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Watson students show off science projects
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Neighbors | Pam Jadue.Art teacher Jennifer Houston and Watson kindergarten students pose with the school model that was created with the help of all the Watson art students. The model was on display during the school’s annual Art and Science Expo.
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Neighbors | Pam Jadue.Kindergarteners Ryan Mynaski (left) and Nathan Pope explain how they made their robots from recycled materials. The projects were on display at the Watson Arts and Science Expo. “I used a box for his head and caps for the sides and my mom helped me cut,” said Mynaski. Pope gave his dad credit for helping him with ideas for his project.
BY PAM JADUE
The students and faculty of Watson Elementary School have spent weeks preparing for the annual Cricket Maine Memorial Arts and Science Expo that was held at the school April 14. It was worth the wait.
The fun-filled and educational event was attended by students and their families who were treated to a variety of exhibits created with recycled materials. Students exploring an earth-friendly theme worked on individual and group projects that were displayed during the event.
Watson Principal James Carchedi explained that this evening is a PTA-sponsored event that was started about 15 years ago by PTA member Cricket Maine.
During the course of the evening, students participated in a variety of science stations that were set up and manned by Chaney high school science students and teacher Tim Backos.
Backos has made it an annual event for his students to volunteer their science knowledge to encourage the students of Watson Elementary to explore various science topics each year. The group provides interactive science stations that the students and their parents visited throughout the evening.
The children and their families rotated through the stations every 40 minutes and had the opportunity to make slime, experiment with balloons and participate in a variety of fun hands-on activities.
To go along with the theme, Peg Flynn of the Mahoning County Green Team also made contributions to the event by providing stations and awards for the students who participated in the expo. Students received recycling picture frames from the Green Team.
After experimenting at the Science Stations, students returned to their individual projects and described or demonstrated their projects to parents and friends. On display was an assortment of projects that the students had created with recycled materials.
A favorite was a model of the Watson school building and grounds. The group project was completed in Jennifer Houston’s art class and gave all of the grades the opportunity to contribute. Ribbons were awarded to students for the participation in the event.