Gooey, Gross…And Gratifying

By Larissa Lytwyn

Science may not always be “pretty” — but it sure is fun!

This theme twisted like a double helix through every experiment, fact, and witticism espoused by Keith Michael Johnson during his recent visit to Hawley Elementary School.

His presentation, “Science Isn’t Always Pretty,” mixed lowbrow humor with lessons applied through easily relatable analogies and experiments.

Defining science as simply “finding out how things work,” Mr Johnson touched on the myriad myths and superstition that dominated ancient times up to the Middle Ages. Later, he said, groundbreaking inventors including Sir Isaac Newtown, among many others, began to assert what is described today as scientific principles.

These principles, or rules, he continued, help determine how things work through physical experimentation. The results of these experiments were used to further new concepts and theories that today remain part of modern sciences’ conjectural foundation.

To teach students about the properties of fire, Mr Johnson adopted the persona of French scientist Antoine Levossiere — complete with foreign accent and black beret.

“First, zee must make zee fire,” Mr Johnson said, lighting a candle and positioning it like a centerpiece in the middle of a table.

“Ah, look!” he cried. “It is like zee center of a dining table, no?” This remark was followed by a horrified gasp. “Waiter!” he screamed. “There is zee fire on zee table!”

Students and faculty alike collapsed in a guffaw.

Capping the candle with a glass jar, the students watched as the flame expanded and then steadily shrank.

Mr Johnson, still posturing as Mr Levossiere, explained how fire’s sustainability depended on the amount of oxygen in the vicinity.

Next, Mr Johnson dove into the area of biology. He discussed how zoologists used “scat,” literally the animals’ droppings, to determine creatures’ diet, health, lifestyle, and habitat.

The elementary-aged students cherished the ability to learn about the topic, a never-ceasing topic of fascination for their age group.

One volunteer helped Mr Johnson pick through an owl pellet — the aviary equivalent of a hairball — to determine its diet and way of life.

“I really enjoyed the owl part,” student Jordan Salvesen said later. “It was interesting — and a fun topic!”

Through the evidence of tiny bones and even fragments of a tail, Mr Johnson could determine that the owl ate mice, for example.

Finally, Mr Johnson taught students about non-Newtonian fluids, that is, a solid with the ability to pour and a liquid that breaks.

With the assistance of another student volunteer, Mr Johnson mixed flour, water, and food coloring to create a slimelike substance that was a delightful shade of icky-green. 

“I like how he used stuff that is really simple to make things that are really cool!” exclaimed student Luke Moore.

The end of his 50-minute presentation sparked an explosion of applause.

“He was excellent,” lauded a still bright-eyed Donna Mischico, a first grade teacher at Hawley. “He had an impressive rapport with the students.”

Mr Johnson is a summa cum laude graduate of Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. “Science Isn’t Always Pretty” is one of five educational programs he has created. Mr Johnson tours across the country performing about 500 shows each year. For more information on Mr Johnson, visit www.keithmichaeljohnson.com.