Notes from the Classroom: Igniting Joyful, Safe Learning at Miquon

By Cynthia Ramos, Science Teacher

Last spring, Miquon’s 5/6 students went on an adventure steeped in both real-world practicality and the joy of hands-on discovery during Science class. Through the fire chemistry academic unit, the students tested their ability to think, explore, build, lead, and collaborate, all while practicing safe and responsible handling of fire.

The students used lighters to light a tea light, then placed a jar over the candle to observe what would happen. They timed how long it took for the flame to go out, then conducted a similar but different experiment by placing the candle on a tray of water. In their second experiment, they noted that as the flame went out, the water started to slowly rise into the jar. The students learned that this had to do with pressure as the flame was using up the oxygen in the jar, making room for outside air to come in and act like a vacuum.

The final stage of their experiment included all of the previously mentioned steps, but they added a mystery liquid to the jar. The result? A mini explosion in the jar itself! The students learned that the liquid was rubbing alcohol, and the alcohol accelerated the process by acting as an added fuel source for the flame. As part of the same unit,  the students also built two fire pits down past Miquon’s swimming pool in a collaborative effort with Miquon’s PE teacher Riley Mann. From carrying rocks and gravel to effectively arranging the rocks in sturdy formations, building the fire pits challenged the children across many different areas: functional fitness, teamwork, communication, collaboration, cooperation, leadership, and problem-solving.

The fifth and sixth grade fire unit culminated last spring in a Fire Science and Safety Expo for which students chose topics related to fire and made posters and interactive displays. They even got to meet the local Fire Marshal and fire department to hear about the importance of fire safety and prevention. 

This article was originally published in the 2023-2025 Annual Giving Report.