Children in kindergarten through seventh grade are getting hands-on STEM learning at Allen Community College this week. Fitting with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) theme, participants are playing with physics and exploring concepts of biology and chemistry in the college’s “Tinkering at Allen” program.
Beth Toland, pictured, conducted a science experiment using the reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid) to create carbon dioxide gas. The bubbles from the gas are able to power each student’s individually made boats across a tub of water. A simple experiment, the boats are crafted out of water bottles and straws.
Students then poured out separate Jell-O mixtures. They then added fresh pineapple to one beaker and canned pineapple to the other.
After allowing time for the mixtures to set up, they will discover that the fresh pineapple beaker will not solidify. This is due to protease enzymes in the fruit that prevent the gelatin from gelling.
In contrast, the canned pineapple mixture should solidify without issue. This helps demonstrate that the processing of food denatures the enzymes and renders them useless. The STEM sessions will wrap up Thursday.
