Today, Oct. 23, is International Mole Day, but it is not celebrating the typical fuzzy rodent that comes to mind. Mole Day commemorates “Avogadro’s Number,” 6.02 x 10^23.
This number, called moles, is a basic unit in chemistry that allows chemists to convert small measurements to make them easier to work with.
Chemistry teachers at East plan fun festivities to celebrate this day. Cari Carlton, a chemistry teacher at East, has been celebrating Mole Day for around 10 years and is excited to continue the tradition.
“We have what we call the Mole-lympics where students compete in mole-themed events to earn extra credit points. Students also create mole-themed shirts to wear and create mole projects,” Carlton said. “We just want to get students excited about chemistry.”
All these mole-themed events and projects are effective in keeping students involved. It allows them to be creative and have fun while simultaneously learning more about the subject.
Junior Kylie Ashcraft is currently in AP chemistry and participated in the mole day events.
“My favorite activity was throw-a-mole, where you have to attempt to toss a mole stuffed animal 6.02 meters. The day is fun because I got to pick my group and get involved with chemistry,” Ashcraft said.
Students enjoy experiencing a hands-on activity amidst their chemistry classes which can be stressful. These activities play as a bridge between what they learn and how it applies in real life scenarios.
Senior Sammie Burk is a former chemistry student at East, having taken honors chemistry her sophomore year and AP chemistry her junior year.
“I loved mole day. I liked the difference between the honors and AP chemistry activities and how they involved the curriculum,” Burk said. “It definitely made me feel involved in the class and gave me a nice break in my day.”
Mole day at East is more than a fun celebration; it’s a creative way to bring chemistry to life. By turning a complex idea like Avogadro’s number into something engaging and memorable, teachers and students keep the spirit of learning alive one mole at a time.
Written by seniors Kayli Pembroke and Ava Karg. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.