Science proves it: Grinch could steal Christmas
By GAYLE WEBER
How the Grinch really stole Christmas can be explained by a series of simple science experiments, according to some Fort Hays State University students.
The student chapter of the National Science Teachers Association conducted experiments in front of about 50 kids and their parents Saturday in the sixth annual Christmas Science Show at Sternberg Museum.
"It's fun to incorporate literacy into the sciences (to) kind of show people you can have fun with science in the classroom," NSTA President Eryn Norton said.
Students showed that in order for the Whos in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to decorate their homes after the Grinch stole their trees and ornaments, the nearly 50 children in the audience had to understand color mixing.
Jacque Schneweis, a student teacher at Holy Family Elementary School this semester, gave red, green and blue lights to three children and had them shine the lights on the wall. In places, orange and purple dots appeared, as the result of the lights crossing paths.
Alexx Malchow's favorite part of the show involved 3-D glasses.
Each person was given a pair of glasses to view ornaments for the Whos' Christmas trees.
As Norton and other NSTA members strung clear lights across the room, the children saw snowflakes through their glasses.
"I think it's important for them to get interested in science early, that way the love of it continues on throughout middle school, high school and college," Norton said.
Other experiments demonstrated why the Grinch was green, how he could move so fast and how he could go up and down chimneys.
Each year, NSTA picks a different book to demonstrate to the children. Since the "Grinch" is Norton's favorite book and her last year at FHSU, they decided to use it.
"We pick a book and then we read through it once completely," Norton said. "Then we read it again and take out the different parts that would be really fun to experiment. That's why we have biology, chemistry and physics people come in. That way we can get different science principles involved."