Staff photos / Chris McBride Mineral Ridge High School seniors Maggie Collins, left, and Michael Lockhart don their lab coats as they prepare for another experiment during the annual Science Day at Seaborn Elementary School.

From left, Seaborn Elementary third graders Alexander Evans, Jayden Bosio and Zachary McCormick watch in awe during the bottle rocket demonstration Friday at the school for the annual Science Day. Alexander excitedly pointed out that it was his rocket about to take off.

MINERAL RIDGE — A chorus of “oohs” and “aahs” erupted from the crowd of excited third graders at Seaborn Elementary on Friday as bottle rockets soared into the sky.

The students’ heads tilted skyward, tracking the water-powered rockets launched by Mineral Ridge High School seniors, kicking off a day of scientific exploration.

Inside, a new kind of thrill awaited inside two classrooms. In one was a cloud in a bottle, for which high school demonstrators ignited alcohol fumes, followed by a fiery flash burst inside the plastic container that instantly condensed water vapor to create a swirling mini-cloud.

“Whoa, that was awesome!” one student exclaimed as the “cloud” drifted within the sealed bottle.

Friday’s annual Science Day brought together the high school’s budding chemists with Seaborn’s third graders for an afternoon of interactive experiments.

The activities ranged from launching rockets to exploring microscopic organisms and creating electrifying chemistry demonstrations.

“It’s a fun day for the kids, and it’s just as exciting for us,” said Michael Lockhart, a high school senior from Mineral Ridge. “Showing them stuff they don’t normally get to see? Yeah, it feels great.”

Alongside fellow senior Maggie Collins, Lockhart demonstrated the cloud experiment, thrilling the kids with their mix of fire and science.

“We want them to see that science is way more than just textbooks,” he said.

For third-grader Gwen Yeagley, the day felt like a glimpse into her future.

“He takes me to the high school to get all his stuff and equipment for his science experiments,” she said proudly.

Her father, Scott Yeagley, is a science teacher at Mineral Ridge High School and one of the organizers of Science Day.

When asked if she’d follow in her father’s scientific footsteps, Gwen didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, chemistry would be awesome,” she said.

Scott Yeagley, who teaches chemistry and physics, explained the importance of the event.

“We started this a few years ago to spark curiosity in these younger students,” he said. “It’s also great for our high school students, some of them really step out of their comfort zone when working with the younger kids. And it’s good to see that connection.”

The day’s activities were spread across multiple stations. Outside, students took turns building and launching their personalized rockets from two liter soda bottles pressurized with water and air. “They love the rockets,” said Yeagley, watching the delighted kids chase after the falling projectiles.

Inside another classroom students glared through microscopes at slides prepared by a biology teacher. “The kids love seeing things up close, they get so curious,” Yeagley said.

One of the main attractions was the chemistry demonstration led by two senior students.

Using a Van de Graaff generator, they electrified students’ hair, making it stand on end.

According to Yeagley, the goal of Science Day is not just to entertain but to inspire.

“I want the kids to see that science is all around them, not just something to pass in school but something fun and meaningful,” he said.

For the high school students, the experience is just as impactful. “I remember helping elementary kids when I was younger,” Yeagley added. “That’s a big part of why I became a teacher. Maybe one of these high schoolers will follow that path too.”