I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Plants Talk!

Written by our STEM Facilitator, Nedum Aniemeka:

 Today, February 3rd, at Sisters4Science the girls at Ariel Community Academy had the opportunity to do some cool experiments with plants! Our scientist for the day, Madlen Wilmes, a grad student at the University of Chicago, told the girls that plants have ways of guarding against unwanted attacks by sending signals to other trees. To get an idea of the types of experiments Madlen and her lab mates do at work, the girls were given syringes full of water to inject into the plants leaves. Madlen told the girls that normally the syringes would be filled with some type of bacteria to see how the plants would respond to the attack. The girls got right down to work and had a blast being able to use the lab coats and goggles that Madlen brought along with her. Kiara said that she was glad that Madlen brought all of the materials she did because she got a real sense of what it was like to work in a lab.  Madlen even said that the girls had a better grasp on using the tools than a lot of the scientists in her lab do.  The girls are all already showing characteristics of skilled scientists!  They are so impressive!

To get a bit of a break from sitting, the girls did a round of Bring Back My Bonny.  Alanah stood in the middle of the circle and sang the song “Bring back my bonny” and the girls had to either sit down or stand up at each word that started with a B.  The girls looked silly moving non-stop and got tired out after the 2nd time the song was sung.  I think that was their workout for the day! What better way to end the school day than with some science and some squats?  Can’t wait until next time!