Matter Monsters Take Over WHEC

Matter Monsters Take Over WHEC
Posted on 05/25/2018

The S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation’s visit to the Wyomissing Hills Elementary Center was filled with wonder, excitement, and hands-on learning. For just about an hour, each fourth-grade class explored the wonderful world of science through interactive experiments that left them oohing, aahing, and scratching their heads. 

As the students took their places at the lab tables, they were provided with a lab coat (which they could take home), goggles, and a “science name,” such as Reaction Roger or Catalyst Carrie.

While walking the students through two scientific experiments, Solar Sarah Troy, the S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation program coordinator, taught them about the scientific method, the roles of scientists, and laboratory protocol.

The first experiment created an endothermic reaction: a reaction that absorbs heat from its surroundings so that the vessel feels cold. This is one that most people are familiar with – mixing baking soda and vinegar to create a gas. To demonstrate that a gas is released when the liquid and solid are combined, Solar Sarah had the students combine them in a plastic glove, which they held closed at the wrist. The glove is inflated when the gas rose.

Solar Sarah called the second experiment, which created an exothermic reaction (one that gives o heat), a “matter monster.” She explained that a “matter monster” is something that goes through all three stages of matter: liquid, gas, and solid. e students were given two liquids of varying viscosities that formed foam insulation right before their eyes. The looks of surprise were priceless as they watched their very own “matter monsters” grow! 

As they cleaned up their lab tables, the students were given a bag to hold their foam insulation experiments, along with pipe cleaners, buttons, and other items they could use to turn these experiments into “matter monsters.”

The Wyomissing Hills Elementary Center would like to thank the Wyomissing Area Education Foundation for funding this program through various Educational Improvement Tax Credit contributions.