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NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK Health & Wellness October 17th - 23rd, 2004 ACS ILL-IA Section
The ACS Illinois-Iowa Local Section was proud to have assisted the ACS in celebrating National Chemistry Week (NCW) with a focus on this year’s theme, “Health & Wellness”. Local businesses, schools, universities, a museum, and the local section got involved to make the local NCW sites successful. NCW in this American Chemical Society (ACS) was a huge success. Over 2000 students participated, and hundreds of adults and ACS members supported the events. Several high schools, colleges, and ACS members held chemical demonstrations and other events. Scroll through the highlights below to look through a summary of the events and to see photographs of some of the activities.
Amboy/Mount Carroll, IllinoisCoordinator: Mike Applequist (applequist@internetni.com)
Sponsored by the Amboy Educational Foundation, Wal-Mart of Sterling, IL, the Rock River Section of the American Chemical Society, and the Illinois-Iowa Section of the American Chemical Society
Mike Applequist and his Amboy High School Chemistry students celebrated National Chemistry Week with about 1150 students and teachers from several schools in four different Illinois counties (Bureau, Carroll, Lee, and Ogle). The schools that participated were: Amboy Central and Polo Centennial Elementary Schools, Ohio and Van Orin School, and Oregon Etnyre Middle and Oregon Jefferson Elementary Schools. They performed demonstrations and hands-on activities with the students on-site at the various sites. They crushed pop cans, boiled water with ice, made elephant toothpaste, turned pennies to brass, showed the fire triangle and made slime in classrooms. They also employed demonstrations centered specifically around this year’s NCW theme. These were a balloon blowing contest (about lungs), blowing bubbles into slightly alkaline solution to turn blue into green or yellow (CO2 in our breath), and trying to "see" what its like to be colorblind (have Daltonism). As compared to last year in pure numbers, Mike and his support staff went up and beyond expectations. Photographs of some of these events are shown below.
A Balloon Blowing Contest at Amboy Central Elementary
Children having a good time during the demonstrations at Oregon Etnyre Middle School
Students testing their breath for CO2 at Jefferson Oregon Elementary School
Demonstrating the Fire Triangle at Van Orin Grade School
Students seeing the world in new ways at Van Orin Grade School
Janelle Torres y Torres holding a creative thank-you note sent to Mike Applequist from the students at Oregon Jefferson Elementary School in the likeness of the "boiling water with ice cubes" experiment
Bettendorf, Iowa and Colona, IllinoisCoordinator: Jerod Corbin (sethnesslab@revealed.net)
Sponsored by the Illinois-Iowa Section of the American Chemical Society, VWR Scientific, Fisher Scientific, Midland Scientific, Family Museum of Art & Science, and Sethness Products Company
Chemical demonstration shows were held throughout the Bettendorf metro area and Colona at elementary schools and the Family Museum of Art and Science before, during, and after NCW. A total of over 250 persons attended these various events. In addition, about 100 elementary school students of 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades participated in a poster contest. Posters were on display throughout the week leading up to the event at the Family Museum. Poster winners were given prizes and acknowledgements after the demonstration show. Selected posters were then submitted to the National ACS NCW Poster competition to be concluded this spring in California. Below are pictures of some the outstanding work of the students:
2nd Grade Posters
5th Grade Posters
Awards Time! – Presenters: Jerod Corbin, Danelle Geerts, Doug Vandermyde, and Larry Davis (not shown).
“Fun with Science” @ Clinton, IowaCoordinators: Marion Johnson (marjoh@clinton.net) or Dick Kissack (rkissack@clinton.net)
“Fun with Science” supported by the Bemis Clysar
Clinton Plant From November 2nd through the 15th, The “Doctors of Science” were at it again showing their collective know how to many delighted children of the Clinton area. These “Doctors” included the usual labrat pack: Earl Farrell, Mike Johannsen, Frank Sattizahn, Y. Joe Williams and Dick Roberts (lead rat), Jack Pringle, Dick Kissack, and Marion Johnson.
The well thought out program was presented this year to students in 29 classes from eleven school districts. More than 700 fifth grade students, their teachers and parents are awed by a series of chemical demonstrations presented by “The Doctors of Science”. The fast paced seventy-five minute program.
Student participation is encouraged during the entire program. Using series of questions the “Doctors of Science” lead students through the steps of logical scientific thinking from observations to forming and testing hypotheses. Practical applications of all chemical principles are discussed.
The “Fun With Science” program was written by scientists from the DuPont Chemical Company. It is recognized as an excellent motivator that encourages the study of science
Clinton, IowaCoordinator: Dr. Todd Miller (todmil@tfu.edu)
Sponsored by the Illinois-Iowa Section of the American Chemical Society and The Franciscan University of the Prairies
Dr. Todd Miller of The Franciscan University of the Prairies spearheaded efforts to bring NCW to the general campus and then to local Clinton elementary schools. They started by presenting posters and showing chemical demonstrations to those at the campus.
He and his class next visited Mount St. Claire Children’s Center and Bluff Elementary and Albany Elementary schools. Each day they visited a different venue. They stressed the importance of Health & Wellness theme to the children by demonstrating how germs and illnesses are spread and the effects of fluoride and acids on teeth. A very great effort from The Franciscan.
Davenport, IowaCoordinator: Dr. Margaret Legg (LeggMargaretJ@sau.edu)
Sponsored by the Illinois-Iowa Section of the American Chemical Society and St. Ambrose University
They had a variety of hands-on activities for grades 1 – 6. These kids were under the guidance of the students and faculty of the SAU chemistry department. As a special “treat”, local dentist, Dr. Jim Hishop of Moline, ILL, talked about “Healthy Teeth”.
Two children explore protein and sugar chemistry through the "Urine the Know" experiment from this year's NCW edition of Celebrating Chemistry at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.
Dubuque, IowaCoordinator: Marion Wittine (mwittine@dubuque.k12.ia.us)
A day for Moles was celebrated at the Dubuque High School. Marion Wittine had Mole Day activities spiced with mole jokes.
Muscatine, IowaCoordinator: Dr. Janelle Torres y Torres (jtorres@eicc.edu)
Sponsored by MCC Student Senate, Monsanto Muscatine Plant, and the Illinois Iowa Section of the American Chemical Society
An most outstanding effort came from the Muscatine Community College site directed by Dr. Torres y Torres. Here they attempted to promote this year’s NCW theme by holding a health fair and inviting participation of local health and safety agencies. The health fair was setup for local 4th-7th grade students to which approximately 20 students participated. About 20 Muscatine CC chemistry and nursing students participated in the fair setup and during the fair that day, as did 1 chemistry faculty, 2 nursing faculty and 2 biology faculty. The Music Department sold lunch and snack items as a fundraiser for the department. Several community organizations, including the local EMS and Fire departments, a local hospital dietician, the local American Heart Association chapter, and the Muscatine YMCA had booths at the event and/or provided freebies for the kids. The chemistry students guided the children through various hands-on activities and provided the students with Celebrating Chemistry, nanomoles, and other items. The nursing students provided posters on healthy habits and an activity booklet.
Nursing students from Muscatine Community College are in the background seated with their posters and activity booklets ready to help students listen to their heartbeats. In the foreground, an MCC chemistry student demonstrates the differences between hard and soft water to a participant.
Rock Island, IllinoisCoordinators: Jennifer Harmatys (jennifer-harmatys@augustana.edu) or Kurt Christoffel (chchristoffel@augustana.edu)
Sponsored by the Illinois-Iowa Section of the American Chemical Society, the Augutstana Chemistry Society, and the Augustana College Chemistry Department
The Augustana College Chemistry Department and ACS Student Affiliates Chapter held chemical demonstrations for elementary school students throughout the Augustana College Science Building. Student affiliate members and faculty planned and performed many demonstrations. Activities took place in a variety of locations from the exploding dry ice bombs outside to draw people to the “big bang”, the flash explosions and sights of Dr. Kinetics, to the menagarie of hands on activities and chemical demonstrations by students and teachers of the chemistry department. Approximately 100 people visited the site.
In similar fashion to the SAU event, local television coverage was noted by the NBC News affiliate Channel 6. Fliers and notifications were sent to many local area newspapers and schools.
Dr. Kinetics goes bang with a small zephyr of air.
Children blow up balloons by mixing vinegar and baking soda with a little help.
SPECIAL EVENTChemists in the Library – Clinton, IA
The NCW Committee wanted to expand the opportunities of exposure of NCW to the public. Every year, the national office sends a packet of information and ideas to the NCW Coordinator. This packet includes literary and internet information in regards to the NCW yearly theme. In 2003, this information was shared with schools and their librarians. This year we wanted to expand out to public libraries. Marion Johnson contacted the Clinton area libraries to invite them to participate with us in NCW. As each library site would register, they would receive a similar information packet that NCW coordinator received, handout materials for NCW (like book markers), and a NCW display poster.
ConclusionsThe 2004 NCW week was a success in a variety of ways. We had an increased participation with some 2000 attendees at various sites. This is up from 1700 participants from last year. We had a new NCW site at the Muscatine Community College. We contacted libraries to include them in the celebration. Finally, we formed a committee to share and expand ideas. Good work to all involved, especially to the many volunteers.
Janelle Torres y Torres 2004 NCW Coordinator
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