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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 27, 2005 Kids share secrets of science By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings A passion for science is being passed down by Talent Middle School students to elementary-age children. Bellview Elementary School students Daniel Bohn, left, and Richard Thomas burn a mystery powder Tuesday under the watch of Talent Middle School student Rafael Sequra, right. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings On Tuesday, a group of students from the middle school science club worked with 3rd and 4th graders from Bellview Elementary School in Ashland on a science experiment looking for the chemical and physical properties of different powders. TMS science teacher Kathy McNichol said the session was the first of several which will give elementary students a better understanding of science and help the middle schools students strengthen what they've learned by passing it down to others. "It helps makes them more science literate," she said about the elementary students. "Hopefully, it make them realize that 'hey, I can do this' and gets them excited about science." McNichol plans to have other schools such as Talent and Phoenix Elementary come for similar projects and hopes to have the Bellview students come with them in the spring while they perform experiments at Wagner Creek. In the lab, the students carefully looked at the powders under a microscope, mixed and matched them with different substances such as vinegar, iodine, black pepper and heat, and recorded each reaction. At each table, a middle school student carefully observed the work, answering any questions, or showing the elementary students how to mix the chemicals properly. Bella Tibbetts, 13, was all smiles as she helped a group of students focus the microscope. For her, advising them had exceeded her expectations. "It's good to see them so interested in this and how much they want to learn," Tibbetts said. "They have a lot of patience, which is important in science, because if something doesn't work you can get frustrated and you may mess up. When you take your time you'll achieve what you want to know." McNichol said having her students being advisors was a great sight to see. "It brings more interaction between the schools and the younger kids look up to them and seem to listen to them well," she said. "It's like listening to a big brother or sister. ... It gives my students a sense of pride and reinforces what I've taught them in the lab and they in turn can go back and teach what they've learned." Richard Thomas, 11, said it was a blast being able to mix the chemicals together. "It's just fun to see what will happen and if you got it right," he said. "I always like figuring out what will happen if you do certain things." For Cassie Shammel, 10, one of her favorite parts of the experiment was looking under the microscope. "I like looking at the powders up close," she said. "You can see the texture and specific things, which is really cool." Daniel Bohn, 11, said he was glad elementary schools students like himself were being taught these science skills. "To learn it now is important," he said. "If you don't learn stuff like this you might not do well in school and get a good job." Bellview teacher Cathy Murphy was pleased her students had a chance to work at the middle school and have a larger space and more equipment to try out experiments, compared to the one sink back at the elementary school. "The kids are enjoying the hands-on learning, which is one of the best ways to learn, especially with science," she said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams