Presenting the right stuff at school

BOWDEN - Budding young scientists were out in full force at Bowden Grandview School last week to show off their growing creative power during the fourth annual Science Fair.

Up to 80 students from Grade 7 through 9 presented 45 exhibits in the school gym for the daylong event on Feb. 15 that attracted the keen interest of many parents, families and community members. Students were anxiously standing by ready to make presentations to anyone who asked. The exhibits at the Science Fair, a curriculum requirement at the school, included presentations such as Dissolving Eggshells, Stress and Body Temperature, Barley versus Water, Frogs: Hidden Gems, and Do Hamsters Remember?

"Some students run experiments for weeks before, others complete studies or research," said Patti Cummins, a junior high math and science teacher, and one of the organizers for this year's Science Fair. "Once again this year we had no duplicate projects. Every student's project had a different focus, from research on BSE to extracting DNA from fruit. Truly fantastic."

"We never ask for a theme. The students choose a science topic that they are interested in investigating, be it curriculum-related or not," added Cummins. "We keep it very open ended because we find that there is more purpose and motivation in their projects this way."

Cummins said all the projects were judged using the application of the scientific method - hypothesis, problem, analysis, and conclusion. As well, quality of research, oral presentations, creativity and insight was also judged.

Cummins did the actual judging for the grades 8 and 9 exhibits while teacher Emma Turville handled the Grade 7 entries. To help out, senior high school students, who participated in the fair when they were in junior high, also judged and provided feedback.

"Those judges make the students way more nervous than their teachers do," said Cummins.

And when the judging was completed the winners from each grade were chosen. In Grade 7, Justin Corbett came first with his "Importance of Storing Feed" entry, second place went to Presley Smith and Paige Reberger for their exhibit called "Does Dog Saliva Kill Bacteria", while Amber and Jaden Neilson took third for "Smell Versus Taste".

In Grade 8, there was a tie for first with stellar exhibits from

Erin Smith with "Plant DNA" and Roseanna Bradshaw who presented "The Electromagnetic Spectrum". There was also a draw for second with Maddie Matheson's "The Physics of Dance" and Steve Frizzell's entry of "Creating a Computer Game". Shonti Neilson and Kylie Cole came in third place with "Moldy Bread".

In Grade 9, Sydney Sparks took first place with "The Whitest Teeth". Second place went to Katrina Stolson for "Equine Birth Control", while Cam Martin claimed third for "Fingerprints".

"I feel that each year the students challenge themselves a little bit more when it comes to their projects and that the Grade 7s coming in are very excited to participate," noted Cummins. "It is also a great way to teach, and learn the research and presentation skills necessary as these two staples are a component of the rest of their school years."

With the local Science Fair over for another year the top three students from each grade will represent Bowden Grandview School at the annual Central Alberta Regional Science Fair being held at Red Deer's Bower Mall on March 10 and 11.

"I feel it is a great experience for our students to show off what they have accomplished as well as to see what is out there in the way of projects and research done by other students their age," said Cummins.