April 15, 2016 at 4:15 p.m.
Crescent students show off science projects
Crescent students show off science projects
This was the first year parents and students could work on the exhibits together. Projects ranged from plants to weather experiments, probability and more.
"We're doing a thunderstorm in a cup and first you have to put water in a cup, then shaving cream for the clouds, then you put food coloring for the rain, then you bend a paper clip and put it in for the lightning," said second-grader Blake Klingen.
"When you put the lightning in the rain goes down quicker," he added.
Jennie Klingen, Blake's mother, assisted her son with the project.
"We were looking for different ideas and I gave him a couple different options and he chose the thunderstorm project," she said.
Klingen said project was a good educational experience for those students who chose to participate.
"I think it's a good experience for the kids to be able to do something like that, not feel pressured but have the option to do it," she said.
Another student fascinated by weather, Kailee Swenson, and her mother, Jodi Bellile, created tornadoes. They even bestowed tiny ones to those who visited their table.
"It took us days and days to figure out how to - because we wanted to color the water - but everything we tried mixed together," Bellile said.
When they first attempted to color the water they added food coloring but it changed all of the water, so they added colored lamp oil, which made the tornado itself red while the rest of the water remained clear.
"I know more about (tornadoes) than other (topics)," Kailee said.
She thought the CHAMPS science fair was fun and learned that tornadoes south of the equator rotate a different direction than the ones north of the equator.
Bellile loved being able to spend time with her daughter while working on the project.
"It was really fun and I'm so glad for CHAMPS because I couldn't work otherwise, so not only do they provide care for my child when I work but (they do) awesome stuff like this afterwards," she said.
While some students worked with their parents, others worked in groups with the CHAMPS teachers.
The teachers came up with three exhibits about probability. One was on the number of seeds in fruits and vegetables, which resulted in some high counts. The students learned that cucumbers and tomatoes have a lot of seeds.
"Some (had) over 100 (seeds)," exclaimed Amelia MacIntyre, a first-grader. "It was hard to count and hard to keep track a little bit."
Another probability exhibit involved guessing - before it was opened - how many of each colored M&M were in a bag.
The students discovered that there was no pattern and the number of any particular color of M&M was random, according to Tree Miller, CHAMPS teacher.
"Each bag of M&Ms doesn't have the same amount of colors of M&Ms," said Amelia.
The third probability exhibit involved candies. On each paper plate was one color of M&Ms and Skittles. Participants had to try to pick the M&Ms out from Skittles of the same color.
"There are 10 M&Ms and you're supposed to get all the M&Ms in 20 seconds," said Amelia.
If people were quick they could try and find more than the 10 chocolate candies.
"The red is the hardest," she said, adding that it was easier to pick out the other M&Ms from the same colored Skittles.
"It was a blast, I can't wait to do it again with them," said Miller.
CHAMPS (Community Helping Afterschool to Mold Positive Students) is a free afterschool academic enrichment program that also incorporates recreational activities that tie into math and science. All elementary and middle school students in the School District of Rhinelander can participate in the program.
For more information on registering children for the program, visit www.rhinelander.k12.wi.us/community/CHAMPS.cfm.
CHAMPS is always looking for partners to enrich the program and share their knowledge with the children.
To become a partner, call Tim Howell at (715) 365-9600 or email him at [email protected].
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.