Temps at Sierra Elementary were -320 degrees this week

For most children native to Phoenix the rare opportunity to see snow and ice is a treat, but fourth-graders at Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School saw cold temperatures that would make Canadians shiver when the Arizona Science Center brought liquid nitrogen into their classroom on Tuesday. 

Liquid nitrogen is stored at about -320 degrees Fahrenheit and, needless to say, it has a shock and awe value. Michael Hart, outreach manager for the Arizona Science Center, performed experiments for the students that seemed to entertain them more than their favorite TV program or computer games ever could.

“My favorite part was when he put liquid nitrogen in the bottle and tried to put the cap on it but it kept flying off from the pressure,” said Jada Olson, a Sierra fourth-grader.

Some of the experiments performed by Hart included dipping fresh flowers into liquid nitrogen and then presenting the brittle flowers to the most quiet student member of the audience, as well as dipping a banana into liquid nitrogen and then using the rock solid banana to hit a nail into a piece of wood.

“One big thing that we hit on in this demonstration is the states of matter and the science behind how things change states,” Hart said. “Students usually think of changing a hot liquid to steam, but we show them that states can change with cold temperatures, too. And half of it is just fun.”

Sierra teachers were happy to see their students experience something completely new, as liquid nitrogen is not readily available in classrooms.

“One of the things we try to do as teachers is get the students excited about learning, and this breathes life into what I’m teaching them,” said David Hoye, whose class attended the demonstration.

Another fourth-grade teacher, Rhonda Wainwright, said that she will refer back to this demonstration throughout the school year.

“The students are going to be talking about this all day and all year,” Wainwright said. “I’m going to have the students share what they all got from watching the demonstration, which is fun because different things stick out to different people.”

Sierra was able to fund the demonstration from the Arizona Science Center through tax credit donations from parents and other community members. With quickly evaporating budgets, this form of funding is increasingly important to the Kyrene School District.

Sierra principal Tracey Pastor was happy to see her students highly engaged in the liquid nitrogen demonstration.

“The teachers here do a great job with science, but this takes it to a new level with things like liquid nitrogen that we don’t normally have in classrooms,” Pastor said.

KSD is always accepting tax credit donations from the community to ensure programs like the one from the Arizona Science Center continue. To make a donation, visit www.kyrene.org or mail to the Ben Furlong Education Center, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe, AZ 85284.

For more information about upcoming programs at the Arizona Science Center, visit www.azscience.org or call (602) 716-2000.