Orchard Knob Elementary School student Siquoyah Patterson with her finished bouncy ball at BASF’s Kids’ Lab program.
BASF volunteers celebrated National Chemistry Week by bringing the company’s Kids’ Lab program to students at Orchard Knob Elementary School.
“Through Kids’ Lab, we are creating fun with chemistry to tap into children’s natural curiosity and encourage them to explore scientific concepts,” said Robert Gagliano, BASF Site Manager.
“Our volunteers enjoy helping the children to understand science and how it relates to potential careers.”
The program is designed to provide a fun, hands-on learning environment for children between the ages of 6 and 12. They experience chemistry through safe and engaging experiments, coupled with interactive Q&A and demonstrations. Children learn about the importance of chemistry to everyday life and how BASF creates chemistry. The Kids’ Lab program is offered to schools in communities where the company has operations.
Students at Orchard Knob Elementary School explored how polymers behave and their uses in chemistry – all while having fun creating their own bouncy balls. Classes also learned how to create Elephant’s Toothpaste, a colorful foam easily made from scratch with household ingredients.
“It is exciting for the students because they get the chance to see the relevance of chemistry in everyday life,” said LaFrederick Thirkill, Orchard Knob Elementary School Principal. “They are not just learning from a textbook; they are witnessing chemistry in action through products that have been created by BASF.”