KINGSTON — More than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders at David Wolfle Elementary School spent part of a school day in October working as chemists aboard a 45-foot mobile laboratory run by Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
The visit was the Science Inspiration Lab’s first stop in Kitsap County, according to the North Kitsap School District. Students from four classes took turns in the custom-built lab, which holds up to 30 students at a time and is outfitted with the kind of equipment scientists use.
Their assignment: help a fictional scientist, “Dr. Ginger Ale,” figure out how much sugar is in her new drink, Formula X.
In the lesson, called “Seeking the Sugar Solution,” students added a chemical reagent to samples of the drink and compared the color change against standards with known amounts of sugar. They used their results to fill out a nutrition label for the beverage, a way of tying chemistry to everyday choices about what they drink.
“Our students were so excited to step inside the lab and work alongside real scientists,” said Bethany LaHaie, Wolfle’s principal. “Experiences like this bring learning to life and give students a chance to explore what they can do with science.”
The Science Inspiration Lab began operating in April 2025 as Seattle Children’s second mobile lab. The first, the Science Adventure Lab, has been visiting schools since 2009. The district said the two labs together have reached more than 100,000 students across Washington.
The labs serve students in grades 4 through 8, and visits are free to schools. Lessons cover topics such as vital signs, brain function, DNA and blood typing, along with a look at careers in science and health care.
Only teachers, school staff and administrators can apply for a visit. Seattle Children’s says it receives more requests than it can fill and gives priority based on a school’s share of students receiving free or reduced-price meals, Title I eligibility and location. Applications for the 2026-27 school year are open.
More information is at seattlechildrens.org/research/centers-programs/science-education-department/mobile-science-labs.
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