An array of projects on display Jan. 30
Exploding volcanoes, slimy hands, and potatoes illuminating light bulbs can only mean one thing — it’s time for the annual Elementary School Science Expo. The expo will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Cornwall Middle School gymnasium on Jan. 30 with a snow date the following evening.
Willow Avenue Elementary School third grade teacher and elementary science curriculum coordinator Caryn Mante doesn’t recall exactly when the district changed formats for the expo, but rather than each school holding their own science fair, it’s now open to any third and fourth grade student throughout the district.
Students are allowed to work alone or as part of a duo. Participation is optional. Entries won’t be judged and students can present an experiment with controls and multiple trials, create a model, conduct a demonstration, or provide information on a topic. Parents are also allowed to assist their child. This is also a change from years past.
Mante explained years ago when she ran the science fair, under a different position in the district, a full-on science fair was held with teachers and parents judging the projects. For a number of years the district didn’t hold the science fair, but when Mante took on her current position, the district had changed the event to an expo.
In the past, Mante was able to meet with students and review their projects, now they have more independence, allowing the students to share their love of science and show off what interests them.
“The positives are, you get children who might not have done the science fair,” Mante said. “You had to do an actual experiment. You had to have a prediction and hypothesis. You had to list your materials and conclusion. Here, if they just want to make a volcano that erupts, they can do that. They don’t have to be such an expert and they’re able to do simpler things. Kids who normally wouldn’t have taken part feel more comfortable taking part because we’re not setting the bar at such a high level for them.”
Mante said there are no negatives to the change in format: “The kids are doing science. To me, that’s a positive.”
Participation forms were sent to students right before Christmas break, but Jan. 10 was the deadline for students to submit their project for entry. An estimated 63 projects will be on display presented by 90 students. Mante said it’s possible some students decide to drop out of the expo.
This year’s expo is expected to offer a wide variety of projects:
• Don’t know what a capybara is? Learn more about the “amazing life and cuteness of the world’s largest and most relaxed rodent.”
• Can rings accurately reflect changes in a person’s mood? One student is expected to explore the science behind mood rings.
• Given the recent weather events, one student will explain beach erosion and demonstrate what causes it.
• A partial solar eclipse will be visible in the Hudson Valley in April and one student will explain what happens during solar and lunar eclipses.