Children enrolled in the Scotten and Hennessy school summer programs learned a few things about science when a green converted school bus rolled into town.

Physics professor Bruce Bayly, of Arizona State University and the president of The Physics Factory, teamed up with four college students to entertain a group of about 100 youngsters at Scotten School Friday morning.

"They were phenomenal. It was all about science and physics," said Carol Viola, program director for the Grass Valley School District program.

Children learned about temperature and vacuums, vortexes and the way air moves around objects. College-aged educators sent a collection of balls hovering mid air above a leaf blower and shot smoke rings from a modified trash can above the delighted screaming heads of children.

"We felt it was a wonderful academic exercise," Viola said.

To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231