During May and June, the students of Watchung are being exposed to a variety of Science and Technology assemblies and in-class activities as part of an initiative to strengthen the school’s magnet theme.
On May 17, a schoolwide assembly entitled “The Wacky Science Show" focused on the Scientific Method. Students conducted experiments and discovered how everyday household items can be used to create fun scientific stunts.
It was hard to keep the school’s May 23 assembly a secret as a giant hot air balloon filled the gym. The weather did not cooperate, so the balloon was inflated inside which gave all of the school’s students the opportunity to sit inside and learn the science behind hot air balloons from Captain Bob Mueller of the Liberty Balloon Company. After the indoor portion of the event, students were able to go outside to watch how the basket rises.
An assembly on June 5 will focus on the technology behind making music. After the full school assembly, fifth graders will have the opportunity to learn more about this topic in their classrooms through a hands-on activity.
Other in-class activities during May were led by the Montclair Learning Center. The Kindergartners learned about explosive science. The First grade learned about how circuits work. The second and third grades worked with rockets and dry ice, respectively. Lastly, the fourth grade learned about battling robots.
“This enhanced support for our magnet that will continue for years to come would not be possible without the hard work of Ms. Drury Thorp, our STEAM Teacher, Ms. Raven Magrath, our Technology Teacher, Idil Bilgin, our PTA Student Enrichment Chair, Jay Wall, our PTA Teacher Enrichment Chair and most importantly the overall support of the PTA who help make Watchung such a special place for our students,” said Principal Patrick Krenn.