Whenever she can get the chance, and the time, to put on a show to get kids excited about science, Dr. Margo Wimbish is going to take it.

Wimbish, an assistant principal at Sandy Creek High School, took a day out of her summer break to put on a science show for 27 kids ages five to nine from the Dublin Housing Authority at the Oconee Regional Library in Dublin, Georgia. Wimbish’s show was funded by a mini-grant the library and housing authority received from the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy Initiative. Even though the grant is aimed at literacy and language development, recipients can use a portion of the funds for other academic-related activities.

Jan Moore, head of the children’s department at the Oconee Regional Library, said she wanted to include a science component among the grant-funded activities because she thought the kids would love to see science experiments. Based on the students’ reactions, she made the right decision.

“As the students were leaving the show, I asked them how they liked it and they said they loved it. As they were coming in this morning for another show we had here at the library, I asked the kids what they thought of the show yesterday, and they still talked about Dr. Wimbish’s experiments and how much they enjoyed the show. They especially enjoyed the toilet paper experiment and marshmallow launcher,” said Moore.

Moore remembered seeing a science skit Wimbish had done at a performers showcase for libraries in Fayetteville a few years ago. Moore researched Wimbish’s shows and thought she would be a great performer, “which she was,” said Moore.

Moore admits that Wimbish was the third person she called about doing the performance, and was the only one who was willing to do it for the stipend she could afford to pay.

“Dr. Wimbish did a wonderful job. The kids learned about science and how to do some of the experiments she showed them at home,” Moore added.

Wimbish said it has been a while since she has participated in a science outreach program. As a science teacher before being promoted to an assistant principal, Wimbish actively sought grants of her own for classroom programs and activities that would help students connect science to everyday life. As a classroom teacher, she received several grants from the Fayette County Education Foundation to fund an outdoor science lab for students attending the county’s alternative education program. Now, as a busy assistant principal at Sandy Creek High, her time is limited for activities outside of the walls of the school, but she is committed to help when and where she can.

“When I was contacted about this grant, I wanted to be a part of the program. I will continue to work with local and regional library systems to turn kids on to science and beekeeping,” said Wimbish.