Pupils have fun down to a science
Martinez Elementary School second grader Mitchell Munro tipped the paper horizontally at eye level, straining to catch an image in the long black lines that streaked across it.
In a few moments, he shouted, "Science Can Be Fun!," the words he had found printed among the lines.
Evans High School physics student Christopher Holland demonstrates how heat is conducted through medal during a Physics Fair at Martinez Elementary. The elementary students are: Ayriana Catlett (from left) Morgan Kridner, Joshua Overton, Adam Britton and Amber Deloach.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Mitchel was just one of the participants in the school's annual Physics Fair, an event that's been held for about 10 years at the school.
"This teaches our one physics unit in a day and they remember it," said Sherry McKie, teacher of one of the four second grade classes participating in the event. "It's not books, pencils and paper. They remember it because they actually see it."
Fifteen student from Shari Wilson's junior physics class at Evans High School were recruited to teach the children and present the hands on activities.
"Stick your finger in and look through the side of the cup," Jennifer Holt instructed those at her booth. "What happens?"
As the children stuck their fingers inside a clear plastic cup filled with water, they answered in unison: "It gets bigger."
"It gets HUGE!," Jennifer told them. "The light changes and makes your finger look bigger."
Parent volunteers were also on hand to help with the eight exhibits, which included: Sound is Vibration; Sound Travels, Optical Illusions, Prism Power, Light Rays Slow Down/I Love Color; Heat Travels; Mirrors Reflect; Just Passing Through.
The physics fair culminated with a demonstration - Sound Travels by Bob Ollerich of Bell South. Ollerich topped it off by climbing a telephone pole.