Student projects on display at Sippican Elementary School’s 2023 Science Fair on March 22. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) Sixth-grader and ribbon winner Sophie Zhou with her invention, ‘A Breath of Fresh Air!’ (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) Sixth-grader Gabe Willing shows Principal Marla Sirois how to play the original game he coded. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) Sixth-grader Abigail Conley with her invention ‘Gravity Falls.’ (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) Second-grader Amina Goodman with her Kangaroo Pouch invention. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) Sixth-graders Dominick Arone and Demetrios Arone with their experiment on ocean pH levels. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55) Sixth-graders Isaac Barrett and Phoenix Froh with their experiment determining which door handles in the school had the most germs. (Photo courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
MARION — Superintendent Michael S. Nelson is pleased to announce that Sippican Elementary School hosted its first science fair since 2019.
The fair was held on Wednesday, March 22 and featured projects from students in grades K-6.
“We were so excited to bring the science fair back for the first time since 2019,” said Sippican School Principal Marla Sirois. “Our students showed a lot of creativity and innovation. They put a lot of hard work into their projects, and it was great to see them learn new things!”
Students who participated in the fair had the opportunity to enter projects as individuals or groups. The projects could either use the scientific method to conduct an experiment, or create an invention to solve a problem. The projects incorporated a visual display, such as a tri-fold board or slideshow presentation, paired with a verbal explanation to a judge. The judges included teachers from the Tri-Town as well as participants in Old Rochester Regional’s Mentoring Past the First Year Program.
Sixth-grader Sophie Zhou won a ribbon for her invention, “A Breath of Fresh Air!” The project is a sustainable self-watering garden to clean the air.
Other students’ projects included examining pH levels of the ocean, determining the amount of germs on door handles in the school, coding a game, creating a solar-powered system to generate heat, and designing a 3D printed water bottle holder that can attach to a student chair.
The science fair was organized by Chelsey Lawrence, Enrichment teacher at Sippican School.
“This event is special because it gives students the opportunity to work on a project of passion, and share what they learn with their families and the school community,” Lawrence said. “A special congratulations also goes to ribbon-winner Sophie Zhou for her unique invention.”
The science fair also included a student showcase area that displayed projects students completed either in STEAM class or during Enrichment Flex Group. Mad Science of Fall River was also in attendance with Mad Scientist Atomic Allen hosting a Make-and-Take Polymer activity station. Thanks to funding from the Volunteers at Sippican Elementary group, students were able to make slime to take home with them.
“We are proud of all of our Sippican students for their dedication to their experiments and inventions,” said Superintendent Nelson. “I would like to commend Mrs. Lawrence on a successful event, as well as thank everyone who served as judges or attended the fair to see the students’ creations.”
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