Gainesville High School Science National Honor Society Revives Annual Chemoween Tradition

By: Alishba Khan (12th grade) & Emma Martinez (11th grade)

Gainesville Science National Honor Society Chemoween volunteers dressed in Halloween costumes gather for a picture, holding a banner created by Kyndall Butler (not pictured).

On October 31 of 2025, Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia students took Halloween to a new level. While many students dressed in their costumes, the day was more than just spooky attire and candy. Members of the Science National Honor Society hosted an unforgettable event called “Chemoween.” The mission of this event was to welcome fifth graders from local elementary schools and introduce them to the magic of scientific principles, preparing them for the science classes awaiting them in middle school.

Planning for Chem-O-Ween took weeks. Our officers organized the schedules, assigned roles, and prepared materials for each experiment to ensure the entire event ran smoothly. We held a practice session for all participating members. During this session, members learned how their labs worked, reviewed safety procedures, and ensured that each activity was ready for a full day of future scientists.

On the day of the event, our teams worked in coordinated shifts. There was a morning setup crew, a morning shift, an afternoon shift, and a cleanup crew. Every SNHS member dressed up in a friendly, kid-appropriate costume to keep the environment fun and festive. When the elementary students arrived, they were welcomed and provided with their own PPE, including goggles and gloves. This ensured safety and helped them feel like real scientists ready to experiment.

Chem-O-Ween included six labs divided into indoor and outdoor spaces. Inside, students rotated through three labs. At the Alien Lab, they made slime while learning about the chemical reactions behind its gooey appearance. Next was the Magician Lab, which featured an egg-in-a-bottle experiment, a soda-can crush influenced by atmospheric pressure, and a candy-corn reaction. The last station was the Ghost Station, which included the water-glider activity and a soap-powered boat. These labs helped students understand the concepts of forces and surface tension.

During the outdoor labs, students explored the Witch Lab, Monster Truck Lab, and Rocket Lab, each fueling students’ curiosity through fun and exciting experiments. To keep everything organized, elementary students were divided into Group A for the morning session and Group B for the afternoon session.

Each student received a Chem-O-Ween “passport” containing the names of all stations. After completing each activity, they wrote down what they learned and drew a picture of what they observed, creating a personal lab report. Students were accompanied by their teachers, who appreciated how organized and educational the event was.

At the end of the day, everyone was encouraged to go to the photo booth, where students and teachers took pictures in different costumes. After that, each student was given a Chem-O-Ween goodie bag to celebrate Halloween.

Chem-O-Ween 2025 was a tremendous success. Students had fun conducting experiments and appreciated the opportunity to learn science with a fun twist. Our SNHS members enjoyed sharing their knowledge and love for science, and we look forward to continuing this tradition next year with even greater success.

Member Taniya Anderson (12) and Treasurer Anne Hawkins (12) lead the Elephant Toothpaste station, mixing yeast and hydrogen peroxide and evoking fascination in students!

Member Madeline Baldwin (12) and Junior Vice-President Delaney Garlich (11) provide safety instructions to students prior to experimentation with Alkaseltzer "rockets."