CPS Families Experiment with Science

This week's Parent Education Night focused on one of Community Partnership School students' favorite subjects: science!

Hosted five times throughout the year, Parent Education Nights are an opportunity for CPS families to connect with teachers and administrators and be exposed to different strategies for supplementing learning at home.

At the science Parent Night, families heard about what students had been studying in class and learned about different science resource books and websites they could use at home. Then, families had the chance to step in the shoes of a CPS student, as they conducted their own hands-on experiments!

One experiment challenged families to push a pencil through a bag of water without anything leaking out. Could they do it?

CPS families team up for a science experiment at Parent Education Night.

Yes! As families worked together, they learned the "science secret"-- the polymers of plastic bags seal around the pencil to prevent leaks. Next, science teacher Ms. Kim asked families if they could push a straw through a potato without bending the straw.

Pre-k teacher Mr. Thomas tries his hand at a potato experiment.

Afterwards, families were clued in to the science trick behind the experiment- use air pressure! By placing a finger over the straw, air molecules compress and give the straw enough strength to push the whole way through the potato.

In addition to being a fun collabarative experience for families, the experiments were also conducted with everyday supplies so that they can be easily repeated at home with their children.

Parents and guardians record their experiment results and reflections in Science Journals to discuss with their children.