Science, humor and safety blended to intrigue kids into learning more at Lincoln Public Library

 

[July 09, 2018]  LINCOLN - Kids taking part in the Lincoln Public Library Summer Reading Program “Reading Takes You Everywhere” could be forgiven if they thought they had stepped into the center ring of the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Professor Toto had arrived at the library to bring his love of clowning, science, and teaching to the library’s Thursday morning entertainment. The show called Absolute Science was a teaching moment full of energy and humor.

Professor Toto is from Davenport, Iowa and has had a love for clowning since he was a kid. He has been on the road as a clown ever since, even taking it to the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus as a teacher of clowning in the 1980’s.

“Clowning is a unique skill that comes from the heart. Each clown brings their own character to the act,” he said. He has been all over the world including six visits to China bringing fun and comedy to audiences and now combines his clowning with teaching science.

Absolute Science has six teachers traveling the Midwest, each with a different skill that they use to entertain young readers about science. There is a magician and a singer, among others.

Toto brings his skill with the ancient and honorable skill of clowning to pull his young audience into the fascinating world of science.

“My message to the kids is to have fun with science. I leave the lessons to teachers in school,” he said.

“I want to spark an interest in science with the humor in my demonstrations hoping that at least one of the kids will want to learn more, take out a book from the library to learn how science is all around us,” he added.

Professor Toto was inspired himself by his sixth grade science teacher to take this road. He is still in contact with his mentor! “I am truly blessed to be able to combine my love of clowning and teaching,” he said.

After telling his audience that his number one rule for his science fun is to be silly, but safe, it was off to the world of science.

Professor Toto had the young readers in his audience shouting with glee as he entertained them with demonstrations using weird chemicals that kept their hands dry even when they were plunged into water. He combined chemicals to create pink ink that Miss Jaime from the library staff poured all over his white lab coat.

The kids were shocked by her “bad” behavior, but were fascinated to see his lab coat return to its pristine white color by the end of the show. He had used science to concoct disappearing ink. His grand finale was a demonstration of the power of a laser to produce heat.

The Lincoln Public Library brought a world class entertainer and teacher whom kids could see create scientific experiments right in front of them.

The Lincoln Public Library summer reading program Thursday morning entertainment continues for another two weeks. Contact the Youth Services Department to sign up for next week’s program at 217-732-5732.

[Curtis Fox]