Fun, Fun, Fun at the Science Fair

A YOUNG science learner has found a way to have their skittles and eat them too. The colourful chocolatey treats underpinned a project about the time taken to dissolve the sugar coatings with various substances, organiser and Āria principal Pam Voyce said. “It involved an awful lot of skittles, as (the student) kept eating them,” Pam reported.

The 2023 interschool Science and Technology Celebration took place at the Āria Hall during the last week of term, with a prizegiving on Wednesday, June 28th. Over 100 displays were created by students at local schools including Rangitoto, Benneydale, Te Kūiti Primary
and St Josephs. An estimated 200 students from year 1-8 took part.

These were set up prior to judging on Tuesday, June 27 – when all the participating students, parents and teachers arrived to view the projects.

“Our nine judges had an extremely difficult task even though the judging criteria was specific. It is very pleasing to see that every year the standard of entries improves. Although the projects are judged, the emphasis is on participation,” Pam said.

Eden Culpan from Kio Kio school was the first prize winner, with a project on rust.

The science fair has been a school fixture for a long time. “This is an initiative started many years ago to encourage schools to promote science investigations and technology problem solving. It is a way for students to investigate and problem solve in practical situations, and is open to students from Year 1 upwards.”

The community had been welcome to come and enjoy the exhibits, she said. “It’s a good chance to come and learn from our children.”

Āria’s Bobbie Kearns, a grandmother of three students at Āria primary school, had enjoyed checking out all of the childrens’ work. “It was cool, I loved it. I loved that the kids made the effort ... they really enjoyed it. It doesn’t matter how they do, whether or not they win prizes, the main thing is the journey".

Birdtalk Magazine Aug/Sept 2023