Üsküdar University Vice Director of the Vocational School of Health Services and Head of the Food Technology Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Salih Tuncay, along with Yunus Emre Toprak, a student of the Vocational School of Health Services Laboratory Technology Program, organized a 'Science Workshop' event specifically for April 7th Chemistry Day and Chemists' Week, for the students of the 'Ortaköy 4-6 Age Quran Course' affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Beşiktaş Mufti's Office. In the event, which consisted of fun chemistry experiments, a laboratory environment was created for children, and safe experimental setups were prepared. Experiments such as 'White Smoke, Disappearance and Appearance of Colors, Volcanic Eruption' with gas emission (CO2) were conducted.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Salih Tuncay this time met with the little ones at the science workshop. Emphasizing the purpose of creating the event, Assist. Prof. Dr. Salih Tuncay said: “It is extremely important for preschool students to encounter such design and skill workshops at an early age and to learn fundamental sciences like chemistry, physics, and biology through play, for their development. Particularly, children building mental barriers against these difficult-to-learn subjects at younger ages leads to a continuous decline in fundamental sciences. In the science workshop we created, we aim for our children to learn chemistry with enjoyment at younger ages by demonstrating that it is a fun, pleasant, and integral discipline of life. Such initiatives should also be developed and widespread in other disciplines such as physics, biology, etc.”
In the fun activity, designed at a basic level based on questions like ‘What is a scientist? What does invention mean? What is an experiment? Why do colors disappear? How did colors return to their original state? What is an indicator? Are there indicators in food? What are base and acid? Is lemon an acid? What do gas and gas emission mean? Why does gas escape? How did we see the gas escape? How do bubbles form? What is oxygen? What is carbon dioxide? Do plants use carbon dioxide? What is photosynthesis?’, children were divided into groups of four and performed experiments such as gas emission, color change, white smoke formation, and the scattering of foam with volcanic eruption (sudden gas emission: CO2 gas).
A white lab coat ceremony was held for each of them
Before starting the experiments, a short introductory lesson was organized to help children adapt to the environment and satisfy their curiosity. During this lesson, children were given a tour of the experiment area, and their questions were answered. Personal protective equipment (goggles and gloves) was introduced, a white lab coat ceremony was held for each child, and they were seated in specially prepared chairs.
The gases ‘Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide’ were explained to children at a simple and understandable level, with practical reinforcement through short breathing exercises demonstrating that air contains oxygen (O2), ingested foods are digested with oxygen, and as a result, carbon dioxide gas is released.
During the event, students, who were observed to be very excited and happy, witnessed colorful spectacles through the experiments.