Students show science know-how

By Jennifer Grybowski
Turley Publications Reporter

BRIMFIELD- Sparks were flying at Brimfield Elementary School April 16 when fifth-graders hosted their annual Electricity Fair.
Students crafted electric boats, solar cars, fans, noisemakers, illuminated forks, burglar alarms, airplanes, bumper cars, motors and metal detectors. Some of the students worked in groups and created larger projects such as a lighted mountain; a village with street lights, drawbridge and lighted houses; a lighted Eiffel Tower made from popsicle sticks; and the Las Vegas strip, complete with lighted city sign.
Fifth-grade teacher Dawn Lataille said the students were encouraged to look in classroom books and on the Internet to get ideas for projects. She said about half of the students create projects based on things they find doing their research, and about half of the students create completely unique projects.
The students spend from February to April vacations working on different forms of energy.
“The kids get really excited about it,” Lataille said.
Lataille, who has been teaching at the school for three years, said in the past the project had just been limited to fifth-graders. Now, for the second year, the entire school and parents are invited to come and view the creations.
“There were a great amount of parents, which is nice,” Lataille said. “And it’s great for the kids coming up. They get excited and get ideas as well.”
During the fair, students had to talk about their projects to people viewing them and answer questions. Principal Brian Ledbetter took the opportunity to quiz students.
“I questioned as many kids as I could and asked them about why they used these specific materials,” he said. “They were all able to talk to me about insulators versus conductors. They could also speak to the ‘complete loop’ and what would happen if that loop was broken.”
Ledbetter said he was very impressed by the fair.
“It was really great to see the focus that each project had. I hate science fairs that have foaming baking soda and vinegar volcanoes with really no theme to it. The kids knew what the concept was and used their creativity from there.”
Most of the fifth graders said their favorite part was showing off their projects. But they said they also really enjoyed putting their projects together, and embellishing them with items that weren’t in the books.
“I like testing them because you can make improvements on your design,” Luke Gerrish said.
The projects are now displayed throughout the library, and in a case by the main lobby. Lataille said they will continue to do the projects, and continue to invite the larger audience.