Science Faculty Members Wow Third-Graders During Science Exploration Days

Four professors in the science department brought a bit of magic and wonder to the eyes of 90 New Hartford third-graders on June 2 during Hamilton College's annual Science Day. Geosciences Professor Cynthia Domack, Biology Professor David Gapp, Associate Professor of Chemistry Karen Brewer and Assistant Professor of Physics Seth Major planned half-hour demonstrations within each of their respective fields for the children, who traveled to Hamilton College from Myles Elementary School.

Geology Professor Cynthia Domack

In geology, the children received mineral identification sheets and boxes filled with minerals and a magnet, and upon Domack's instructions, set forth to identify as many minerals as they could. She gave them hints as to how to identify each mineral, telling them that the magnetite would cling to the magnet, and amethyst was the only purple mineral in the box.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Karen Brewer

During the chemistry section of the day, the students created green slime out of Borax and water, as Brewer taught them how the molecules together create a ladder type of structure. The children, in awe of their green end product, were surprised to discover that Borax is actually soap.

Assistant Professor of Physics Seth Major

The physics demonstration included a lesson on pressure and air pressure, and involved adding and removing air in various containers, keeping a beach ball afloat in the air with a vacuum, and culminated with Major laying on a bed of nails to demonstrate the relationship between area and pressure. While on the bed of nails, he placed a piece of plywood on himself, and then asked one of the third-graders to step on top of the wood, to show that the 500 or so nails could support both his and the boy's weight without causing him pain.

In biology, Gapp brought out an array of reptiles to show the group, including an American alligator and snapping turtles, and told the children how and why these animals attack in the wild.  Gapp explained how this alligator, only several feet long, was hatched in captivity, and its growth was intentionally stunted by limiting its food supply, whereas in the wild, these alligators grow to be at least 12 feet long and are therefore dangerous predators.

Each presentation was interactive, as all the professors asked the children questions relating to science, answered their questions, and included them as volunteers as well, much to their delight.

Mrs. Dellerba, one of the 3rd-grade teachers, said the children's opportunity to learn from the Hamilton College professors was a wonderful experience, and she expressed gratitude to the professors for hosting this day each year.  "Last year, the Science Building was still being built so we couldn't come, and I was so disappointed because this is such a great experience for the kids," she said.  "We are all very excited to be back this year."

-- by Katherine Trainor