Date: Fri 03-Apr-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

Discovery-Science-Fair

Full Text:

Discovering The Fun In Science

(with cuts)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

One hundred and fifty Newtown kids, their parents and teachers spent a most

beautiful Saturday morning in school. Why?

These kids had been working for weeks, in some cases months, developing

science related questions, experiments, and projects and they were too excited

not to see the projects through, even on such a gorgeous day as last Saturday.

Debbie Malin, volunteer with the Newtown Junior Women's Club who headed up the

Discovery Science Fair, marveled at the range of projects; kids were exploring

everything from atoms to zoology.

Micheal Rambone, fifth grader at Hawley, had created a train that floats on

air. He explained that he modeled it after prototype magnetic levitation

devices used in Japan and Germany.

Kids gathered round, pushing the train to the end of the track, and looking

underneath to try to figure out how he made the magnets hold the train above

the track.

Zack Moliver showed a baby alligator skull, snake skins and, among other

treasures, a real iguana skin. He said that the iguana had belonged to someone

else, but it died and they gave it to him. He dissected it himself.

James Reposi and Ian Tran showed the magnetic force of electricity by having

it change the bearing of a compass.

Nearby, a fan blew on Benjamin Crusom's model of a wind-powered

turn-of-the-century carousel.

Katie Powers examined crystal formation with the use of a baking soda solution

left to grow crystals along string as the water evaporated.

Daniel Fiscella studied already formed crystals and minerals, categorized and

carefully mounted.

Live guinea pigs and bugs, constellation models, and eye anatomy were also

among the 100 amazing science projects done by Newtown elementary school-age

children.

After the fair the students were treated to a science show by The Mad

Scientist .

Opening with a hologram and finishing with the wonders of dry ice, the mad

scientists kept the crowd guessing.

One of the younger audience members, Mia Malin, said, "She put fire in a big

jug and blew it up!"

Mirroring her enthusiasm, pre-schooler Emmett White said, "I like the part

where one of the eggs got melted!"

Debbie Malin said how pleased she was with all the hard work, not only of the

students, but also of the teachers from every elementary school who

volunteered their Saturday morning to officiate at the fair.

Mrs Malin said it was the sponsors -- the Newtown Savings Bank, Danbury

Hospital, Taunton Press and The Dock, Inc, who made the whole fair possible.