Small experiments yield big results

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Winston Anderson created a science fair project titled, "What type of bat hits a ball farthest?"
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Winners of the elementary science fair include Kimberly Snell, Emily Erickson, Ryan Swanberg and Justin Balcome.
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Blake Olhausen, winner

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Elementary students in Alexandria School District 206 exhibited their projects at the annual science fair sponsored by School District 206.

The fair, held November 12 at Voyager Elementary School (VES), was organized by School District 206 Gifted and Talented (Quest) Program Coordinators Dave Harstad and Pam Pearson. This is the 29th anniversary of the Science Fair event, open to students in grades 4 and 5 who are in the Quest program as well as any 6th grader in District 206 schools. This year, 106 students participated in the science fair.

The projects need to be experimental in nature, to include controlled variables, not a collection or demonstration type project. This complements the state standard of “inquiry” thinking that is built into District 206 teaching standards.

According to Pearson and Harstad, students seem to be grasping the idea of a scientific method and have become computer savvy in completing their project displays. Students were also commended for their verbal presentations to the judges.

Ninety-one experimental projects were represented at the fair with 44 volunteers from the community judging the projects. Volunteers, coordinated by District 206 volunteer coordinator Ruth Turner, consisted primarily of people with knowledge in the fields of science and engineering – former science teachers, dentists, doctors, nurses, medical lab professionals, engineers, architects, and others in the health fields or teaching professions.

All projects were judged at least twice and the scores were averaged. Based on project scores, every student participating received a green, red or blue ribbon.

The local Kiwanis organization provided plaques for the top scoring projects at each grade level and McDonald’s provided coupons for free items.

Kiwanis plaque 1st place winners were:

• 4th grade (tied): Ryan Swanberg (Lincoln Elementary School) for his project on laminate vs. solid wood beams; and Justin Balcome (Carlos Elementary School) for his project on mechanical pencil leads

• 5th grade: Kimberly Snell (Voyager Elementary School) for her project on wall hooks.

• 6th grade (tied): Blake Olhausen (Garfield Elementary School) for his project on tarnish removers; and Emily Erickson (Voyager Elementary) for her project on popcorn.

Tags: science fair, district 206, life, features, school, elementary