The Sierra Canyon Science Department brought chemistry to life during Mole Week (October 20–24), a nationwide celebration of chemistry and Avogadro's number (6.02 × 10²³).
Throughout the week, students explored scientific concepts through hands-on experiments, friendly competitions, and campus-wide activities. On Tuesday, AP science classes hosted a guacamole tasting on the Plaza during Lunch 1 and 2. Six guacamoles were entered, and students who purchased a plate cast ballots in a double-blind tasting to ensure a fair result. Congratulations to Adriana M. '27 (AP Environmental Science) on earning the most votes; second place went to Thomas T. '26 (AP Physics C), and third to Darius M. '27 (AP Chemistry).
Wednesday's Community Time featured prepared games like More or Less, inspired by The Price Is Right, in which students decided whether everyday quantities were more or less than a mole, and Atom Race, where students carried "protons" and "neutrons" back to the nucleus at center court while retrieving the correct element from their grade.
On Thursday, Honors Chemistry students applied dimensional analysis to calculate precisely what was needed to bake six cupcakes per group. Their batches came together as a full Periodic Table of Cupcakes—one cupcake per element—which they shared with the school community during both lunches on the Plaza. The week concluded Friday with a life-sized Whack-A-Mole during Lab, featuring science teachers as the "moles." Students used tickets earned in their science classes to take part in the playful finale.
Mole Week reflected Sierra Canyon's approach to learning by blending rigorous concepts with a spirit of community and fun. The Science Department engaged students in work that deepened understanding and celebrated the joy of science.
Enjoy the student-created video by Dean G. '26 below, featuring students and faculty sharing their interpretations of "What is a mole?"
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