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Students see science and safety in action
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Neighbors | Natalie Wright.Mr. Doodad's pet hamster, "Hammy," helped Doodad discuss science safety and give the duo's top three science safety rules at Robinwood Lane Elementary School on Oct. 30.
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Neighbors | Natalie Wright.Mr. Doodad selected a group of students to use bells to demonstrate how sound waves travel to our eardrums. The students used the bells to play a rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
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Neighbors | Natalie Wright.Mr. Doodad began his show by getting the students excited about science with clapping at Robinwood Lane Elementary School on Oct. 30.
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Neighbors | Natalie Wright.Mr. Doodad used an air cannon to create "vortex rings," which knocked down cups that were balanced on top of students' heads. The rings are created because air in the center of the rings travels faster than on the outside.
Robinwood Lane Elementary School students were treated to a special assembly on Oct. 30. Mr. Doodad’s Lab used humor and facts to create excitement for science and future science lessons in school.
Doodad used a variety of tools to start the show off on a high note, including an air cannon that used “vortex rings” to knock down cups that were balanced on students’ heads. He went on to explain that the reason the rings formed when air was released from the cannon is that air travels faster in the center of the ring than the outside.
Doodad also used a spinning disk with a swirl painted on it to perform an optical illusion. After staring at the spinning disk for several seconds, Doodad’s head would appear to grow larger or smaller, depending on which direction the disk was spinning.
Next, several students were pulled onto the stage to help Doodad give a lesson on sound waves and how they travel to our eardrums to produce music. He gave each of the students a bell to ring when prompted and each bell rang out a different pitch. Using these bells, the students played a rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
The show also carried a very important message, however, and Doodad soon introduces his “pet hamster,” Hammy to talk about science safety.
Together, Hammy and Doodad gave their top three science safety tips:
Always wear goggles if you are working with something that could get into your eyes.
Always have on safety apparel, such as a lab coat, to protect your body from any hazardous materials.
Always have an adult present when you are doing a science experiment to make sure that you are being safe.
Donald Robinson, principal at Robinwood Lane, said that the decision to bring Mr. Doodad’s show to the school was to have a different kind of program to celebrate Halloween, a show that combined fun and education in a positive way.
“This is our Halloween today, so it’s a different kind of day,” Robinson said. “We wanted to have a program that was both fun and educational and this checked both of those boxes.”
Robinson noted that the PTA gives two shows like this to the school each year and that without them, bringing these events to the students wouldn’t be possible.
“The PTA gives us two of these a year, and they are so great to support that,” he said. “We really appreciate all that they do. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible.”
More information on Mr. Doodad’s Lab can be found online at dodadslab.com.