Science Fair 2012

My children are great! Not only did they think up some awesome projects this year for the Science Fair, they were great about gathering the data and putting the project board together.

Elise's project "Does Love Help Plants?" She grew two green bean seeds, one named Beauty she talked nice to, one named Ugo she talked mean to. She tracked the growth of the plants over a 6 week period. Results: Beauty grew better, faster, blossomed first, and produced bean pods; Ugo grew but not as well, showed signs of distress (wilting, spotted leaves), didn't blossom or produce.

E got 2nd place in her grade for her project. Great Job E!

Cameron's project "Does the amount of sugar in gum affect how long the flavor lasts?" This was my favorite project, we chewed bubble gum for 2 hours! Results: The gum with zero sugar lasted the longest. Cameron's hypothesis why that result: the gum that lasted the longest had an ingredient that no other gum did, so perhaps that ingredient helps the flavor last (sugar alcohol).

Cam didn't place but he did a great job and bore disappointment very well. He shed a few tears but was quick to love E and K and show support and excitement for them.

Kaitlin's project "What Surface Makes a Bouncy Ball Bounce Best?" Using a yard stick and a high speed camera Kaitlin and I tracked how high a ball bounces on different surfaces when dropped from 3 feet. Results: Cement gives the best bounce back. Kaitlin's hypothesis why: "Maybe it's because cement is so, so, so, SO hard that the ball gets really shmushed and it says 'hey no! I don't want to be shmushed!' so it bounces back really high" Pretty good reasoning I'd say.

Kait got 1st place in her grade for her project. Way to go Kaitlin!

Darrin Wages -3rd, Skyler Simms -1st, Elise Phair -2nd
Anna ?- 2nd, Kaitlin Phair -1st, Sammy Leckie -3rd