40°
The scientists, from the Tarrytown-based BASF, worked with the third-graders "for a fun and educational afternoon of science," according to a press release. BASF's global Kids Lab program is aimed at elementary school students to help "raise their interest in chemistry through safe and engaging hands-on experiments," according to the release.
Representatives said the lab on polymers was a huge hit with the 118 Springhurst students, according to the release.
“The Polymer lab is great lead-in to the water unit of study that students will be starting in November,” said teacher Melissa Schwartz in the rleease. “It introduces the kids to liquids, the chemical process and the steps in scientific investigation. This lab is very interactive and takes the curriculum beyond the classroom.”
The students opened their BASF lab kits and donned lab coat aprons, goggles and gloves for the experiment, according to the release. The goal of the experiment was "to learn how polymers behave through the creation of a non-Newtonian fluid…Slime," according to the release.
Springhurst was one of only two schools selected to participate in the Kids Lab, according to the release.
Dobbs Ferry High School Science Research teacher Tom Callahan, who helped coordinate the lab, said the project was "vital to the Science Research program that the students be matched with area researchers and scientists at the forefront of their fields and that they have a positive mentoring experience," according to the release.
There are 50 students in the Science Research program, double the amount of the previous year, representatives said in the release. BASF is involved "in a number of science education initiatives" with the help of Susan Vittorio, site HR Manager, according to the release.
“We want to reach out to our neighbors,” said Vittorio in the release. “These school-community partnerships are essential to create chemistry for a sustainable future. ”
Click here to follow Daily Voice Rivertowns and receive free news updates.
