The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Science sparks students' interest
Science fair fun for kids
By Mike Dolsen, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: March 1, 2007
Why can't you taste well with your nose plugged?
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How do you split water into oxygen and hydrogen?
Does a calcium rich diet affect bone composition?
These were the questions being asked by fifth- and sixth-graders Feb. 7 at the 10th annual science fair at Heritage Elementary School in Saline.
"Students get to pursue an area of science that they wouldn't normally get to pursue," science fair co-chairwoman Mary Stefani said. "They get to take what they learn in class and apply it somewhere else –– do an additional inquiry."
The science fair is for students who are interested in taking their curiosity further. This year's fair drew 68 projects and 130 participants. Co-chairwoman Mary Palmerton said the fair lost about seven projects to the Feb. 6 snow day and subsequent rescheduling.
"The science fair enhances (students') interest because they find something that they want to research and they then get an in-depth knowledge of the area that they researched," Palmerton said.
Of the 130 projects showcased, students had topics that ranged from vegetable-powered clocks to the mechanics of a remote controlled car. One pair of students was interested in finding out how humans taste food.
"Your nose smells more than half of all the food that you eat," sixth-grade participant Darbie Molloy said. "Most people can only tell the taste of food by its texture and taste. (Ashley Kurek) and I wanted to find out why."
To spark students' interest in participating, the Heritage Parent-Teacher Organization started a campaign in mid-December to get students involved.
"After students got back to school after holiday break, we had volunteers go into the classrooms and do a little demonstration with the kids," Stefani said. "Our PTO president actually catapulted marshmallows to show students science at work. That got a lot of kids involved."
Parents at the fair were also very impressed with the students' work. Carolyn Arbor has a fifth-grader who got involved for her first time this year.
"My daughter thought that she'd like to try it, so she gave it a shot," Arbor said. "Her idea was a little challenging, but she managed."
Arbor's husband, Jeff, added, "The fair makes the kids more aware of what they can do when they put their mind to it. It challenges them to ask questions about why things work."
Mike Dolsen is a senior at Saline High School. He can be reached at mdolsen27@gmail.com.
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