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St. Charles builds young scientists
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Connor Sepe (left) and Logan Schmutz are at the sound station where the tubes were filled with beads.
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Teacher Patti Bartholomew, children Katie Simko and Cassidy Stumreiter do an experiment. The teacher is demonstrating the magic of liquid to the children and parents.
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Connor Sepe tries the magic water at the Liquid station. Bartholomew put a drop of food coloring into a clear cup and when the children added clear water, the liquid changed color.
By EARTHA TERRELL
St. Charles Elementary School kindergarten students in Patricia Bartholomew’s class learned facts of life during their science fair Sept. 21.
Students participated in small groups and practiced the scientific method. Each student performed a specific experiment and later explained what they learned to their parents.
“Being able to do these science experiments enabled children to truly enjoy and be in wonder and awe. We worked on matter, motion solid, liquids and gases. We also worked with clay and made paper and it was so much fun because they learned by actually doing.
“Parents are also involved. When parents come in they feel so much part of their children’s education when they can come in and see what they’re child learning,” Bartholomew said.
Using colorful photos and cartoon characters on more than a dozen science boards, Bartholomew made the experience more interactive for her students. They also tracked their progress by writing in a journals.
The science fair not only challenged students academically, but also taught children the importance of working well with other.
“In the beginning, they’re so quiet and so shy, but then they begin to work in these small groups and they realize it’s a team effort and they need each other,” Bartholomew said.