Science Fair 2020

A student-led smorgasbord of science!

One evening recently, the Katonah Elementary School gym turned into a student-led smorgasbord of science!

Eleanor displayed what happened when she and her mom planted things they would normally compost—the ends of romaine lettuce, bits of potato and carrot tops. Jenice and Pepper offered three reasons why cats always land on their feet. Visitors discovered that they could actually push Emmet’s lever with a pinky when he moved the fulcrum close to the load. Zephyr and Ayo displayed a graph that showed how far their Monster Truck rolled from different ramp heights. Rapha and Nick recommended midday jumping jacks after their experiment indicated a correlation between memory and exercise. Mark demonstrated a powdered mixture that purified contaminated water into safe drinking water.  And more! 

Visiting Scientists Offer Plenty of Encouragement

With 181 participants and 123 projects, this was KES's biggest science fair to date. The young scientists got plenty of personal attention and encouragement from parents and teachers as well as dozens of visiting scientists, each wearing a white lab coat—including Dr. Michael Jacobson, a physician; Ted Zoli, a structural engineer; Paul Hughes, a KES teacher; and high school students in the science research program. 

The Science Fair's success is powered by a dedicated PTO team and nurtured by a strong home-school connection. Students can attend two after-school informational sessions where community scientists and teachers are available to speak to them about their ideas. KES Librarian Jeanne Hand helps students with their research. Parents often continue the collaboration  at home and supply materials. 

projects about lemons and snowflakes ...

  • Principal Cristy Harris and students
  • Recycled Plants
  • A high school student speaks with a science fair participant
  • creating a whirlpool
  • students received stickers
  • oil and water separate
  • making a record player
  • participants got plenty of personal attention
  • how are snowflakes created

experiments with levers and photosynthesis ...

  • how a lever works
  • how liquid travels through a plant
  • visiting scientists spend time with each participant
  • Monster Truck Jam
  • family and friends come together
  • learning about owls
  • colorful displays
  • plants need light and water to grow

Thank you, parents!

KES parents Leah Jacobson and Susan Williams have co-chaired the Science Fair for the past four years. This year, they were joined by Geraldine Zikely.  “It gives me pleasure to know that over the past four years we started and supported not only a KES event, but a community event where curious and hard-working student scientists are joined by middle and high school students who continue to research science, local scientists and district faculty and administrators,” said Williams—whose youngest is moving up to the middle school next year. “It's been a wonderful experience to be a part of the love of science across our district!”

“Students were motivated and engaged to learn about the world around them,” said Jacobson. “They used time outside of the structured school day to research and build and hypothesize and collaborate. These memories and skills will serve them as they grow and develop into whatever they desire to be.”