Resolute Bay (Sep 11/06) - It's a universal problem for science teachers: capturing students' interest.

Brandi Prpick, the new science and math teacher at Resolute Bay's Qarmartalik School, thinks the solution may be as simple as a little water, sugar and food colouring.

"My goal is to have the kids do as many experiments in the lab, the school and the community as possible," she said. "I really want to instill a sense of curiosity into science."

So during her first week on the job, Prpick had her senior students making rainbows in test tubes, using sugar mixed in water at different concentrations, with each one a different hue thanks to food colouring.

Poured into a test tube, the water with the least sugar sits on top of the layers with more sugar, creating a little rainbow effect.

The hands-on approach got the attention of Prpick's students.

"I thought it was pretty interesting," said Grade 11 and 12 student Kristen Hunter. "I've been living here for four years and I think that's my first experiment."

Also on Prpick's agenda for the year is a seal hunt that will combine the classic high school dissection experiment with Inuit traditions. Students will bring the seal back to Qarmartalik's lab and dissect it, with the meat, skin and bones going to elders for traditional uses, and the organs used for study. Prpick's scientific method also won over Grade 10 student Shannon Pudluk.

"I like to use my hands," she said. "I'm really looking forward to dissecting."