Inquisitive minds want to know: High Prairie Grade 8 students examine projects at annual science fair

How many of you knew you could stick a couple needles into a lemon and have power? Spencer Zelman, left, and Kyle Gordon did and proved it as part of their project called ‘Batteries’ at the Prairie River Junior High School Science Fair in High Prairie Jan. 27.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Grade 8 students at Prairie River Junior High School put their minds to work in solving various scientific questions during their annual science fair Jan. 27. Students completed projects individually or in pairs the last few months. “We had everything from making snowshoes from scratch, a potato gun, chemistry, water quality, chemical effects on the eyes – some very neat projects,” says Rachel Mount, science fair coordinator and teacher at PRJH. Students began working on projects in September when they were given ideas. Of course, they were also allowed to choose projects on their own. “This is a very intensive project for them,” says Mount. “It’s a significant part of their mark.” Judges arrived to scrutinize the projects. It involved not only looking at the displays but interviewing the students. “We had about 12 judges, about 50 per cent returning,” says Mount, adding they appreciate the judges who return each year. Mary Goede-Kohn, a former teacher at PRJH, attended this year to judge. Mount says it was nice to see her back because she was the one who started the fair. “It’s an institution in High Prairie,” says Mount of the fair. Ashley Cairns suffers from scoliosis, which is an abnormal curvature of the spine. She will be having surgery in June. She decided to see if she could make a brace to help cope with the disease. “The spine grows in the shape of an “S” instead of straight,” says Cairns. Cairns created a model brace using air for pressure. She could not test it on a subject, however. Water was not an option for the brace, she says, because if it broke many problems would arise. Renee Campiou and her partner, Kaylee Calliou, studied which of two shampoos and conditioners was best. They discovered Sunsilk was best on one subject, Pantene Provene best on another. “Pantene was best on mine because my hair is straight,” says Campiou. “Sunsilk was best on Kaylee’s because hers is curly.” To determine which was “best”, they measured shine and texture by looking at it and texture by feel. Chemical effects on the eyes was a common project chosen by many. The properties of an egg are similar to the eye so students used different chemicals to determine what affected the eye most.Angel Chalifoux tried to determine what conditions were best for northern lights by visual observations only. She discovered the brightness and colour of the lights depends on weather. “On Nov. 24 it was calm but on Jan. 1 at midnight there were lots of colours – blue, green and purple,” she says. She speculates the lights were brighter Jan. 1 because wind was blowing the gases around. Students also measured iodine content in salt, fuel efficiency, how long batteries last and a host of other projects. Spencer Zelman and Kyle Gordon built a battery in an ice tray. They also stuck needles in a lemon and produced power. Keith Loyst wanted to know just how powerful sugar is. He completed a project called ‘The Power of Sugar Glass where he made sugar glass from water, sugar, corn syrup and cream of tartar. When hardened, it looks like real glass and used in movies because it’s safer. It was first used in the 1930s in old Western films. All gold and silver award winners are invited to attend the Regional Science Fair in Fairview March 19. Mount says she appreciates the support each year not only from the business community but also parents. “There was a good turnout this year,” she says, referring to the public viewing during the afternoon Jan. 27. “I want to extend a hearty congratulations to the students.”

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