Scientific methods in evidence all over Philly during annual festival

    The Philadelphia Science Festival is in full swing, with hundreds of events and workshops to explore.

    Through Thursday, the younger demographic can get hands-on during after-school science programs at Free Library branches around the city.

    Inside the City Institute Library on Monday, kids learned the basics of buoyancy through the “float your boat challenge” and built musical instruments out of Popsicle sticks.

    “First of all, they are very enthusiastic and excited about it. They are not jaded,” said volunteer Anita Brook-Dupree, who was leading a lesson in stormwater runoff.

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    “Like everyone always says, they are our future … maybe when they buy a home 20 years from now, they’ll say, ‘Oh, I need to be have some best-management practices in stormwater.'”

    Maybe.

    For fourth-grader Tony Du, the afternoon was more enjoyable than his usual school-based curriculum.

    “Well, the science teacher is kind of mean, but the actual science class is good.”

    The Philadelphia Science Festival, which is in its fifth year, runs through Saturday.

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