TEACHERS DISPLAY WIERD SCIENCE

A few explosions and oozing, colored soap suds can be just the recipe to get students hooked on science.

That is the premise behind Weird Science, a program put on by a group of three Chicago-area chemistry teachers.

From disappearing ink to exploding balloons, the Weird Science team entertained about 3,500 elementary and high school students Friday in two 75-minute presentations at the Show Me Center. Students came from about 60 different schools.

The Weird Science crew is best known for its regular appearances on the "Late Night with David Letterman" television show. Weird Science first appeared on the show in 1990.

Millions of viewers have watched high school teacher Lee Marek perform experiments on "Letterman," including a disappearing ink demonstration that ended with the late-night host being doused with a fire extinguisher.

Marek and fellow Weird Science member Bob Lewis each have been teaching chemistry for nearly 30 years. The third member, DeWayne Lieneman, is a retired chemistry teacher.

Lewis said they came up with the idea of doing chemistry shows for teachers and students while stuck in traffic on a Chicago expressway in 1984.

Lewis said they started talking about the "weird stuff we had done." Soon after, Weird Science was born.

They started doing their Weird Science presentations in 1985, blending humor and audience participation into the show.

The Weird Science team had the students' attention right form the beginning Friday when they sprayed Silly String into the audience and unrolled toilet paper with the aid of leaf blowers that send the streams of paper fluttering into the seats.

The Weird Science crew involved students in throwing raw eggs at a sheet. The team used a machine to shake a bottle of soda. The result: The liquid, like a geyser, shot up toward the ceiling.

They collapsed a steel drum by heating water inside the barrel until it turned into steam. When the steam cooled, the outside air pressure caused the drum to buckle.

They mixed various chemicals with dish-washing soap and food coloring, creating a mountain of oozing suds.

Exploding balloons were a big hit with the students. Near the end of the show, they created a fiery explosion when they touched a flame to a hydrogen-filled balloon.

"Anytime you can blow something up, they get their jollies," Marek said after the show.

Marek said such experiments are an entertaining way to educate students about scientific principles.

Lewis said teachers don't have to have expensive equipment to do entertaining experiments.

Southeast Missouri State University's Godwin Center for Science and Math Education sponsored Friday's presentations.

Lanette Rodgers directs the center. She said Weird Science should get both students and teachers enthused about science.