Laughlin children learn about science at Child Development Center

Published Feb. 5, 2015
By Joel Langton
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Ten wide-eyed 3 to 5-year-olds learned about science with their parents as they erupted home-made volcanoes with baking soda, vinegar and red dye at the Laughlin Child Development Center Jan. 30.

It was a part of a week of teaching the children the wonders of science.

"My volcano blowing up very high was a lot of fun," said 4-year-old Robert Negley.

Wynell Leigh, CDC child and youth program assistant, said the event was about more than just letting kids have fun shooting red baking soda and vinegar into the sky.

"We've been teaching them about science all week and this was our final event," Leigh said. "They played with magnets to learn how negative and positive forces work. The children also mixed liquids and solids together to learn how they interact."

"Seeing the looks on their faces when they learned different things was priceless," she added.

Janet Johnson, CDC interim director, said this is part of the center's mission.

"Our goal here is about more than giving children a safe environment while their parents support the wing mission," Johnson said. "We want to teach them while they are here, and at the same time, strengthen the family unit by giving them activities like this to do together."