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MEXICO — Educators from Mad Science Maine entertained students and parents at Meroby Elementary School on Wednesday night with experiments and hands-on activities.

The event ended a schoolwide 10-day study of weather and the atmosphere, teacher Eileen Pew said.

Lorraine Glowczak, known as Brainey Rainey when she wears her white lab coat, said the troupe travels around the state to instill enthusiasm for science in students up to grade six.

She and co-educators Hannah Hutchins, also known as Ruby Lightning, and Taryn Friedman, nicknamed Rocket Ruby, have educational or scientific backgrounds.

Mad Science of Maine’s mission is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children by providing them with fun, interactive and educational programs that instill a clear understanding of what science is about and how it affects the world around them, according to its website.

It offers a large selection of unique, hands-on science experiences to get students excited about science. It serves hundreds of Maine children every week, the website said.

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“This is awesome,” said Amy Boulanger of Rumford, who was with her daughters, second-grader Jaden and kindergartner Lily.

“They are very excited about the hands-on activities,” she said.

Nicholas Graham, father of 7-year-old Logan, said he was pleased the school could bring in the science program to Mexico.

“With the restrictions on the schools in science, having an opportunity like this is a great supplement,” he said. “My son is really interested in science. He had a science birthday party last month.”

In addition to the science-related performances, youngsters also had a chance to conduct experiments set up along the sides of the gymnasium.

Tina Handley of Mexico, mother of fifth-grader Alyssa Jasud and first-grader Coral Jasud, said she and her children were excited about the evening.

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“My kids really like to do the experiments,” she said.

Some classes created drawings and paintings of weather-related topics. Students drew trees for each of the four seasons.

Others used cotton to make clouds and many compiled portfolios of what they learned during the weather unit.

Fifth-grader Matthew Averill, who greeted parents at the door, said he likes the experiments, particularly those that produce static electricity. He said he learned a lot in the two weeks of weather studies.

“I learned that condensation is caused when water vapor hits the atmosphere,” he said.

All fourth- and fifth-graders will conclude the weather unit Friday with a trip to the wastewater treatment plant in Mexico, fourth-grade teacher Sheryl Finley said.

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