The fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Woodhull Intermediate School are an upbeat and proud group. They love to share what they are learning and can hold their own with any other school anywhere. This year’s science expo offered more evidence to support this longstanding tradition.
Woodhull students developed dozens of interesting projects that covered a wide spectrum of areas. “We are absolutely thrilled with the depth and exceptional quality of the projects that our students developed for this year’s expo,” Woodhull Principal Lara Gonzalez said. “Their efforts were especially noteworthy and their work was presented in a concise, articulate and attractive manner. They all did a great job.”
The fair provided a window on the scientific world of Woodhull’s students. They are a hardworking group of young people with a range of interests and an array of individual gifts and talents.
“The Woodhull Science Expo was simply outstanding,” Huntington’s Director of STEM, Jill Johanson, said. “This year students had a choice about their type of project. They could do an individual traditional science fair experiment and make a tri-fold board; they could do a group experiment, or they could engineer a product, either individually or in teams. For their presentation, they could do a variety of things besides a tri-fold board, which many chose to do. Students also did Buncee slides, websites and models and some groups made up quizzes, etc. Projects were done in English and Spanish in the dual language classes.”
Engineering projects included cars, pulley systems, various types of bridges, catapults, solar ovens, lemon batteries, robotic hands, Brainpop coding and marble roller coasters.
Traditional science projects included potato enzyme catalysis, exercise and memory, crystal growing and formation, erosion experiments, magnets/electromagnets, plant growing “and so many more,” Mrs. Johanson said. “Students presented to their family and friends that came in. It was a very exciting and positive atmosphere.”
One traditional science experiment from each grade at Woodhull will be selected to attend the Brookhaven National Lab’s science fair is slated for Saturday, May 9 in Upton. It is expected to attract about 500 projects from Suffolk elementary school students ranging from kindergarten through sixth grade. There, one winner for each grade level will be awarded a medal and a banner, which can be hung in the school gym.
