BRDC Science Fair - Grayson County Middle Schools
The fun and excitement continues as 246 students in Grayson County competed for prizes at the 3rd Annual BRDC Science Fair!
The fun and excitement continues as 246 students in Grayson County competed for prizes at the 3rd Annual Science Fair! Independence Middle School hosted the Science Fair again this year and accommodated all the students and their projects as they set up in the gymnasium.
Judging for the event began on Thursday evening with the review and scoring of the projects. Scoring was based on the students research question or problem, design and methodology, data collection, analysis and interpretation or construction and testing (engineering projects), creativity, and their display board. Friday morning, the judging continued with the presentation/interview section of the scoring. This is where the students got to shine and tell the judges all about their experiences working on the projects and the results of their experiments and testing.
During the event, BRDC provided programs for the students about animals and “What makes Grayson County so Special”. Darin Handy and Aaron Floyd (BRDC Executive Director) presented the programs. As this is a community event, parents and family members were invited to view the projects and be there for the awards ceremony in the afternoon.
The Grand prize was once again a mini 3D printer (back by popular demand) with subsequent 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes of Acorn Naturalist gift certificates, Best in School plaques and participation certificates for all. The Winners of this years Science Fair are:
A.J. Perry, Grayson Highlands School; The Humidity Dilemma; Grand Prize and Best in School
Meg Donley, Grayson Highlands School; Color Fade; 1st Place 6th grade
Kristina Barnette, Independence Middle School; Which Wipe Works Well; 1st Place 7th grade and Best in School
Christopher Barnette, Independence Middle School; Recycled Technology; 2nd Place 6th grade
Tierca Lawson, Independence Middle School; Germs are Everywhere; 2nd Place 7th grade
Preston Jones, Aaron Peterson, Independence Middle School; Do Plants Grow Better with Sugar Water or Well Water; 3rd Place 6th grade
Emily Vaughan, Independence Middle School; Keep Your Fire Burning Longer!; 3rd Place 7th grade
Ethan Lineberry, Rachel May, Jasalyn Trimble, Fries School; Make our Cafeteria Cleaner; Best in School
BRDC is very thankful for all the community support for this great event. Grayson Express, Woody’s Pharmacy and Subway all contributed financially towards the prizes. Also, we could not have done it without the help of our fantastic volunteer judges: Deb Greif, Kim Phipps, John Kovacich, Bill Hylander, Brenda Bonk, John Fant, Niki Weir, Henry Hobson, Ken Kreuzer, Beverly Fermor, Heidi Breedlove, Keith and Pat Andrews. Many hours were spent reviewing all the 161 projects. We could not have done it without you….many heart felt thanks to you all!
2nd Annual Middle School Science Fair
Sixth and seventh grade students from the entire county presented over 140 science and engineering projects
Snow did not stop these kids from bringing their best to the 2nd Annual Middle School Science Fair! Sixth and seventh grade students from the entire county presented over 140 science and engineering projects in competition for the Grand Prize; a mini 3D printer! The top three students in each grade were awarded gift certificates to Acorn Naturalists and a student from each school has a plaque engraved with their name representing the Best in School.
Science Fair Projects are an opportunity for students to learn more about the world around them through rigorous experimentation and documentation. All projects had to answer a question through the scientific method or focus on innovative solutions through engineering. The participants learn to seek answers to the conditions and challenges that face us all! With help from peers, teachers, parents and mentors, the students set out to solve the hardest of questions.
They began thinking about and preparing these projects in September. It is a lengthy process that involves questioning, research, experimentation, data collection, analyzing and communicating results. It enhances critical thinking skills and an understanding of the scientific and engineering methods. They are also encouraged to compete at the regional level at Radford University in March. This process allows students with intense interest in the sciences to be paired with mentors from colleges and universities and gain access to instruction and equipment the local schools may not be able to provide.
All participating students were winners this day. They took on a great challenge and were successful in completing that challenge. With great pleasure, we awarded the following students: Zeke Phipps, Grand Prize and Best in School at Independence Middle for Luminol: Is it Bright Glow or Slow Glow; Hiley Boyer, 1st Place 6th grade and Best in School at Grayson Highlands for What keeps and Apple from Browning; Callie Anderson, 2nd Place 6th grade for Fun with Magnets; Kaydence Boykin, 3rd Place 6th grade for Which Sponge Holds the Most Water; Matthew Rector, 1st Place 7th grade and Best in School at Fries School for Hydraulic Crane; Steven Barnette, 2nd Place 7th grade for Males vs. Females on time perception; and Harley Alderman, 3rd Place 7th grade for Do All Liquids Evaporate at the Same Rate.
A special thank you is needed for all the individuals that helped make this event a success. The 6th and 7th grade teachers and principals: Jamie Hale, Bobby Cheeks, John Alexander, Cindy Cox, Mary Tignor, Sherry Perry, and Elizabeth Blankenship; our volunteer judges: Devin Floyd, Keith and Pat Andrews, Austin Phipps, and Brenda Bonk; and the community that supported us financially with donations to pay for the awards: Grayson Express, Main Street Tire, Buck Mountain Bed and Breakfast, Anderson Insurance, Kendall Clay, and Mid Atlantic Health Specialists.
2nd Annual BRDC Science Fair
BRDC is excited to announce the 2nd Annual BRDC Science Fair in partnership with Grayson County Public Schools! All 6th and 7th-grade students in Grayson County Public Schools are included.
BRDC is excited to announce the 2nd Annual BRDC Science Fair to be held December 8th, 2017 in partnership with Grayson County Public Schools! All 6th and 7th-grade students in Grayson County Public Schools are included. In the future, we aim to include more grades and expand the opportunity to focus on critical thinking skills.
The Science fair is a chance for students to exercise their creative thinking skills, follow their curiosity, learn more about their interests and share their discoveries with others. Project questions arise from the participant’s experience and context, and students are encouraged to tackle challenges related to the Blue Ridge region.
Get Involved!
In order to provide assistance to students in developing their projects, BRDC is looking for mentors to assist with concepts and procedures. Volunteer judges are also needed for the day of the event. Interested community members can contact BRDC at info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org, or 276-293-1232.
Prizes
GRAND PRIZE: Monoprice Select Mini 3D Printer!
1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes offered at all grade levels
1st Place: $75 Gift Certificate Acorn Naturalists
2nd Place: $50 Gift Certificate Acorn Naturalists
3rd Place: $25 Gift Certificate Acorn Naturalists
Each school will also have their own Best in School Trophy that will be displayed at the school.
The BRDC Science Fair Committee includes: Aaron Floyd, BRDC Executive Director; Lisa Benish, BRDC Program Director; Jay Martin, Naturalist/Educator; Mr. Hale, IMS Principal; Mr. Alexander, Fries Principal; Mr. Cheeks, GHS Principal; Mrs. Cox IMS, Mrs. Perry GHS, Ms. Tignor, IMS,and Mrs Blankenship FMS
For more information about the Science Fair, visit blueridgediscoverycenter.org/sciencefair
BRDC Partners with Grayson County Schools
We are pleased to announce our partnership with Grayson County Public Schools to connect local youth to the Blue Ridge through hands-on programs with students, providing grade specific SOL’s and STEM learning concepts. The $10,000 award from Grayson County Schools for the 2016-17 school year, supported by matching funds and volunteer support from BRDC, will reach students across the school system and enrich the public school experience through hands-on and interest-driven activities.
We are pleased to announce our partnership with Grayson County Public Schools to connect local youth to the Blue Ridge through hands-on programs with students, providing grade specific SOL’s and STEM learning concepts. The $10,000 award from Grayson County Schools for the 2016-17 school year, supported by matching funds and volunteer support from BRDC, will reach students across the school system and enrich the public school experience through hands-on and interest-driven activities.
BRDC will engage students at several grade levels, utilizing proven programs that teach critical thinking skills through independent learning opportunities, and integrate field trips that introduce our youth to the amazing resources in their backyards. These programs will provide creative and fun opportunities for students to engage their surroundings, look closer, question, and share their findings with others while exploring the wonders in their backyards, parks, forests, fields, rivers and mountains.
BRDC will offer a variety of programs including a reading program for Kindergarden-2nd grade that will encourage student’s curiosity and builds relationships with the natural world, while enhancing listening and reading comprehension skills. Focusing on nature discovery using nonfiction, imaginative tales and hands on activities, the program will bring the treasures of the Blue Ridge to life in the classroom and excite the students’ minds.
4th grade students will participate in The Natural Heritage Program, exploring all aspects of the natural history of the Blue Ridge mountains. Through classroom sessions and field trips, students will study plants and animals in their environment. Through observation and discovery, they will deepen their connection to the region we call home.
Avian Adventures, a citizen science project for 7th graders, will increase awareness of the rich, diverse avifauna of the Blue Ridge region. The program will provide an in-depth study on all aspects of bird life and the potential life-long hobby of birding, and inspire students to become more familiar with the creatures in their own backyards and beyond.
High school students will integrate science and art with a detailed, species specific, illustration study called Blue Ridge Illustrated. Students will explore an area and through observation, specimen sampling, and field sketching, collecting information on the flora or fauna of the area. The students will investigate the life history of the specimens through detailed drawings, literature, and observation. The result is deep engagement with the subject and pride in the end piece of artwork.
Other programs include Trout in the Classroom, an interdisciplinary program for 7th grade combining science, social studies, and math, where students raise trout from eggs to fingerlings for release in the spring; The National Fishing in the Schools Program teaches 9th graders life sciences by investigating water quality and introducing students to the hobby of fly fishing; a Bio-survey for High School Biology or Ecology, where students learn how to conduct a scientific research project from hypothesis, through protocol and implementation, to publication; and an annual Science Fair.
All of these programs explore the rich diversity of the Blue Ridge and help students appreciate these resources, developing critical thinking skills, and inspire deeper engagement in the natural world.