Summer program conducted at BC3
BUTLER TWP — With a drop of vinegar, the baking soda fizzles, the table salt clumps and the sugar disappears.
The 22 students in Art McCormick's forensic science class documented the reactions of the white powders as they learned steps in solving a crime.
At Kids On Campus summer programs, students do many of the same types of learning they might do during a regular school year, but in a hands-on way. McCormick, a teacher at Connoquenessing Elementary School, said he formerly taught the same lesson in his fifth grade classroom. Now, he gets to share it with an audience of third to eighth grade students from across the county.
Cody Schnur, 10, said before he added vinegar to his powders, he looked at the crystals and flakes under a microscope.
Chad Pakozdi, 11, and his sister, Carri, 12, described other experiments they did during the four-day class, including making a color analysis of ink and examining fingerprints. McCormick ties the experiments together with a crime-solving scenario.
Carri said because of the chance to touch and do experiments, she likes the summer classes more than Meridian Elementary.
"This is way more fun than school," she said.
The Kids on Campus program at Butler County Community College is an annual attraction for some families.
"I do this every summer," said Lukas Johansson, 11. "I make sure I don't take the same classes so I don't get bored."
For the first time, Eva Lowrre is heading the program, which includes new classes like the chemical composition of cosmetics and old favorites like robotics.Several of the engineering classes are co-sponsored by the Butler County Manufacturing Consortium, which is also providing scholarships.About 70 students sign up each week for classes, Lowrre said. Some repeat and some are new students. Some choose class only in the morning and some take classes all day. The majority of classes are for pre-kindergarten students through eighth grade. But, a class at the end of the summer targets high school students interested in dramatics.Classes continue through Aug. 6 and some spots are still open.For more information, visit www.bc3.edu or call 724-287-8711, Ext. 8246.
