Lincoln School students present their projects during annual Science Fair

Budding scientists filled the auditorium at Lincoln School on Friday to display their Science Fair projects and share the results of their curiosity, creativity and critical thinking with their parents and family members.

Row upon row of display boards transformed the space into a bustling laboratory of ideas, as the fourth- through eighth-graders explained hypotheses, demonstrated experiments and answered questions with confidence. 

From engineering and physics to biology and environmental science, the fair showcased not only what students learned, but how they learned it.

“Lincoln School is so pleased to continue in its tradition of hosting its annual science fair, where our students get the opportunity to explore an idea, test the hypothesis and be able to present it to the community,” Principal Rebecca Jones said. 

“It’s hands-on, it’s inquiry-based and it is exciting. It really gives them a chance to tap into both their intellectual and their creative abilities. When you walk through this room, you see budding scientists, engineers, mathematicians and biochemists — and this is where it all begins.”

Every student in grades four through eight participated, resulting in hundreds of projects that reflected both academic rigor and personal curiosity that they presented. Projects by kindergartners through third-graders were displayed in the hallway.

Student Jaden Josephs presented a model of a Maglev train. 

“It’s magnetic and runs on electricity and magnets on the train itself and on the track,” he explained. “It goes 300 to 600 kilometers per hour, which is the fastest train in the world.”

Sixth-grader Naihayla Wood-Dade took a more hands-on approach to science with a project focused on skincare. “My project is making soap for eczema,” she said. “I used honey and shea butter with a soap base.”

Fourth-grade student Kennedy McKenzie, meanwhile, explored atmospheric science with her project, “Does the Altitude Affect Air temperature? 

“I believed that if you go to a higher altitude, it would be colder and it would take longer to boil water,” said Kennedy, who was inspired to tackle the project after a family visit to the mountains. 

“There was snow falling down, and when I found out we were gonna do a project, I was very interested and thinking how would it be when you go up in altitude and get colder,” she said.

Student Nora Msahli demonstrated electrical conductivity in her project, “Does Electricity Flow Through all Materials?” Using a circuit board, she showed that electricity travels through some materials but not others. 

“It does not go through glass, plastic or wood,” she explained, lighting up a bulb when metallic materials completed the circuit.

Fifth-grader Briella Bailey brought chemistry to life with a homemade lava lamp. 

“I made it using vegetable oil, vinegar, salt, food coloring and Alka-Seltzer tablets,” she said, noting that her mother inspired the experiment after doing something similar as a student.

Other projects families explored included “How to Make a Car,” “Oil Spill Experiment,” “Forces of Flight,” “Metabolism and How It Works,” “How Life Formed in the Ocean,”   “Where Does Our Trash Go?” and hundreds of others.

The event was organized by reading specialist Kaylan Robstad and sixth-grade teacher Aaron Seiden, who said planning began months in advance. 

“We started planning this in September,” Mr. Seiden said. “Around Thanksgiving, we shared the outline with the staff and met weekly with Mrs. Jones. The last few days were spent setting everything up. This is one activity where students really get invested in everything they’re doing.”

Ms. Robstad said the excitement extended beyond the students. 

“The kids are so excited, and the families are really excited, too,” she said. “It was a wonderful opportunity for students to work alongside their parents and create something they’re both proud of. We had a great turnout, with families from kindergarten through eighth grade attending.”

As parents circulated through the auditorium, asking questions and listening to explanations, the students also took the time to chat with their peers, pose for photos and enjoy the festive atmosphere.