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Dobbins’ students showcase the magic of science
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Conner Wilson (left) skillfully punctures a bag of water with sharpened pencils. The water does not spill due to the elasticity of polymers.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Dobbins' students crowd around Dianna Bricker (left) as she demonstrates her reaction time trick. Students must try to catch an index card between their fingers before it hits the table.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Fourth-grader Colin Barrett (right) holds a tub containing what was bar of soap. His trick, the Amazing Growing Soap, demonstrates what happens when soap that contains oxygen is heated. It turns to white fluff.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Dobbins' Mackenzie Goodin performs her Invisible Wall trick for spectators. She places tissue into the cup, submerges it in water and the invisible wall keeps it dry.
Dobbins’ students packed their backpacks with black cloaks, top hats and magic wands for a day of magical intrigue.
The classes of Sharyn Dimuzio and Elaine Morlan participated in the annual Fourth-Grade Magic Show June 1.
The event was initiated my Morlan 18 years ago.
“The students think it is more fun when science experiments are referred to as magic,” she said.
Each student put together a science experiment which they performed over and over again for spectators. They broke their procedure down into steps by using the scientific method and were required to explain how and why the experiment, or magic trick, worked.
Parents and student walked through the array of science projects and some students were amazed by the experiments.
Third-grader Robbie Murray’s favorite magic trick was conducted by a fourth-grader Mark Pompeo, AKA Professor Mark Magician. He concocted a magic fizzling drink he gave students to taste.
“It tasted gross,” Murray said. “I don’t know what it was, but it was really sour.”
The drink’s components were powdered sugar, lemon juice and baking soda and the students loved to see it foam and fizzle.
School Principal Cheryl Borovitcky said the kids look forward to this annual event.
“The magic show theme is a great way to incorporate and motivate science learning,” she said.