In April, Oglala Lakota College hosted its annual Reservation Wide Science Fair. Despite having over 100 students, only 12 projects were completed due to time constraints. From January to April, students worked tirelessly on developing their project ideas, researching, and selecting topics that interested them. They were guided through the process of forming hypotheses and understanding the scientific method before beginning their experiments.
Despite facing challenges, the Wolf Creek 7-8 grade students worked diligently and showcased their dedication, research skills, and talents in each project. Their teacher expressed immense pride in their hard work and congratulated them on their successful completion of the projects.
The science fair featured a variety of topics and experiments. For example, one group of 8th graders studied the quality of water in Wolf Creek while another group explored the breakdown of meat exposed to room temperature. Students also compared different types of gum, potato chips, and bacteria growth on various surfaces. Additionally, social projects were part of the science fair with one group testing the effects of speaking kindly or harshly to plants.
Other projects involved design and engineering such as building rockets, cardboard hands operated by strings and experimenting with eggs and vinegar to see how they reacted. Each project demonstrated the students’ creativity, critical thinking, and scientific skills.
Overall, the Annual Reservation Wide Science Fair was a great success that showcased the students’ dedication to learning about science while also demonstrating their creativity and problem-solving skills.
