Jodi Schwartz, B.A.S.E. Animator

Early morning science is one of the best ways to start the day. Luckily for the Parkdale B.A.S.E. Daycare children, Miss Jodi arrived with not one, but two science experiments for them to try.

First up was drawing personalized volcanoes on strips of paper, wrapping them around a cup, and making them explode into a bubbling mess! To achieve this, Miss Jodi added vinegar and red food colouring to the cup and the children added a teaspoon of baking soda to set off the eruption. Squeals and giggles resonated around the room.

The second experiment used the same ingredients but focused on a different effect. Miss Jodi poured a small amount of water and vinegar into an empty individual-sized plastic soda bottle. Using a funnel, she added two teaspoons of baking soda inside a deflated balloon. She stretched the opening of the balloon over the neck of the bottle. One by one, the children each took a turn flipping the contents of the balloon into the bottle. As the baking soda mixed with the vinegar and water, it created a bubbling chemical reaction that in turn produced carbon dioxide gas. The gas rose inside the bottle and inflated the balloon right in front of our eyes.

A wide-eyed student named Ryan exclaimed through a smile, “the reason that I love science so much is because it is full of surprises!” Science is magical!