By: Ainsley Hall
Martinsburg High School’s National Science Honor Society visited For the Kids, By George Children’s Museum on Thursday for a Traveling Science demonstration.
Students led science experiments, allowing kids to make their own bouncy balls and getting them excited about science.
Aubrey Ervin, director of For the Kids, By George Children’s Museum, invited the high school students to come after hosting them during one of the museum’s camps. The National Science Honor Society visits many schools throughout the year, giving high school students the opportunity to learn leadership skills and interact with younger students. They’ve visited schools like Rosemont Elementary and Opequon Elementary School and also put together STEM nights for kids.
Seniors Nate Jordan, Grace Strohecker, Olivia Lewis and Lily Ervin led the event. They started the event by teaching kids how to make bouncy balls out of warm water, borax powder and glue. After mixing some water and borax powder together, they put a glob of glue in the substance to swish around until it started sticking together like a ball.
Then, they rolled it around in their hands for about five minutes or when the water is gone. They also prepared a second experiment, where kids made their own “rockets” by mixing water and Alka-Seltzer tablets in a container, making them shoot up to the ceiling.
Jordan, Strohecker, Lewis and Ervin shared that they enjoy interacting with the kids and coming up with experiments for students at different levels. Being able to teach them a bit more about science, while also hearing what they have to share, is one of their favorite things about the Traveling Science program.
“I think doing stuff like this is important, because it fosters creativity,” Jordan said. “It gives kids a hands-on activity outside the classroom and lets them learn with experience. It gives them something their brain can think on.”
“It also unites the community,” Ervin added. “It enriches kids and is something fun they can do while giving them the chance to meet some high schoolers.”
They explained how many kids look up to high schoolers. Hearing from them makes learning more personal and exciting. Sometimes, when they visit elementary school classes, they will try coming up with experiments that tie into what the kids are learning about.
The group is led by co-advisers Jim Arndt and Trina Elliott, though only Arndt was able to attend the event. Arndt shared that the traveling science program is all about students teaching students and getting kids excited about science — not just the younger kids. Arndt shared that whenever they have an event and are looking for volunteers, there are always a lot of high schoolers ready to get involved.