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Trying to shatter a record
Taloyoak school involved in country-wide attempt at largest science lesson held in multiple locations

Jeanne Gagnon
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012

TALOYOAK/SPENCE BAY
Taloyoak's Netsilik School was the only one in Nunavut which tried to break a world record along with 135 schools across the country.

NNSL photo/graphic

Taloyoak's Martina Nahaglulik demonstrates the "kissing balloon" experiment, in which two balloons are drawn together by a change in air pressure, as part of Netsilik School's involvement in a country-wide attempt to break the world record for the largest science lesson, on Oct. 12. - photo courtesy of Gina Pizzo

The activity was part of a federal government program which, as part of Science and Technology Week from Oct. 12-21, aimed to establish a new world record for the largest science lesson held at multiple locations.

Fifty-seven junior and high school students from Netsilik School performed two experiments demonstrating a scientific principle at 11 a.m. on Oct. 12.

The first activity involved blowing air between two suspended balloons. The decreased air pressure between them causes the balloons to come together as the surrounding air pressure is greater. In the second experiment, a student blows in a straw across the top of a shorter straw submerged in water. The change of pressure causes water to spray out of the top of the submerged straw.

Everything had to be videotaped, photographed and sent to Ottawa for the official count, said Lauren Leblanc, a science and math teacher at Netsilik School who organized the event. She said the event was successful and students had fun.

"Both of the experiments were simple enough that everybody could participate but they were also really good at demonstrating the principle," said Leblanc. "So it was really visual. So not only was it hands-on, but it was really cool."

Doing group activities makes science for fun for kids, said Leblanc, as they often end up working in small groups. It was also a good opportunity for the older students to utilize their leadership skills, she added.

Students learned to predict what would happen, observed the experiment and then tried explaining what happened, said Leblanc. She added they would watch as the other students performed the experiments and recorded their observations.

One of the students participating was 18-year-old Nathan Manniliaq. The Grade 12 student said he successfully lead a group of students.

"I had a lot of fun. There were some cool experiments," he said. "Blowing at two balloons, you can make them kiss rather then let them going separate ways."

Manniliaq said he hopes they break the world record.

"It's awesome we might be in the Guinness World Record," he said.

Principal Gina Pizzo stated the activity is a great way to get students involved in science in a hands-on way, as well as learn the proper procedures for conducting and recording science experiments.

All the information has been sent to Ottawa for the count by Guinness officials.

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