By BRYNNE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
Kids at the Moapa Valley Library were treated to a rainbow this week as the Library’s Summer Reading Program series of science programs tackled it’s next subject: Color.
The librarians started the program off by reading several books that included stories of chameleons, colors in our world, and an unfortunate cat whose new white shoes ended up as anything but white. The kids enjoyed all the stories but were especially excited when they were each given a fake mustache sticker to wear. Just as all the fake mustaches were in place, library character, mad scientist Dr. Einstein Von Moustache, came running into the room madly searching for his partner. Unfortunately, with everyone wearing a fake mustache, the scientist had trouble picking out which attendee was his actual partner, Professor Friedrich. Kids dissolved into giggles as one after another, several kids were auditioned for the part of Professor Friedrich, with none of them being quite right for the job.
The two scientists finally found each other amid much cheering, and the science portion of the show began. The scientists did several experiments and demonstrations involving colors.
They began by demonstrating a simple color chromatography experiment that the kids could return home and do on their own. The experiment showed that the colors in markers are actually a combination of many colors combined to create a certain color.
The scientists then moved on to an experiment that showed water defying gravity and moving up a paper towel of its own volition out of a cup, and passing into the empty cup next to it until the level of water in both cups became equal. The cool thing about this experiment was that the scientists started with 3 cups of water colored red, yellow, and blue. There was an empty cup between each colored cup. At the end of the experiment, the full cups and the empty cups both had the same amount of water in them and the empty cups were filled with green, orange, and purple water, all without ever being touched.
The inquisitive scientists moved on to some more exciting experiments like making a raincloud in a jar and an erupting lava lamp. They showed the kids how to do melted crayon art and, together with the kids, made a giant melted crayon creation.
They finished up with their traditional “big boom” by making an exploding reaction they called elephant toothpaste that involved a chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and yeast.
The kids were then released to make their own crayon scratch art project to hang on their wall.
“It was great!” said Jason Zerkle a local teen who brought his younger sister to the event. “I loved the costumes and the science projects, and the energy from the library ladies! My sister looks forward to storytime with the scientists every week!”
“It was a lot of fun and I liked all the experiments, but my favorite was the melted crayon art,” said Quinn Clarke, a youth attendee. “ It was so cool watching all the colors drip down the page!”
If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch the mad scientists in action you have only one more chance. There are two weeks left in the Summer Reading Program, but the final program by the scientists will be on this Friday at 11:15 at the Moapa Valley Library.
The scientists will be exploring the science of water and participants are encouraged to wear clothes that are okay to get wet.
The final program will be special guest, DJ Tony, on Friday, August 1 at 11:15 am, and will be held at the Community Center next door to the library.
