Friday afternoon, San Gabriel 9-12 class invited Sierra Nevada over for a Science Fair organized by some of the San Gabriel students.

The younger Elementary students strolled through the fair, an array of 9 different exhibits, all demonstrations of the use of the Scientific Method, changing only one variable, making a hypothesis, making observations, and coming to a conclusion about the observations. They could see for themselves, through demos and photos, how the experiments had been carried out, and they could ask questions of the exhibitors.

One could learn, for example, that it takes some time to form a crystal of sugar, and cyclops are not cannibalistic — at least in these instances.

Topics ranged from the behavior of microorganisms, to seed germination in different types of soils, to the role of type of bread flour in determining the rising of a loaf of bread, to the best container for preserving an egg in a fall, to the role of viscosity in the speed of liquids’ flow, to the rate at which minnows could be trained, to the comparative effects of hot and cold water hand washing on the formation of hand wrinkles, to the effects of different kinds of liquids on the appearance of cilantro.

This was not an “official” assignment, but a completely spontaneous organization. All of the class got behind the fair, however, helping to host the students from Sierra Nevada, and showing great interest in each exhibit themselves.

At the evaluation at the end there was a round of applause for the organizers, and compliments on the pictures and displays.

Then, all went out for some free play.

Success!