gonzalez sticks out his tongue out to taste carbon dioxide smoke as his classmate Dandy Bardales awaits his turn. At right is Sonia Shukla of Mad Science of Tampa Bay.

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2007

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WIMUAMA - Thanks to a grant from the Interfaith Council of Sun City Center, 95 Wimauma Elementary School fifth-graders had a gas Tuesday as they got to learn first-hand how science is part of their everyday lives.

In place of their regular science classes, the students were treated to a session by Mad Science, which included interactive and educational activities about three states of matter - solid, liquid and gas.

Focusing on carbon dioxide, presenter Sonia Shukla showed through a variety of demonstrations how the chemical compound can be a solid, more commonly known as dry ice, and when heated (in hot water), a gas.

'Carbon dioxide is one of two chemicals that sublimate and go directly from solid to gas without becoming liquid,' said science teacher Dave Denny. 'I thought the program was great because it's exactly in tune with what we're studying this week in physical science.'

Ten-year-old Javier Gonzalez said he had never seen anything like the Mad Science demonstration.

'My favorite part was when she put the dry ice in the flask and filled the balloon,' he said.

Priscilla Ortiz, 12, agreed. She said it was fun learning something new by actually doing.

'I learned how carbon dioxide tastes and how it's really, really cold,' she said.

Assistant Principal Milady Astacio observed some of the goings on.

'We arranged to have Mad Science come in to facilitate experiences that, due to economics, these children normally don't have,' she said. 'I like how the program focuses on hands-on learning and on building their higher-level thinking and verbalization skills.

'You know, all kids are the same. Given the opportunity, they step up,' she said.

Mad Science offers hands-on presentations and theatrical productions to schools and other organizations. The company was started by Ariel and Ron Shlien in 1986 in Montreal. It now has franchises all across North America and 19 other countries.

Astacio said the Interfaith Council made the experience - and others to come - possible for the students because of the $6,000 grant specifically earmarked for in-house field trips at the school. Eventually, children in every grade level will be included, she said.

Astacio said the cost of the program was $600. But taking the youngsters outside the school would have been much more expensive.

'A bus trip alone to MOSI would be $700,' she said, 'and that's not including admission.'

Instead, Tampa's Museum of Science & Industry personnel will soon come to the school to present a program for first- and second-graders.

Shukla, who is a graduate student, said she feels the Mad Science program is well worth the cost - and her time.

'I think the children learn science can be fun, that they can learn about it in other ways besides textbooks,' she said. 'They also learn science, in a very real way, is a part of their lives.'

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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