ABC-7 Weather Academy Goes To Beall Elementary

Friday’s forecast: Sunshine with a 100 percent chance of fun and learning.

We wrapped up our spring session of the ABC-7 Weather Academy at Beall Elementary School in Central El Paso.

More than 158 first through third graders packed into a gym to watch and participate in multiple weather experiments.

We made a miniature cloud, learned about air stability and pressure – and even made lightning.

“It’s important that the students be motivated with science and have fun while they are doing it. Paper and pencil just doesn’t do it. They have to have on-hands activities,” said Beall teacher Claude McNutt.

The kids learned about how clouds form, and not just by telling them, but by showing them.

“My favorite part is when you made the cloud. If you put hot water in the bottom and cold water on the top, it could make a cloud. If you put fire in it, it will make rain,” said third grader Ivette Gallegos.

“I saw some in the bottom of the plate with ice. I saw some little drops coming off of the bottom,” said student Hiram Rodriguez.

After we made it rain, it was time to learn about air stability using a few jars and some food coloring.

“I learned that if you put the cold water on top and the hot water on the bottom, the cold water wants to go down and the hot water wants to go up. And that’s why they make the purple color,” said Gallegos.

Even though the experiments were small-scale versions of Borderland weather conditions, the kids made the connection that the demonstrations were all representing things such as thunderstorms and wind.

“They love it. They just totally want to stay there forever,” said McNutt.