On March, 25th, 2010, The Higher Learning Academy, a three year old charter school in Del Paso Heights, held its first Annual Science and Invention Fair for grades 4 through 6. The science fair is designed to awaken their senses to how science works, and give them hands-on experience with experiments.
The 4th and 6th graders were challenged to create their own inventions. Examples of innovative concepts included a Water Bottle Jet Pack and The Amazing Robot.
The 5th graders focused on the scientific method. Each student had to imagine a problem and demonstrate how they would investigate the terms of that problem. This meant creating a hypothesis and then subjecting that theory to experimentation, leading to conclusions that either supported or exposed the weakness of the idea at hand.
The science fair wasn’t only for making a grade, but also presented a chance to win the honor of recognition from the panel of teacher judges. All participating students received certificates for creating their work. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors were awarded to outstanding works in each grade.
NOT FOUND: science fair.jpgDavene Martin won for her project involving electromagnets. Jeremiah Hill won for his project involving electricity. Dylan Rosenzweig won for his her project title The Flying Car.
As Higher Learning Academy is a K-6 school, children in earlier grades felt inspired to see what older students had accomplished. Some even went home and asked whether they could make their own science experiments. Clearly the event energized the students and fired their imaginations for what they too could potentially create through science. Needless to say, the event was a huge success and HLA looks forward to the 2010-2011 Science and Invention Fair. It will be held in the evening next year to ensure that parents and guardians have a chance to see young scientific minds at work.