Virtual Boo Bubbles & Elephant Toothpaste with Taft Elementary School (2021 – Present)
During the COVID19 pandemic, the Su Lab brought virtual demos and experiments to Mrs. Michelle Van’s 4th and 5th grade class at Taft Elementary School in the Riverside Unified School District over Google Hangouts. Jacob and Imex spearheaded this event, designing lesson plans on “Boo Bubbles” and “Elephant Toothpaste” exploring basic concepts of phases of matter and chemical reactions. These visually appealing demonstrations were terrific vectors for engaging Taft students, who were able to dictate whether Imex and Jacob added more peroxide, dry ice, soap, or food coloring to test their hypotheses about physical outcomes. You can find TikTok videos that Jacob and Imex made here and here. Some pictures from their lessons are below!
Exploring the Scientific Method with Pachappa Elementary School (2019 – 2020)
The Su Lab has engaged in a partnership with Pachappa Elementary School in the Riverside Unified School District, in a joint effort to make science accessible to diverse communities that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM. A month after starting at UCR, our lab led an interactive session with Pachappa 5th and 6th graders to teach them about the scientific method. Together, we tested hypotheses and explored the statistical breakdown of the frequency of colors in M&M candy packages. Our hope was to show the students that they could approach everyday occurrences with a scientific mindset, and to catalyze their interest in science from an early age. Later in the year, we returned to Pachappa to provide feedback for these students working toward their goal of presenting at the regional Science Fair.
