Lab puts the ‘fun’ in weather fundamentals
Meteorologists Chris Kuball, left, and Jim Peterson, right, use toilet paper to demonstrate air movement while turning meteorologist Spencer Furman into a mummy. Staff photo by Kay Fate
As it turns out, all it takes to get kids excited about science is some shaving cream, some toilet paper – and a fierce “air battle” between their teachers.
At least, that’s what’s been working for a group of meteorologists from KAAL-TV in Rochester.
For the past six years – with a break during the pandemic – chief meteorologist Chris Kuball, Jim Peterson and now, Spencer Furman, have traveled around southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, introducing elementary school students to the wonders of science.
Last week, it was the students at NRHEG Elementary School in Ellendale, all 370 kids from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
The main goal is to have fun, Kuball said, but it’s paired with the importance of safety “and learning science, STEM especially. It’s so integral” to the foundations of science.
The students learned the causes – and effects – of weather phenomena like lightning, tornadoes, floods and wind.
As the meteorologists moved into more abstract topics like air pressure, density, and Bernoulli’s Principle, it was time for experiments, in order to provide a visual representation.
For more than an hour, the students cheered, gasped, clapped, chanted, and laughed during the controlled chaos.
“We’ve done one ‘refresh,’ changed out some experiments, but we have some tried and true ones we really like,” Kuball said, “and I think we have a good show going right now.”
Since 2017, he estimated, they’ve taught and entertained nearly 20,000 students. The Weather Lab, as it’s called, has traveled from Spring Grove to Wells, and from Pine Island to Charles City, Iowa.
Each performance takes the team about three hours, from set-up to clean-up – and there’s a lot of both.
In addition to elementary schools, they’ve appeared at special events such as Rochesterfest and local county fairs.
And now, with the passage of time, “there are some schools we can go back to,” Kuball said, since former students have all moved on to middle school or junior high. Some of their first audience members are juniors in high school.
It was their first trip to Ellendale, though, and Kuball said it exceeded expectations. STEAM teacher Kate Kruger requested the performance.
“I’m not even joking – this was one of the best crowds ever,” he said, thanks not only to the enthusiastic students, but the “great audio/video capabilities and room to really have fun.”