Vermilion Elementary School Presents At Science Fair

On February 6, students in Grades 1 through 6 at Vermilion Elementary School had the opportunity to demonstrate their scientific knowledge and creativity at the school’s 27th annual Science Fair. The event, held in the school gymnasium from 12 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., featured a wide variety of research-based and experimental projects presented to judges, teachers, fellow students, and family members.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as 55 students proudly showcased 32 unique projects. Research presentations explored topics such as shells, animal species, and life in the past and present. Experiment-based projects examined scientific phenomena including crystal formation, buoyancy tests using items such as eggs, substances that accelerate ice melting, and even taste tests.

Grade 3 teacher Mr. Greg Haslehurst, who co-organizes the event alongside Grade 2/3 teacher Mrs. Raelene Tupper, explained the structure of the Science Fair.

“Students in Grades 1, 2, and 3 could choose between completing a research project or conducting an experiment,” said Haslehurst. “Students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 completed experiment-based projects. The children had the month of January to develop their topics and ensure their experiments followed proper scientific methodology.”

He added that students conducting experiments were required to ask a testable question, make observations, and draw conclusions based on their findings. Research projects, meanwhile, required students to demonstrate an understanding of their chosen topic, whether it involved planets, animals, shells, and more.

Haslehurst emphasized that the Science Fair not only fosters scientific curiosity but also encourages students to explore subjects that genuinely interest them.

“This event has been a tradition for 27 years, promoting hands-on learning and the application of the scientific method,” he noted. “The judges were highly impressed by the students’ ability to present their findings clearly and confidently. They also commented on how much the presentations and oral speaking skills have improved over the years.”

Each experiment included a question, hypothesis, materials list, procedure, observations, and conclusion; while research projects incorporated detailed explanations supported by images, drawings, or models.

Students who met the excellence criteria received black and red ribbons, recognizing their ability to thoroughly explain their projects and apply scientific principles effectively.

One experiment was conducted by Grade 2 students Jaxon Baldwin and Kaston Walsh, who tested how far different types of bubble gum could stretch before breaking.

“We used six different types of gum — 5 Gum, PUR, Juicy Fruit, Mentos Gum, Hubba Bubba Max, and Double Bubble,” explained Jaxon.

The boys discovered that Hubba Bubba Max stretched the farthest. Both agreed they especially enjoyed getting to chew the gum as part of the experiment. When asked what they liked about science, they responded enthusiastically: “It’s cool, it’s fun, and you get to learn new things!”

Another engaging experiment, titled The Taste Test Showdown, was conducted by Grade 5 students Joy Freeman and Grace Dykstra. Their project aimed to determine whether non-brand-name cereal tastes the same as branded cereal.

The girls surveyed 15 blindfolded participants, offering them both brand-name Fruit Loops and a non-brand alternative — without milk — to see which they preferred.

Their results showed that 13 participants preferred the brand-name cereal, while two liked the non-brand version best.

“It was fun to see their reactions,” the girls said with a chuckle. “Some people were confused because they couldn’t tell which one was which.”

Grade 3 students Wyatt Morrison and Luca Savic performed the classic soda explosion experiment to determine which type of pop would shoot the highest after dropping two Mentos into the bottle.

“We used Pepsi, Coke, 7Up, Orange Crush, Diet Pepsi, and Diet Coke,” said Wyatt, who predicted Diet Coke would go the highest.

Luca explained that they measured the height of each spray using video footage.

“We recorded the bottles when we dropped the Mentos in, then took still shots from the video and measured the height with a measuring tape,” he said.

In the research category, Grade 3 students Bodie Sweet and Penny Dillon explored the lives of cats, learning how long they can live, how much they can weigh, when they are considered adults, how they purr, and how well they can see in the dark.

Bodie shared that cats see better in low light than humans because they have more rods in their eyes. Penny explained the science behind purring.

“Their brains send signals to their voice box to twitch 20 to 30 times a second, which makes the sound of purring,” she said.

Both students said earning a medal and being able to present their findings was “pretty cool.”

Grade 3 students Isla Arnold and Josslyn Visser presented a research project titled Horses: Then and Now. The girls examined how horses were used historically on farms and for transportation compared to their roles today.

“Back then, horses were mostly used with wagons and carts for transportation,” said Isla. “Now we mainly use cars and trucks. Horses today are mostly used on trails or for special events.”

Josslyn added that draft horses were once commonly used for farm work far more than they are now.

The Science Fair continues to be a highlight at Vermilion Elementary School, providing students with an engaging platform to develop critical thinking skills, explore scientific concepts, and communicate their discoveries with confidence.

“We would like to thank our seven volunteer judges who came to listen to all the children explain their projects,” said Haslehurst.

With another successful event completed, students and organizers look forward to inspiring the next generation of young scientists for years to come.