Little Scientists Show Off Their Research

With so many distractions for kids nowadays, it sometimes is difficult to get students interested in schoolwork.

But teachers at Chartiers Valley Primary School did just that when they encouraged more than 150 second-graders to participate in the school’s science fair.

“Times are changing,” teacher Gretchen Wentz said. “If you don’t make it as exciting as their video games at home, you’ve lost them.”

The second-graders on Wednesday crowded into the school gym and proudly displayed their science projects that ranged from the effectiveness of paper towels to miniature turbines. There was no award for the best project, but each student received a grab bag full of trinkets and prizes from local businesses.

“We’re hoping they put their interest into science and how much fun it can be,” teacher Lisa Persinger said.

Danny Crown, a student in Ms. Persinger’s class, did an experiment to find out which paper towel was the most absorbent. He demonstrated how he poured a splash of water on a table and dabbed it with the three different brands.

“It was fun to dump the water and then see which one was dryer,” Danny said.

Just next to his booth was one of the loudest projects. Bridget Schneider worked with her dad, John, to make a small turbine powered by an air compressor. John said he and his daughter have been to engineering events in other cities and the turbine seemed like a natural fit.

It also attracted quite a bit of attention.

“It’s really loud,” Bridget said. “The second I turned it on, everyone crowded around it.”

Some of the projects came together at the last minute. Emma Howell tested which materials rotted an apple the fastest and she was surprised by the results. The jar of sugar all but consumed the small slice of apple.

“I thought the water and vinegar would make it rot the fastest,” Emma said.

Other students pondered different ideas before settling on their projects. Nadiya Bowman originally planned on building a model volcano, but couldn’t find the right supplies so she settled on creating a miniature solar system.

“I never studied the solar system before,” Nadiya said.

And getting students to try something different was the aim of the science fair.

“Just to get them to ask questions,” Wentz said. “In the age of video games … it’s important just to do their own thinking.”