I retired from university teaching some years back, but like all teachers, it's in your blood (hats off to teacher ken). I really enjoy teaching science to lower grades with a batch of hands-on, messy exercises developed over the years, as I've tracked my grandkids from kindergarten through 5th grade. My daughter overheard the pre-K teacher wishing there was some science in the early grades.
Because I was already in Chicago for another 4 days, I volunteered to do some science classes with preschoolers, 3 and 4 year olds. My choice was volcanoes, so I had a short PowerPoint ready to get the oohs and ahhs going. The teacher asked for questions, and one little blond girl with glasses put up her hand, then pulled it down quickly and said, “I’m too shy.” Then we made volcanoes out of Play-Doh, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Now, with the volcanoes set up, I poured baking soda and food coloring into the opening, closed it up a little, and squirted vinegar into it. The frothy eruption was greeted with squeals of delight and “Do it again!’ At the last station, I was on my knees and lower than the class, who were all huddled around the table. Voice 1: “Hey, you have no hair!” and voice 2 “Hey, he’s bald!” Then I feel a few sets of fingers drumming on my skull and rubbing my pate. “Look at the whiskers!” A hand reaches over to stroke my beard. “Feels like fur!” A little girl across the table says: “Let me see your teeth!” I oblige by smiling. “You have green teeth!” OK, I had salad for lunch and didn’t brush, so my bad. Finally, the eruption launches, and pink lava flows out, more squeals. After the class is over, I kneel down to say goodbye, and I get greeted with some vigorous high fives, which leave my hands red. As they go out the door, the shy little blond walks up and gives me a big hug. I absolutely melt.