Megan Sanderson
For The New Era
Sweet Home Charter School hosted its second annual academic Science Night Friday night at the school’s new Liberty campus.
In addition to Science Night, the school opened its doors to the public and hosted an open house, inviting parents, students, relatives, and anyone else into the classrooms to see exactly what goes on behind the scenes.
Students and parents got a chance to participate in experiments and see student projects in each room. Each classroom had a specific unit that related with science. In Crystal Kolling’s first-grade class, children and parents were launched into space and taken on a tour of the solar system. The first-grade students that Kolling’s class consisted of, each made 3-D models and fun facts sheets about the planet they chose to research.
In Rachael Swanson’s neighboring second- and third-grade class, kids and parents were brought down to earth where they were able to take a close look at the life cycles of different creatures such as butterflies and tadpoles. The exhibits not only showed the life cycle of creatures, but also plants. Students partook in growing and neutering grass seeds and lima beans.
Across the school in Lindsay Moore’s classroom, visitors were taken on an underwater adventure, learning about ocean life and plate tectonics. Each student picked a sea creature of his or her choice and had to make a 3-D model and write a report on that creature. Two students in the class, Samara Lewis and Frankie Vandehei created their models out of papier maché; Samara Lewis created a killer whale and Frankie a great white shark.
In the gym, students and parents were able to participate in the fun science activities. Inside the gym were 11 different activities that included making bouncy balls, Mentos geysers, magnetic painting, and many more. Some of the most popular activities were the Mentos geyser, and the bouncy balls.
Principal Scott Richards said that his favorite experience of the evening was “watching all the kids get excited about science.”
Coordinators for the event were Swanson, Kolling, and parent Andrea Sanderson.
All three agreed that science night was important for the same reason: It’s important to have parents involved in their child’s education and showing the community what the Sweet Home Charter School stands for. For next year, all agreed that they would like to see more participation, especially with the egg drop. Swanson said that she would like to “get more child’s projects involved; like a science fair.”
After the science activities were done and over, the egg drop began, with eight entries. All of the projects were uniquely different, ranging from a rocket to simple spray foam packaging. Richards rounded up the entries and climbed onto the school roof to drop them off. Students gathered around and watched as each one made its plummet to the ground.
Out of the eight that were entered, only two broke. All the students who were entered into the contest were proud of their egg drop entries, even the ones whose eggs broke.
“Science Night turned out very well,” Sanderson said. “We had a good turnout and look forward to next year.”