Not One, but TWO Science Fairs at Hendrick Hudson

On March 12 the Hendrick Hudson School District felt like Science Central. Two of our three elementary schools, Buchanan-Verplanck Elementary School and the Furnace Woods School, hosted colorful and stimulating science fairs (the Frank G. Lindsey School held their fair at the end of February).

As more than one adult noted while touring the wide array of exhibits, science fairs today are not just about the volcanoes and solar systems that many older Americans may recall from their school days. Today, science fairs are sophisticated events that provide students with the opportunity to investigate a problem through experimentation using the scientific method and explain it to their classmates and families through a hands-on display. Sarakay Eyring and Catherine Holzman, organizers of the B-V event, said in a letter to parents, “Doing science is key to understanding science.”

Furnace Woods Principal Dr. Cynthia Kramer said, “It was so great to see the kids engaged in hands-on science activities. The children did a fabulous job explaining the scientific process and sharing their findings, and answering questions. This is what learning is all about!”

Buchanan-Verplanck Principal Joshua Cohen concurred: “It was wonderful seeing the critical thinking skills of our entire school community in full force during this year’s Science Expo. Students discussed with one another, staff members and their families why they chose their experiment, what they learned, wonderings that arose and what they enjoyed during the experience.”

Critical thinking is evident in everything the students do, and because the young exhibitors have the freedom to pick their projects, their own personalities and preferences shine through. A child who loves sports can investigate the velocity of various types of lacrosse balls; an artistic child can examine how light and color work; a child who loves cars can compare how different vehicles run on different surfaces. The possibilities are endless.

For a slide show of the Buchanan-Verplanck Science Fair, please click HERE.

For a slide show of the Furnace Woods Science Fair, please click HERE.