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Union third-graders explore science
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Julie Felix (left) and her third-grader daughter Deena Kassawat enjoyed their complementary meal from Bella’s to Go during the Union Family Science Night on March 27.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Chef John Khoury, of Bella’s to Go Restaurant in Boardman, taught students about physical and chemical changes in food as he cooked an omelet during Family Science Night on March 27.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Union third-grader Elizabeth Herdman cuddled with her new puppy friend from Harbor Pet Center during the March 27 Family Science Night. Officials from the pet center taught the students about animal habitats during the event.
By SARAH FOOR
A trio of community organizations stopped by Union Elementary March 27 to help show the school’s third-graders and their parents that science is definitely fun.
The Family Science Night was part of similar events throughout the year where Union principal Mike Masucci invites family or friends to explore a subject with their student.
“We’ll never do the same family night twice — we have different guests, activities and focus for each. It it always wonderful to welcome families to join in their student’s educational experience,” said Masucci.
During the science night, guests learned about animals and their habitats during presentations from Turning Technologies and Harbor Pet Center.
The pet center brought along two puppies, an iguana and a tarantula and discussed each animal’s preferred habitat. Although the small and cuddly puppies were a big hit among the third-graders, the students found that each animal were interesting in its own way.
“I think the best thing I learned today was that female tarantulas can live up to 20 years old. That’s really cool,” said third-grader Deena Kassawat.
Turning Technologies set up an interactive quiz on deep-sea creatures inside an inflatable “ocean bubble.” Host Chuck Regruit gave each student and their parent a remote to answer questions on marine life, with results shown on the screen in real time.
Down in the Union cafeteria, officials from Boardman restaurant “Bella’s to Go” discussed chemical and physical changes in cooking, along with a few helpful tips about kitchen safety.
Marketing and advertising director for “Bella’s to Go,” Agi Khoury, hosted the presentation as chef John Khoury handled the cooking. As the chef retired to the kitchen to make an omelette, a webcam captured the process to show to guests.
“It’s nice to marry our aesthetic at the restaurant with our presentation today. We focus on light and healthy homemade food, and it also happens to be great to teach the kids about the science of chemical and physical changes. We were very glad to be invited,” said Agi Khoury.