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April 12, 2002/Nisan 30, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 30
Mad Science brings fun, hands-on learning to kids
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
How can you get children to have so much fun that they don't even realize they're learning something? Jack Hamlett does it with rockets, gooey slime, cotton candy and fireworks.
Hamlett and his wife, Kathy, are the owners of the Scottsdale/Northeast Phoenix franchise of Mad Science, a company that provides hands-on science instruction for schools, birthday parties, camps and special events.
"Mad Science is dedicated to enriching the lives of children through meaningful and educational scientific exploration," explains Hamlett.
Each day, Hamlett and his 10 employees don white lab coats and visit Valley schools with science lessons that correlate with Arizona state science curriculum. There are eight-week after-school enrichment programs at several Valley schools. Hamlett says these enrichment classes are very popular and they are always gaining new participants through word of mouth. "The kids in our classes are telling the other kids ... what they're missing," he says.
Some kids get so excited about the classes that it extends into their home life. "(A participant's) mom told me that on Wednesday nights he always had the hardest time going to bed and going to sleep because he was so excited about coming to science class," he recalls. "It really gives you that warm feeling, like perhaps you have accomplished something with these children."
The Mad Scientists also do in-class lessons as an extension of school's science curriculum. Hamlett explains that if, for example, a class is studying polymers, the teacher can have Mad Science come in and teach a lesson on polymers where the kids get the opportunity to make their own take-home slime.
"We have the big stuff they usually won't have due to school budgets," Hamlett explains.
In addition to classroom opportunities, Mad Science can be hired for birthday parties and special events. A popular demonstration is the cotton candy machine. "We explain to them how it's actually made," he says.
Not only do Mad Science classes cover dozens of subject areas, but a variety of age groups as well. Hamlett says they have classes appropriate for every age from preschool through sixth grade, and he believes that even the youngest participants not only have fun but get a meaningful learning experience from the classes.
"We show them scientific facts. We talk about scientific terms," he says. "Even though they may be young, somewhere it's going to stick in (their minds) and maybe, two years from now, they'll say, 'Hey! I remember this.' "
Mad Science was started in Montreal in 1986 by brothers Ron and Ariel Shlien. After several successful years in Montreal, the first franchises were opened in Toronto and Florida in 1994. There are now 141 franchises in 20 countries. The first Arizona franchise opened five years ago in Tucson. There are now four Mad Science franchises in Arizona.
Hamlett has owned his business for two years and he serves the northeast Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale areas.
Hamlett hopes the children he works with learn to love science and aspire to work in scientific or technological fields when they get older.
"I feel that if I can make even one tiny bit of difference somewhere, that I would help the community."
For more information or to schedule a class or demonstration, contact Jack or Kathy Hamlett at 602-923-7123.
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