Kate the Chemist Celebrates Northpoint’s Million Minute Reading Milestone

Northpoint Elementary students reached an impressive milestone during their February Month of Reading, logging more than one million minutes of reading across the school! To celebrate the achievement, students welcomed a special guest on Friday: Dr. Kate Biberdorf, widely known as “Kate the Chemist.”

Dr. Biberdorf brought science to life with a series of high-energy, interactive demonstrations that connected directly to the school’s reading focus. Throughout February, students read her book Kate the Chemist: The STEM Night Disaster, making her visit a meaningful extension of their learning.

During the assembly, students experienced science in action. Demonstrations included building a confetti cannon, creating controlled fire bursts, and launching hundreds of plastic balls into the air using an explosion of water vapor. Each experiment was conducted in compliance with University of Notre Dame Risk Management and Safety guidelines, ensuring a safe and engaging experience for all.

Dr. Biberdorf is the nation’s first Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Notre Dame. Through her work, she aims to change how people see science by making it accessible, exciting, and hands-on. She has appeared on national television programs including The Today Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC Nightly News, The Rachael Ray Show, StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Late Night with Stephen Colbert.

In addition to her live demonstrations, Dr. Biberdorf is a bestselling author. Her books include The Big Book of Experiments, The Awesome Book of Edible Experiments for Kids, and It’s Elemental: The Hidden Chemistry in Everything, along with her five-book fiction series featuring “Kate the Chemist.”

Her visit gave Northpoint students the opportunity to see the science they read about come to life, reinforcing the connection between literacy and real-world learning.

Northpoint’s Month of Reading, combined with this interactive experience, highlighted the power of reading to spark curiosity, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the world around us.

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