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FOREST LEAVES - Jan. 26, 2005

Mr. G puts science in a bag

About 100 families turned out at Willard School last week for two nights of science experimentation by parents and students.

Willard hosted Glenbard South chemistry teacher Bill Grosser last Wednesday and Thursday for the PTO's annual "Science in a Bag" nights.

The program has been going on at Willard for the last five years, PTO parent and event organizer Helen Gullo said Thursday.

Grosser's show includes demonstrations involving liquid nitrogen, liquids that change colors, and air pressure and vacuums, Gullo said.

"The big thing he does every year, the children just loves, is he makes ooze," Gullo said. "He uses glue and water and Borax. Then the kids get to take the goo home with them."

Willard Principal John Swanson said Grosser spends a half hour in the school's auditorium doing experiments and then leads students into the gym with parents to do their own experiments. "There's a bag of stuff for them to work on," Swanson said. "This dovetails quite nicely with our hands-on science approach."

* Chris LaFortune