ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Tameem Abujrida and Raseel Agbujrides react to dry ice vapor during a demonstration by Adrienne Fuller at the Saugus Public Library.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — A mad scientist had a packed audience of toddlers and children combusting with excitement over dry ice and vapor Wednesday afternoon.
Adrienne Fuller, a scientist from Mad Science of Greater Boston, a Waltham-based company that provides educational programs for special events, performed a show at the Saugus Public Library.
More than 50 children and their parents attended the event, which was sponsored by the Saugus Cultural Council.
Fuller showed the students how a room-temperature spoon reacted to dry ice by vibrating until it was cold; she created air pressure to get a boiled egg through a tight squeeze into a beaker; and added dry ice to water to create water vapor.
“It’s different from school because we don’t do chemicals and reactions (in school),” said Gustavo Borges, 7. “We’re learning about animals in the rainforest. But the chemicals are cool.”
Nine-year-old Serenity Burow of Malden is homeschooled by her dad. She said learning about science, specifically chemistry, is her favorite thing to do.
“I take a chemistry class and it’s not very common for fourth-graders,” she said. “I like (going to the library events) to see the other kids. I’m a person who wants to share my knowledge.”
Children’s librarian Amy Melton said the science show is just one of many educational initiatives the facility is offering to the community’s youth.
Regular programs include reading groups and storytimes for varying ages, science technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) activities, building classes using legos and k’nex, and a youth and nature garden club.
“They just need other enrichment opportunities outside of school,” said Melton. “We’re here to support the children in this community.”
National Honor Society students from the Belmonte Middle School will begin tutoring elementary school students from 3 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, said Library Director Brian Hodgdon.
“We know we have a lot of private tutors who meet with kids here at the library so the demand was there, we knew the kids needed help with their homework,” he said. “This was a nice way to partner with some of the schools and a unique way to get students helping other students.”
The middle schoolers will provide homework help to children in kindergarten through grade five starting on Tuesday. Parents must remain in the building while their child is working.
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Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.