13
2017
BASF Kids Lab 2017
BASF Kids’ Lab, an award-winning global program is an interactive, fun and free chemistry education program which encourages children to discover the dynamic world of science and its wonders. It is held annually.
The first time Ethan participated in such program was back in 2013 held at Empire Shopping Mall.
Throwback to 2013 of Ethan, the young scientist at 6 years of age attending his first BASF Kids’ Lab. I did not accompany him then as I was at home doing my confinement after delivering Ayden. Ethan went with the Daddy and came home all excited telling me everything about it.
Fast forward to present date, Ethan is back attending the BASF Kids’ Lab 2017. This time it is held at Petrosains KLCC.
I get to accompany Ethan this time but Ayden was too young to participate as the minimum age to join is 6 years old hence the Daddy had to bring him outside to the water fountain area to keep him entertained while waiting for big brother Ethan.
Themed the “Clever Foodies”, the experiments this year aim to raise awareness about healthy nutrition.
Being scientist for a day, these children learn through hands-on experiments to discover nutrients in their food and the scientific experience behind it.
Lab materials were all provided for. The kids were also geared up with apron and safety glasses.
Before they start with their experiment, a booklet is handed out to the young scientists to record their findings.
The kids were encouraged to conduct the research themselves with guidance from the lab assistant.
The first experiment aimed to discover which fruit contained the most Vitamin C. The specimen were fresh orange, fresh lemon, packed orange juice and packed lemon juice.
This boy refused to touch citrus fruits at home but during the lab session, he bravely squeezed the juice out of fresh orange and fresh lemon as he did not want to lose out to the rest of the kids who had no trouble doing it. Peer pressure at its best
They used a pipette to transfer iodine into test tubes.
The young scientists then used a clean pipette to drip freshly squeezed juice into the tubes to calculate how many drips required to turn the blue iodine into a clear colourless liquid.
They repeated this experiment with both the fresh lemon and orange juice as well as the commercial juices from the box.
From this experiment, they discovered that fresh fruit juice contained the most Vitamin C.
They now know that fresh fruit juice is more superior than commercially bought juice in a box.
For the second experiment, the kids were given different types of cut fruits.
They were also given pH strips for this experiment.
They pressed the pH strip onto the cut fruits and see if the tip of the strip turn to blue.
The fruit with high content of Vitamin C will turn the pH strip to a very dark blue hence the darker the strip, the higher the content of Vitamin C indeed.
From this experiment, the kids discover which fruit contain the most Vitamin C and are encouraged to consume more of them.
For the final experiment, the children diluted juice to learn about the sense of smell and sight.
They use their sense of sight as well as smell to conduct this experiment.
They had to dilute the juice in stages until it reaches a point of colourless and scentless.
The experiment teaches the children about pigment as well as how sight and smell affects or rather compliments the food or drinks we consumed.
Each and every young scientists were presented with a BASF Kids’ Lab Diploma upon completion of all 3 experiments.
There was also a sharing session at the end of the program to explain how BASF, in collaboration with MARDI, developed the Clearfield Production System which has successfully doubled the rice yield and eliminated weedy rice in Malaysia.
Ethan participated in the quiz session and won himself something…
He won a packet of rice from Mardi and BASF. Congratulations dear, that packet of rice is enough to last us for at least two weeks
Ethan got so influenced by the experiments that he insisted to purchase oranges immediately on our way home. This is from the boy that doesn’t want to touch, eat or have anything to do with citrus fruits since young but after today’s program, he learned the valuable content of Vitamin C in oranges and is now a convert. Nothing impacts them stronger than a hands-on experience.
BASF Kids’ Lab happens annually for kids aged 6 to 12 years old. If you are interested to register your kids for next year’s lab, keep an eye on their Facebook Page for the announcement and updates.
That’s a great initiative!
The best result is Ethan now eats oranges.