St. Michael's students display their scientific knowledge

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

St. Michael's School held their annual Science Fair with the participations of students from kindergarten to grade seven in the school's Dale Wentz Memorial Gymnasium on May 8, 2013.

Morgan Filipuzzi and Qamra Ludwig's
Crazy Foam

Many of the students were excited to display their work and to see the efforts of their peers. Some students took weeks working on their projects and the displays showed the time and the attention to detail that they took.

Most of the students displaying their work expressed how much they enjoyed the process of discovery, doing the work, and seeing the results of their efforts.

A large number of tables proudly displayed a certificate reflecting the merit of the work based on grade, difficulty of the project, the effort that went into the work, and the understanding of the principles behind their project.

"The kids put together their projects, and are showing them with such enthusiasm," said St. Michael's Principal Don Kuchison, who was pleased with the work of the students.

The following are some of the young scientists I met and their exhibits.

Mario Girard

"It really works," said Grade 1/2 French Immersion student Mario Girard as he showed a propelled flotation device that he built himself.

Caylub Schoor (white shirt) and
his volcano

Caylub Schoor put together an impressive volcano with paper-mache, chicken wire, paint and a disposable cup, then decorated it to look realistic.  "Ive never seen it before, and I wanted to see it," said Schoor about his experiment.

McKinney Ettenhofer and Sofia Citrigno

Grade 3 French Immersion Students McKinney Ettenhofer and Sofia Citrigno showed the fascinating properties of layered liquids. Each of the girls took the time to explain how the density of the liquid made it possible one liquid to be lighter than another, causing one to float, another to sink.

Kayla Zoratti (right)

Kayla Zoratti her own quicksand with the help of Grace Zoratti.  They found a lot of the information on the internet, including the recipe with their display, a concoction of cornsyrup, water, and sand. "If you are ever caught in quicksand, spread out and float of your back," advised Kayla.  Kayla and Grace are in Grade 5 French Immersion.

Julian Krizan

Julian Krizan is in Grade Four French Immersion and made mold his target.  Photos of his work catalogued a three week project on a number of foods.  "It was weird seeing the mold grow. I expected it on the hot dog bun, but it has preservatives."

Morgan Filipuzzi and Qamra Ludwig

Grade 5 students Morgan Filipuzzi and Qamra Ludwig partnered to make a crazy foam that expands.  The girls wore safety glasses and mixed yeast, hydorgen peroxide food coloring together.  Less than a half cup of these ingredients overflowed a small pop container and flowed out of the top of the bottle to the delight of those watching.

Mercedez Girard

If you ever asked yourself, "Can I really power an MP3 player with a sports drink and an onion?" Grade Five student Mercedez Girard can tell you the answer is an enthusiastic yes.  Her onion was perforated then soaked in the sports drink for 30 minutes. She then put a USB connector into the onion and reported that it took about two minutes for her player to get fully charged.  "You should dry off the onion before you plug in the MP3 player."

Jesse Hall

Jesse Hall chose to make a bouncy egg.  By placing a whole raw egg in vinegar for a specified period of time the composition of the egg changes, making the shell disappear, leaving a rubbery bouncy egg behind.  "The shell gets eaten by the vinegar because it's and acid," explained Hall.

Aurora Nickel

Grade 5 student Aurora Nickel talked in depth about the scientific principals involved in her experiment that involved a dish with milk, dish soap and food coloring.  "I saw it on Mad Science, and it makes cool designs when you break the surface tension."

Germs were tackled by partners Paige Richards and Genie Girard.  These two Grade Four students used a product that would make germs glow under a black light called glitter bug potion.   The two photographed their hands without washing, after washing, and after using an alcohol based hand sanitizer.  "The hand sanitizer can spread more germs," said Girard.

Paige Richards and Genie Girard

Megan Sundberg

Megan Sundberg is in Grade Four French Immersion.  She looked into some of the reasons kids need calcium.  She soaked chicken bones in vinegar and observed how weak the bones became after being exposed to the acid. She demonstrated how after just one day of soaking in the acid the bones could bend.  "It made me want to drink milk," said Sundberg.

Grade Four French Immersion student William Johnson experimented with different amounts of fertilizer on plants.  He was careful to make sure that all the plants had the same dirt, sun, and water, watering the plants every other day for six weeks.  Going from left to right he had no fertilizer, the recommended amount (RA), two times the RA, four times the RA, and ten times the RA.  His experiment definitely displays that you can get too much of a good thing.

William Johnson

There were many other fascinating exhibits spread throughout the gymnasium, exploring the world of science in many creative ways.  If you see your exhibit displayed here with no description, it's because I didn't get a chance to talk to you but still enjoyed your presentation.