Science Fair Gives Kids a Chance to Learn From Setbacks and Successes

After spending weeks designing experiments, writing hypotheses, and testing out theories, Pre-K through 10th grade students presented their findings to judges on Thursday, Mar. 5 at the annual Lincoln School Science Fair.

Nancy Schwalm is a new science teacher this year at Lincoln School, and this was her first experience coordinating the Science Fair.

"I think it went very well. Obviously, I learned some things that I'm going to do differently next time," said Schwalm. She noted there was some confusion among parents because she asked the judges to rate the projects based on individual merit, not on first, second and third in each grade level. "First places really excelled. Second place was above what we would expect. And third place was a very honorable mention, either for uniqueness or scope or design."

In addition to the three ribbon levels, judges awarded five grand champion medals. Jenna Templeton, Damion Birkholz, and Andrea LaManna, all in 10th grade, each earned a medal, as did Remi Dietz, in 5th grade. The final medal was handed out to Juliane Fitzgerald on behalf of the 3rd and 4th grade classes for the overall caliber of their projects.

"I was impressed by the number of students that really amped it up," Schwalm said. Kids had to adapt and grow."

Some students faced bigger setbacks than others, including when all of the horn worms for one student's project died. Another student planned to study moths, but they never hatched.

Students also learned to take constructive criticism, something Schwalm says can be difficult. "It's not easy getting criticism, even if it's constructive. It takes a mature person to take that as what it is, an opportunity to grow."

Jenna Templeton's project studied whether natural or chemical cleaners were more effective and safer to living organisms.

"I was really interested in microbiology, and that's what inspired my project," she said. Her experiment showed that natural cleaners were just as effective as chemical cleaners, but equally unhealthy to living organisms.

"It takes a lot of time and effort," she said about designing and testing the project.

Remi Dietz set up an experiment to test if dogs are colorblind by placing the same treat in different colored bowls and rearranging the color choices. "She picked black and white most, so I think that dogs are colorblind," said Dietz. While she enjoyed the whole project, she said, "The best part was finding out if dogs are colorblind or not. I thought dogs wouldn't be colorblind." Dietz added that her dog seemed to like the experiments, too. "Probably because she got a treat every day."

First time judge Jennifer Stadum, who works for the Office of Public Instruction in the Indian Education Unit, said she enjoyed talking to students and hearing their thought processes. "I was surprised at the students who really loved science. That inspired me. It was encouraging and hopeful," said Stadum, who earned her Masters in Science Education.

Stadum added, "I'm just incredibly impressed by Lincoln School and the positive climate, the dedication of the teachers, particularly Nancy, and the courtesy and politeness of the students."

In coming years, Schwalm hopes to give students the opportunity to participate in bigger Science Fairs. "I would like to enter Lincoln High School in more statewide competitions, increasing the rigor and quality and caliber of the projects that are coming out. I believe there are some major scholarships attached to these, and I would like to enter that arena."