Jordan Rader, COSI outreach educator, engaged the students with demonstrations related to the space shuttle. The excitement soared as the children watched Rader use liquid nitrogen to simulate a shuttle launch and a torch to show how the outer panels block heat.
After the assembly, kindergarten students did experiments with help from parent volunteers. Making cosmonaut cuisine, like dehydrated mashed potatoes, proved popular.
Student Emma Bishop said she liked mixing the dried food with water because “it was like cooking and I like cooking.” She was less enthusiastic about the prospect of eating the mushy dish. The visit cost $1,000 and was paid for by the school’s PTO.
Active PTO member Patty Engles said the visit wouldn’t have been possible without parent volunteers and contributions made during the organization’s fundraisers. She said the students benefit from experiencing “real-world applications” of science.
“Gravity, for instance, is a hard concept to understand, but if they see an experiment about it they can understand that,” she said. “The kids love this stuff.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or rwilson@coxohio.com.
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