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Dec.
16, 2002 |
Elementary Students Get Hands-On Intro to What
Really "Matters"
 More
than 20 elementary-school students from the Susan Odell Taylor
School visited the country's only "Molecularium" last
weekend. Developed by Rensselaer's Nanotechnology Center and the
Junior Museum, with funds from the National Science Foundation's
Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative, the "Molecularium"
is designed to introduce students in grades K-3 to simple materials
science concepts, including the states of matter — solids,
liquids, and gases.
Rensselaer professors developed the content and
animation for the seven-minute pilot program in the "Molecularium,"
which is set in the Lally Digistar II Planetarium in the Junior
Museum.
 "Similar
to the way a planetarium introduces people to the outer reaches
of space, the 'Molecularium' is designed to take kids inward to
the smallest forms of matter, including atoms, molecules, and
polymers," says Linda Schadler, associate professor of materials
science and engineering and one of the directors of the project.
Schadler is working with Shekhar Garde, assistant professor of
chemical engineering, and Pawel Keblinski, assistant professor
of materials science. "We hope to develop a 20-minute-long
program if the pilot is shown to be useful in helping children
understand science concepts as required by New York state science
curricula."
Hosted by the molecule H20, the "Molecularium"
features a guest appearance by Sponge Bob Squarepants (who plays
a "solid"), a 3-D DNA walk-through, and even a family
of 'mers,' which strung together, form a polymer.
"We are pleased to present this exciting
program which encourages young children's curiosity about science
and the world around them," said Tim Allen, executive director
of the Junior Museum.
 The
Museum has developed a set of hands-on curricular activities around
the "Molecularium." The students learned that all materials
are made up of atoms and molecules, built molecular models to
see how atoms bond to form molecules, and discussed differences
in molecular motion in solids, liquids and gases. They also made
a polymer and took it home.
To attend a show at the "Molecularium,"
contact the Junior Museum at 235-2120 or go to www.juniormuseum.org.
The Junior Museum, located on Eighth Street, is open Wednesday
through Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Photos by Thomas Griffin
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