Oyster Bay-East Norwich

Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School was abuzz with energy on the evening Jan. 29, as second graders and their families dove into hands-on science exploration during the school's annual Science Night.

The event featured the following five interactive stations where students and parents worked side-by-side to investigate scientific concepts through engaging experiments. “Bubbling Blob” challenged participants to observe density differences among liquids, watching colorful solutions separate and interact in surprising ways. At the “Drops on a Penny” station, families tested the limits of surface tension, discovering just how many water drops could balance on a penny's surface before spilling over. A fingerprinting activity introduced young scientists to forensic science, as students examined their unique fingerprint patterns and learned how these identifying marks help solve real-world mysteries. “Teddy Bear Zipline” presented an engineering challenge that brought force and motion concepts to life. Students designed and tested zipline systems to safely transport their teddy bears across the room. Finally, the “Hoop Gliders” station explored principles of aerodynamics as families constructed and launched gliders, experimenting with design modifications to improve flight performance.

Events like Science Night give parents valuable insight into what and how their children are learning in school, said science and technology teacher Regina D'Orio, who organized the evening. When families engage with these concepts together, it reinforces classroom learning and sparks conversations about science at home.

The successful event was facilitated with support from teachers Ms. Byron, Ms. Feeney, Ms. Kohle, Ms. Kolb and Ms. Pape. Teaching assistant Ms. Andrade-Emproto provided Spanish translation to ensure all families could fully participate, while high school student volunteers from the science honor society helped guide activities at each station.