Middlebrook students will be exhibiting and competing in the school’s Science and Engineering Fair this Tuesday, Feb. 3, an event that’s open to the public. On display will be science experiments and engineering projects created by the 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Kendra Norman, the school’s science instructional leader said there’s a lot of creativity and complex work that will be on display.
“They’ve been doing experiments that have to do with straight science or engineering, ranging from experiments having to do with voltage and electrolysis, to chemical testing of runoff water in Wilton. That comes directly from something they study in 7th grade. Another student has surveyed what people think just by looking at a social media profile picture–do they have a negative or positive feeling,” she explains.
Quite often, says Norman, the students are inspired to take what they learn in class and expand upon it in greater detail. That reflects on the kind of high-level science work Wilton’s students cover in class.
“They do lots and lots of labs and engineering projects here in school, between the science classes and I-STEM. They have science every day and they do similar kinds of activities. The fact that these kids want to put in a lot of their extra time and pursue something is really great,” she says. “We have some really enthusiastic participants, and it does reflect well on our program, that they’re willing to put in that extra time and energy to pursue something on their own, of their own interest.”
Participation is extracurricular and was open to any students who wanted to take part. They’ve been preparing their projects with the help of the science teachers and independently at home and after school.
The number of students participating has increased greatly since last year, with 71 students taking part this year. The number of projects is as varied as each student’s personal interests. The students had a choice to conduct a science experiment or create an engineering project, by designing and building a prototype and testing it.
“I have someone making a hovercraft. There’s definitely a wide variety of things the kids can do, in life, physical and earth sciences, and in engineering,” Norman adds.
Judging the projects will be several community volunteers, including Wilton High School AP science students, WHS science teachers and other professionals in science and engineering careers. Some projects may be selected to advance to the CT State Science Fair.
The fair is open to the public from 3:30-6 p.m.. Student exhibits will be open from 3:30-5 p.m.; at 5 p.m. the Mad Science Show will begin; and the award ceremony will take place from 5:45 to 6 p.m..
Middlebrook School is located at 131 School Rd.. The Science and Engineering Fair will take place in the New Gym.