Laxton Junior School in Oundle held its biennial science fair recently, with every child in the school taking part and explaining their investigations to visitors. Reception children presented their work on colour mixing; year one looked at floating and sinking; and year two created electric circuits with lights, buzzers and motors.
The junior children had all performed an investigation of their own choosing: the effects of different pressures in tyres, the difference in the sensitivity of skin on your fingers compared to your arm or leg, differing amounts of yeast and soda in baking, and who goes fastest down a zipwire were all investigated. Magnets were heated and cooled to test their effectiveness, bones were soaked in vinegar, and the fur and hair from different animals, including zebras and camels, was examined under a microscope.
Millie Hamilton-Charlton and Felicity Mansergh, both in year four, used an app to investigate the loudness of different sounds and researched the level at which damage is caused to the ears. Their interest in decibel levels arose because Felicity’s grandfather was a gunner during WW2 and his hearing was affected permanently.
The Best of Fair Award went to an investigation into the different properties of biscuits when dunked. According to year-six pupils Brandon Ingle, Florian Martin and Marcus Radnitz, Rich Tea biscuits were the best at holding their shape and not disintegrating.
During the morning, a 3D printer on loan to the school courtesy of Louise Haidar of Eximgo in Oundle printed a whistle and a model of a racing car. A model of the soon-to-be-built SciTec Campus at Oundle School was also on display.
Mark Potter, head of Laxton Junior, complimented the children on their ingenuity and scientific understanding, as well as their presentation skills.
