Students busy as bees working on science projects

Divisional science fair showcases work

Rows of brightly decorated cardboard backboards crowded the gym at George Waters Middle School at the St. James-Assiniboia School Division Divisional Science Fair.

The projects at the fair, held April 9, ranged from bridge design to hovercraft, and represented the best science projects in the division. They were selected from 23 schools for having been above average merit in science and research.

Taylor Anderson, a Grade 5 student at Strathmillan school, spent the past two months perfecting her project about bees and the products that come from them. Anderson, who comes from a family of beekeepers, said she plans on continuing her study of the insects in future.

“I’m going to Golden Gate (Middle School) next year, and we’re going to have to do projects like this, so I’m thinking about carrying on, but doing a different topic about bees,” said Anderson. “I really enjoy it – this is a lot of fun.”

Jason Braun, St. James-Assiniboia science co-ordinator, said that fun is exactly what the students should be having .

“They love it. They absolutely love the activity, the opportunity to do this. You can see it in their smiling faces at the awards ceremony,” Braun said. “The fair shows that they’re not alone in the science field — that there are a lot of people interested in science, and that it’s a good thing to be interested in.

“It's not as geeky of an interest as it's sometimes interpreted,” he added with a laugh.

Braun said the divisional fair is a chance for students not only to explore their interest in science, but also to practice skills that will help them later in life.

“They learn presentation skills and work ethic skills that will be applicable right though their academic career,” he said. “So they’re learning first-hand what research means, how to make presentations, and how to discuss the topic and justify your rationale behind what you’re doing and what conclusions you’ve made.”

Over 200 students from Grades 3 to 12 participated in the fair. They were evaluated according to age categories by a number of volunteer judges.

One of those judges was Shawn Trembath, a teacher candidate from Stevenson-Britannia School. He was approached after being a judge at his school’s fair and leapt at the chance. Trembath feels that events such as science fairs are important in turning kids into well-rounded students.

“I think it’s important that children are experienced in things like this,” Trembath said. “We want our children to be more than just learners, I think. We want our children to be writers and artists and scientists. And I think this kind of a venue gives them the opportunity to become scientists.”