Whether it was Sinking Sand, Making Lightning or Rain in a Jar, there were plenty of scientific experiments charted by students at Dent Elementary School over the past couple of weeks.
The bulk of the experiments were done by fourth grade students, with a couple of third grade classes also getting involved. Spearheading the project was fourth grade teacher Nabby Casteel.
"There were probably 25 to 30 projects," Casteel explained. "Not only did they learn about science, it helped meet the state standards."
Students were charged with finding an experiment and most worked in groups of two to put together the project. Many of the projects were listed in various books, but the students had to do the legwork, including making a display board, conducting the actual experiment and keeping a detailed journal of their experiences.
Classmates Kenlee Hiatt and Meagan Mayfield did theirs on 'Colored Milk' and what impact detergent would have on drops of food coloring added to milk. They first put the drops of food coloring into the milk, then dipped a toothpick into detergent and dabbed that into the milk as well. That helped break the food coloring apart, sending it into little swirls of color throughout the container of milk.
For the 'Lemon Battery' project, Alyssa Williams and Tristin King followed a procedure whereby the acid in the lemons was supposed to act as battery acid and light a small lightbulb.
Their project components also included a penny, a paperclip and some copper wire, all with the hope of conducting the acidity from the lemon, converting it into power.
"It was supposed to burn out if it worked," Williams explained of juicing up the small light bulb. "It didn't even light up."
But the two enjoyed working on the project and said they have seen the experiment work, it just didn't work for them. So, that's what they had to write in their science project journal.
"We did it three times here and I did it once at home with my mom," Williams said.
"We wrote all this in our journal," added King.
The bulk of the experiments were done by fourth grade students, with a couple of third grade classes also getting involved. Spearheading the project was fourth grade teacher Nabby Casteel.
"There were probably 25 to 30 projects," Casteel explained. "Not only did they learn about science, it helped meet the state standards."
Students were charged with finding an experiment and most worked in groups of two to put together the project. Many of the projects were listed in various books, but the students had to do the legwork, including making a display board, conducting the actual experiment and keeping a detailed journal of their experiences.
Classmates Kenlee Hiatt and Meagan Mayfield did theirs on 'Colored Milk' and what impact detergent would have on drops of food coloring added to milk. They first put the drops of food coloring into the milk, then dipped a toothpick into detergent and dabbed that into the milk as well. That helped break the food coloring apart, sending it into little swirls of color throughout the container of milk.
For the 'Lemon Battery' project, Alyssa Williams and Tristin King followed a procedure whereby the acid in the lemons was supposed to act as battery acid and light a small lightbulb.
Their project components also included a penny, a paperclip and some copper wire, all with the hope of conducting the acidity from the lemon, converting it into power.
"It was supposed to burn out if it worked," Williams explained of juicing up the small light bulb. "It didn't even light up."
But the two enjoyed working on the project and said they have seen the experiment work, it just didn't work for them. So, that's what they had to write in their science project journal.
"We did it three times here and I did it once at home with my mom," Williams said.
"We wrote all this in our journal," added King.
