Fair Play

Mar 05, 10:50 AM

Current Headlines: By Rhoda Fukushima, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

Mar. 5--Hey, kids. * If you want kudos on your science fair projects, avoid the exploding volcanoes. Some local experts shared that tip, along with a batch of science fair project ideas -- some fresh and inspired, some they'd like to see retired. * The student version of Mount Kilauea -- you know, the one made of baking soda and vinegar -- did not make the cut. "It has nothing to do with volcanic action," says Kevin Williams, curator of education for the Bell Museum of Natural History. "It's kind of neat, but it's not really a learning project." * Instead, John Ward, assistant professor of plant biology at the University of Minnesota, says good science fair projects have four key elements:

* They're original ideas.

* The student is interested in the topic.

* The experiment measures something.

* The experiment can be replicated.

"It's more important that the student does the project themselves, whether it turns out good or bad," says Ward, who has judged junior-high science fair projects for six years.

As always, parents should resist the temptation to take over their child's work. Besides, the judges can probably tell.

Williams recalls one "cool" insect experiment that crossed the line. It featured magnetic resonance imagings of caterpillar pupae.

"What fifth-grader has access to an MRI?" Williams says. "We had visions of her father running people through the MRI and asking them, 'Could you hold this pupae?' "

IDEAS THAT INSPIRE

Experiments that ask a simple question. For example, ask does a monarch caterpillar prefer fresh milkweed leaves to dried milkweed leaves? "The important thing is not what is the best idea," Williams says, "but what is a question kids can ask and answer?"

Experiments that prompt students to look at the world in a scientific way. This can be as simple as having a student look out the window, notice the squirrel and ask specific questions like how fast can it run? Can it see different colors? Or do squirrels prefer food that is a particular color? "You can figure out experiments for almost anything," Ward says.

Experiments with alternatives. If your student has his or her heart set on a project involving plants, try a twist like getting bean seeds at the supermarket and growing them at home -- without soil. "They can grow on wet paper towels," Ward says.

Product quality experiments. Ask which detergent is better or which battery lasts longer? "That is more scientific because they can do an experiment," Ward says.

IDEAS TO RETIRE

"Canned" science fair experiments. It's easy to find "science fair kits" on the Internet, Ward says. Avoid that temptation.

"Who would win in a fight?" experiments. Boys tend to come up with ideas related to fighting, such as pitting a monarch caterpillar against a best beetle (a science fair mainstay), Williams says. "They're not going to fight. They don't fight. They're not humans," Williams says. "Caterpillars are vegetarian. Best beetles don't have any reason to fight."

Treating plants with any kind of beverage. These experiments typically ask the question: Which do plants like better -- regular or decaf? Coke or Pepsi? Plants don't naturally respond to soda, coffee, tea or sugar water, making this experiment pointless. "Plants are great for science fair projects because they respond to many environmental or natural cues -- light, temperature, gravity," Ward says. "Sugar water is really bad because it rots."

The "what kind of X do people like best?" project. Oftentimes, the experiment centers around food, especially candy, Ward says. That requires taking a random survey and asking people their preferences. "It's hard to answer that question in a scientific way," Ward says.

Giving mice or rats sugar water (instead of regular food) and determining effects on weight gain. "It's cool, but kind of hard on the rats," Williams says. "You end up with rats that are kind of strung out." Then, of course, you have to dispose of them.

Rhoda Fukushima can be reached at rgfukushima@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5444.

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