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The Raves
Students Trek into the
World of ScienceBy Maria Burak
C & G Staff WriterDaryn Guinn was a bit nervous at first.
The Pleasantview Elementary School third-grader wasn’t exactly sure what to do when Dr. Science asked him to help with an experiment.
But soon he figured it out, relaxed and then enjoyed the rest of the “Wacky Science” presentation Feb. 23 at the school, which is part of the East Detroit Public Schools district.
Dr. Science, whose real name is Doug Scheer, presented two 45-minute shows to reinforce some of the science lessons the students have learned while in the classroom. The school’s Parent Teacher Organization sponsored the visit.
“We always like to bring programs into the school that are related to the cirriculum,” Pleasantview Principal Sue Galnor said.
This wasn’t Dr. Science’s first trip to Pleasantview. The science guy has several shows in his repertoire, some of which he has brought to the school in the past.
Dressed in a white lab coat, Dr. Science demonstrated several scientific experiments using household items, including vinegar, baking soda, water, a pink balloon and a hair dryer. Helping him with the experiments were some eager student volunteers.
“Things aren’t always what they appear, and that’s why we have science,” Dr. Science said. “Scientist measure stuff. They don’t know the answers to things, and that’s why they experiment.”
Although science tends to be a more serious subject, you wouldn’t know it from the “Wacky Science”
demonstrations. Dr. Science - his persona at times resembling comic/actor Jim Carrey - performs the experiments with a touch of theatrics and lots of comedy. “He’s funny,” said third-grader Victoria Romanowski, who has an interest I science. “I like it because you get to figure out all kinds of stuff.”
Dr. Science shared with the students the five rules a scientist follows when conducting an experiement: ask a question, make a guess, do something, check it out and answer the question.
Students also received information about life, social, physical and mathematical science. Dr. Science even touched a bit on astronomy, botany and zoology.
During the middle of the presentation, the “scientist” wanted to know which students eat breakfast, brush their teeth, get dressed every day and use shampoo. When they all raised their hands, Dr. Science explained that those things all encompass science.
“If you had breakfast this morning, you ate chemical,” he said. “Your clothes and shoes are made of chemicals.”
“Science gives us these,” Dr. Science said. “Everything we have comes from chemicals we find in the earth.”At the end of the presentation. Dr. Science encouraged the students to further their knowledge of science.
“You can learn about science they way I learned about it … by going to the library,” he said.
He also suggested the students try different scientific experiments at home, but only with parental guidance.
“If you’re not going to be safe, you’re not being a scientist,” he said.
Third-grade student Jacob Preczewski has already been working on his own science experiments at home. He recently made ice cream using salt, crushed ice and chocolate milk.
“I learned it from my science book,” he said.
Emma Burke, who’s been learning about rocks and matter with her fellow classmates, has taken a liking to science.
“I like how you can put all the experiments together and get things you didn’t think you’d get,” the third-grader said.
Other shows by Doug Scheer are “Adventures in Reading,” “Memory Madness,” “The Adventures of Les Trouble, P.I.,” “Uncle Sam’s American Freedom Celebration,” and “Superhero Math.”
Need more information? Give us a call. There’s a school in your district that’s already seen these programs.
We’ll just let them brag for us.
