On Friday, March 24, Hanksville Elementary School held their annual science fair.

A science fair project is an exciting and meaningful learning experience for each child. Not only can children enter and compete for ribbons, trophies, and awards, but more importantly children have an opportunity to apply the many skills they are learning in the various academic subjects.

A science fair project cuts across almost every curriculum. Some of the skills the students learn and demonstrate are as follows:

• Thinking Skills – This is perhaps the most important product of a science fair project. Students put much time, effort, and thought into a project. They see the result of their thinking in the form of a project. They have developed or utilized problem-solving skills.
• Organizational Skills – Another important skill that students utilize when preparing a project is organization. Students will need the support and advice from teachers and parents, but this is an opportunity to plan, prepare, and organize a project from start to finish.
• Science – Children have an opportunity to investigate a myriad of topics of interest to them in science. They apply the skills of scientific inquiry when investigating their topics. Students learn to investigate, experiment, and discover the many wonders of science.
• Language Arts – Children use many language arts skills when preparing a project. They must read for information to better understand their topics. Children utilize library skills and study skills when they research the projects. Writing is also an integral part of each science fair project. Students use these skills when displaying their projects, writing for information from organizations or other sources, and/or writing a paper to accompany the projects.
• Math – Measurement is an essential component of science projects. Students have opportunities to apply the use of metric measurement and organize data using tables and graphs in meaningful activities.

Students selected scientific areas that were important to them. 11 students participated. All participants set up their projects and gave an oral presentation to the judges. Students followed the scientific method and worked hard to prepare.

Our 2016-17 Science Fair Winners are:

• 1st place Alyssa Morrill, 4th Grade, project: Growing Crystals
• 2nd Place: Mari Esplin, 2nd Grade, project: Types of Soil for growing
• 3rd Place: Adel Schultz, 3rd Grade, project: Cola Corrosion

Thanks to students, parents, Martin & Suellen Esplin and Joe Johnson for planning and preparing the students to participate.