Students participate in Elementary Science Fair on March 11th

Grade 7 and 8 students from Rainbow Schools will have their work put under the microscope when they participate in the Rainbow District School Board’s annual Elementary Science Fair on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009. A total of 90 projects will be featured at this year’s fair, which takes place at Lockerby Composite School in Sudbury.

Judges, local professionals with a science background, will select 37 projects for the Sudbury Regional Science Fair being held at Laurentian University April 4th and 5th. The public is invited to view the projects in the gymnasium at Lockerby Composite School from 3 pm to 4 pm. The awards ceremony will take place in the Auditorium from 4 pm to 4:30 pm.

Students are exploring a number of interesting topics in all areas – earth sciences, the environment, engineering, research and more. "Students will have the opportunity to research specific areas of science that relate to curriculum expectations", says Elementary Science Fair Chair Ron Hodkinson. Students learn scientific concepts using investigative and communicative skills.

Working on science fair projects gives students an opportunity to capitalize on their natural curiosity to inquire and learn. Students actively engage in authentic learning when they investigate questions that are real. Adds Hodkinson: "Students enhance their scientific skills and further develop interests in possible careers in the field of science."

Sudbury Regional Science Fair projects will be selected for the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Manitoba from May 9th to 17th, 2009. "A number of students from Rainbow Schools have had the privilege of showcasing their science fair projects at the national level," says Rainbow District School Board Chair Judy Hunda.

"In fact, three of the seven students from Rainbow Schools who traveled to Ottawa, Ontario for the national science fair last year returned home winners," she adds. "We are certainly very proud of the achievement of our students as they compete among the best of the best. The Elementary Science Fair is the first step on their journey to the nationals".

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Media Contact:

Vicki-Sue Majkot,
Curriculum Co-ordinator for Science, Technological Studies and Geography,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-523-3308, ext. 8234