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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2007

Updated: 10/04/2007 07:44 pm

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Before the Berkeley Preparatory science club could shoot colored flames, bubble chemicals and create explosions, it had to understand the hows and the whys.
Berkeley students recently put on a science demonstration filled with experiments that made their fifth-grade visitors gasp and cover their ears, but the message behind the showy displays was strictly academic.

'Our job is to teach them about it and not just put it on,' said Chris Gabos, an eighth-grader at Berkeley.

Chris, 14, showed how a strip with two types of metal would bend when heated and straighten when dunked in cold water. His classmate, 14-year-old Jack Morris, held an index card over a glass of water, tipped the glass upside down and whipped away the card. The water stayed put.

Instead of letting the trick stay mysterious, both boys shared the science behind the demonstrations. Chris told how the bimetallic strip bent because the two metals had different molecular make-ups, causing them to expand and contract at different rates.

Jack revealed that his glass had a tiny hole on one end and that in addition to the index card, he had placed a piece of clear Plexiglas over the mouth, creating a vacuum. When he moved his finger from the hole at the bottom of the glass, air rushed in and pushed out the Plexiglas and water.

The science club has performed its experiments as a show for four years, starting with younger children at Berkeley and reaching out to Dickenson Elementary last year. Dickenson, a public school, is down the street from Berkeley.

High school science students also will visit Dickenson throughout the year to do laboratory work with fifth-graders. The school has provided tutors and collected books and supplies for Dickenson as well.

The state includes a science portion on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and last year factored in scores on that subject into school grades. Dickenson Assistant Principal Jenifer Neale said the concepts can be tough for students and appreciated Berkeley's help explaining complicated topics.

'We look forward to this. We came last year, and we were so excited. We knew what we were in for,' Neale said. 'It's such a great way to turn kids on to science.'

Emcee Connor Stonesifer, an eighth-grader, took Dickenson students from experiment to experiment.

'You're in for a real great show today,' he said, welcoming the fifth-graders. 'Be prepared to hear loud noises and see explosions. Please don't try any of this at home.'

A student demonstrated centripetal force by swinging a glass of water on a board over his head without spilling a drop. Another student skewered a balloon with a long needle without popping it. Baby powder burst into flames, shaving cream billowed and exploded and acetone dissolved Styrofoam cups into goo.
Berkeley students dressed in goggles and aprons. Eighth-graders Justin Vogel and Jake Zwiebel served as safety officers to ensure everything went as planned.

But they couldn't control everything.

Though most experiments came off without a hitch, some didn't work at all. A static electricity presentation should have sent a girl's hair standing on end, but too much humidity in the room stifled the effect. An ethanol explosion didn't explode the first time. The initial needle went in slightly wrong and popped the balloon.

Jack, the eighth-grader who directed the science show, said the club chose experiments with a good track record but talked about the three ways science works: an experiment can go off as intended, work but not for the reasons it is supposed to or not work at all.

Teacher John MacConnell, who oversees the club, said his students have to know enough about what they're doing to correct the mistakes - such as adding more ethanol or being careful to stick the needle in one section of the balloon that has petroleum jelly on it, which will seal the hole.

Or, in the case of static electricity, they know that dry air is necessary for the display to work, and they can explain the factors that made the experiment fizzle.

It is important that they can adjust to last-minute changes, MacConnell said. 'That's what life is all about.'

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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