Barrett, Park fourth graders explore science with Bayer at Best of the Batch Foundation

Fourth graders from Barrett Elementary and Park Elementary spent the day together exploring science at the Best of the Batch Foundation. The program was in partnership with volunteers from Bayer, who guided the students through a series of experiments and activities to help them learn more about biology, robotics, engineering, and more.

One activity showed just how important it was for students to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Students put a special lotion on their hands and then went through their normal hand-washing routine, only to be surprised when volunteers shined a black light on their hands to show just how much they missed! The activity was a reminder of how easy it is for germs to spread without proper hygiene.

Another activity had students create their own bouncy balls using a special mixture of materials. Students had to mix, mold, and shape the material into a ball, and it eventually hardened enough to bounce!

Students also built tiny robots - complete with beads as wheels and a small but surprisingly powerful propeller - and learned about the viscosity of different liquids, the purpose of dye injectors in medicine and how much more control there is with them compared to a syringe, and much more. Bayer and The Best of the Batch Foundation also treated the students to lunch.

Barrett and Park students will continue to collaborate on special projects and learning opportunities like this over the next year in preparation for the two schools to merge together when the new Steel Valley Elementary opens in August 2026.

Thank you to Charlie Batch, Tasha Batch, and everyone at the Best of the Batch Foundation and Bayer for making this program possible!

Check out the full gallery of photos from the day's activities.