BASF staff brings chemistry to Orchard Knob students

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) - Volunteers from BASF brought the company's Kids' Lab program to students at Orchard Knob Elementary School in celebration of National Chemistry Week.

Through Kids' Lab, we are creating fun with chemistry to tap into children's natural curiosity and encourage them to explore scientific concepts, said Robert Gagliano, BASF Site Manager. Our volunteers enjoy helping the children to understand science and how it relates to potential careers.

The goal of the BASF Kids' Lab program is to help students gain a better understanding of chemistry, according to the BASF website.

The students at Orchard Knob Elementary School explored how polymers behave and how they are used in chemistry. Part of the exercise allowed the students to create their own bouncy balls.

Other classes learned how to create Elephant's Toothpaste, a colorful foam easily made from scratch with household ingredients.

It is exciting for the students because they get the chance to see the relevance of chemistry in everyday life, said LaFrederick Thirkill, Orchard Knob Elementary School Principal. They are not just learning from a textbook; they are witnessing chemistry in action through products that have been created by BASF.

The BASF Kids' Lab was launched in North America in 2010 and has had more than 50,000 participants.

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BASF staff brings chemistry to Orchard Knob students