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Fourth graders from Park and Barrett Elementary School donned their lab coats and strapped on their goggles to conduct a range of science experiments together on Friday, May 10.
The event was courtesy of a program from Bayer and Best of the Batch Foundation called Making Science Make Sense. Volunteers from both organizations worked with the students on a variety of lessons and activities related to STEM, including some that had direct connections to Bayer's work in healthcare.
With their lab coats making them look like future scientists, the fourth graders learned about a variety of scientific concepts, with each lesson supported by an engaging activity. To better understand how germs spread, the students applied a special lotion to their hands. Volunteers went around with a black light to show how the kids' hands lit up. Then the students washed their hands, and volunteers used the light again to show where a few spots might have been missed and explained how germs could still be there.
During another experiment, volunteers from Bayer explained how dye is injected during certain medical procedures to help diagnose why someone might be sick. To understand how powerful the injector could be, students were able to pick paint colors, which were then added to the injector, and they could then press a button that sprayed a blank canvas. The schools will be able to keep the abstract art that they created!
Of course, Charlie Batch from the Best of the Batch couldn't escape being part of the experiments. The folks from Bayer swapped out the paint for some water and then challenged students to answer questions about what they learned on Friday. The students who answered were able to use the injector to spray Charlie!
The students also enjoyed a dance party interlude and pizza. This is one of several opportunities in the next week for students from Barrett and Park to learn and have fun together. Fourth graders will take part in Step Up Day on Thursday, May 16 and all grades will take part in Field Day on Friday, May 17.
Thanks to Bayer U.S. and the Best of the Batch Foundation for putting this amazing program together!
Please take a moment to check out the full gallery of photos!
