The second annual Science Fair at The New Century School came off with a bang! Actually, it was a drip. And a slide. And a buzz and a whir. There was Jell-O™ . . .

Despite numerous weather-related school closings, TNCS elementary students were hard at work in February and March, designing science experiments to conduct and present. “There are two different projects in each class. The pre-1st and 1st-grade class created an ‘Art Bot’ (a robot that draws pictures) and worked on centripetal force. The 2nd–3rd-graders worked on mass flow rate along with friction using an ice ramp and a dry ramp,” said Alisha Roberts, elementary STEM teacher.

To decide what experiments they were going to do, says Ms. Roberts, “I had them make a list of what they might be interested in. I saw lots of boys versus girls suggestions, like who can exercise longer. Those were all great ideas, but I was looking for topics we’ve covered, things that incorporate other parts of our STEM program, so combining math and science, for example.” Getting ideas and generating interest was not difficult, she says, quite the opposite. “They were very eager to get started!”

Once they nailed down their project topics, they dutifully followed the Scientific Method, like any good scientist worth his or her NaCl. In groups of 3 or 4, they started by asking a question about their project, then did some research (some teacher guided; some independently at the computer) to get background details, then formed a hypothesis based on this information. Next, they implemented their procedure. Each group had collaborated on what procedure they needed to follow to conduct their experiment and wrote out the individual steps in their journals. “They even typed them up independently for their experiment displays,” said Ms. Roberts. “They did all the work. I’m just there to help monitor and answer questions.” Finally, they report results and form a conclusion on that basis. “But,” said Ms. Roberts, “they tested each experiment several times to make sure they get accurate, reliable results to report.”

Pre-1st and First Grade

Art Bot!

The lower elementary had been learning about electricity, ultimately building snap circuits in class. “They were obsessed with snap circuits, said Ms. Roberts. “That’s all they want to do! They love being able to make something work. They can make it make sounds, they can make it flash, make it move in a certain direction, or make pieces of it fly off.” So, building a DC-motor-powered robot that can draw held immediate appealed. How will it work best with different weight distributions? Will vibrations in the motor make it move a certain way, or will they cause it to tip over?

How can I make the art bot draw a circle?

What will happen to the robot if you pit a popsicle stick on the top of the robot?

The art bot will draw a circle if one popsicle stick was more on one side.

Some objects are hard to balance. Everything can be balanced. I can balance on one foot. The DC motor was invented by Michael Faraday in 1821.

Very methodical and precise, kids! That’s a lot of steps to work through!

Very conscientious and observant!

The weight of the popsicle sticks made the robot off-balanced. Center the sticks to make it balanced.

Three popsicle sticks placed in the center of the bot produced the desired results! The diminutive scientist was so proud!

Look at this marvel of modern engineering. Well done kids!

The finished presentation

Centripetal Force

Another class topic was Newton’s laws of motion, which are essential to understanding, say, what keeps you in your seat on a giant loop-de-loop roller coaster—centripetal force. For this, they constructed a bucket with green jello on the bottom, red jello on the top, and a marble in the middle. They then spin the bucket around the same way every time to observe movement in the marble.

Predictions included that the marble would change color and that jello would explode all over the room. They were very excited about this latter prospect. Supercool! Instead they learned that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. A little more prosaic than jello-covered walls, but still awfully cool!

What will happen if I spin a container with a marble in it 20 times?

The Jell-O will mix together and fly out of the cup.

They typed (and spelled) their labels themselves!

Very methodical, kids!

So fascinating!

When you spin the cup around 20 times, a force moved the marble to the side.

The finished product!

2nd and 3rd Grade

Friction

To study friction (also related to Newton laws), the older elementary kids soaked a board and then froze it to compare movement along the resulting icy ramp to that of a dry ramp. When sand is poured on it, which one produces more friction and why? At what height and “slip angle” create slide? Ms. Roberts explained that a practical application of this experiment for kids is to learn about slipping on ice or being able to come to a stop from a full run.

What will happen if I put a bucket of sand on a slanted ramp?

Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and materials sliding against each other.

I think the dry ramp will go easier than the sandy ramp.

The eager young scientists excitedly commence experimenting!

Fun and scientific!

The scientists tested and retested their results to be able to report findings reliably.

Learning to measure precisely was an important aspect of the friction experiment.

Very interesting!

The sandy ramp has more friction than the smooth ramp because it’s rougher, and you have to make the ramp higher.

The finished product

Mass Flow Rate

To study the concept of mass flow rate (the mass of a substance which passes through a given surface per unit of time), the students fitted a funnel in the top of a box and measured out the same weight in certain materials like dried pasta, coffee, and water. Then, they pour each substance down the funnel and time how long it takes to flow through. What travels more quickly? Why? Placing the funnel in a box was an ingenious way to control for height and eliminate the possibility of that variable affecting the results. “Everything must be precise!” said Ms. Roberts. They also brought in some math skills with this experiment and learned to measure and cut so that the holes on their boxes would be evenly centered.

What flows faster, liquid or solid?

Physical laws of the universe!

Very important background info!

The liquid will flow faster than the solid because the liquid isn’t hard like a solid.

Scientific method in action!

Pouring materials through the funnel and recording observations.

They must have had so much fun with this!

Liquids are faster than solids, but even differently shaped solids can flow at the same rate.

Liquids are faster! (And jellybeans get stuck.)

The kids decided to paint their boxes to make ’em look pretty for the final presentations!

The finished product!

“The students have been working extremely hard on their science fair projects and are very excited to share the results with you!” says Ms. Roberts. “The science fair will be held the week of March 24th-–March 28th from 8:00 am–8:30 am. Please feel free to visit the fair as many times as you would like during this week with your child!”

What is it that has the kids so excited about doing these experiments and presenting them? “They just want to know,” said Ms. Roberts. “Was my hypothesis correct? That’s what it comes down to—did I get it right?”