On a snowy winter day as spring tries to emerge and winter hangs on with another snow, the excited voices of children filled the air at The Renaissance School in Shelburne. All the bustle and chatter was the result of the school’s annual Science Fair. Children grades three through six displayed and presented their individual science projects to their peers, parents, teachers and visiting scientists.

The children at The Renaissance School prepare for this culminating event through the science curriculum. Prior to the Fair, students learned about the scientific method in their classes. Each grade studied and did experiments dealing with a particular theme. The third grade explored plants through experimentation, the fourth grade studied the water cycle and surface tension and finally the fifth and sixth grade classes learned about forces of water.

The subject matter the children explored through their science projects was diverse. Some of the topics included bridge building, the force of water, polymers, desalinization, electromagnetism, classroom genetics and growing crystals.

One child's experiment caused a great deal of excitement and was an experiment with corn starch. A glass baking dish was filled with corn starch and water. The mixture looked like it was the consistency of Elmer’s Glue. If you punched the material you hit what felt like a wall, but if you allowed your finger to sit on top of the material and applied a little pressure your finger would sink into the substance. The science behind this phenomenon has to do with viscosity which describes a fluid’s internal flow and what inhibits its flow. “Pretty amazing stuff!”

Two scientists visited the fair. They are Fred Evening from the UVM Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Tricia Finkle who is the Coordinator of the Vt. State Science and Mathematics Fairs. They watched the children’s’ presentations and gave them feedback. This was very helpful and inspiring for the students. Having real scientists in their midst gave the children an example of where their science study could take them. We are grateful for their support.

Each child will receive an award for all their hard work at the next school assembly. This year’s science fair was a huge success and we look forward to having more fun with science as we continue our school year.