Harry Camsell hosts annual fair
Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (Mar 19/01) - For the past 22 years, Hay River's Harry Camsell school has hosted their annual science fair. First at the school in old town and now at their new digs in the new town.
Each year, proud parents and guests pack the school gym to see the world of discovery through the eyes of a child.
Eight-year-old Renee' Connors, from Mme. Roy's Grade 3 class took home the first place ribbon, by asking and answering the question, "What is the Best Way to Pop Popcorn?"
Renee used the same brand of popcorn and, with mom's supervision, popped the corn in a pot on the stove and also in the microwave.
"The stove worked the best," Renee concluded. "The popcorn was fluffier and it was butterier and it tasted better."
Twelve-year-old Corin Gardner drew a big crowd with her hoverchair -- a chair that floats on a cushion of air.
"I got the idea off the internet," Corin said. "They showed me the basics on how to do it."
With a sheet of plywood, a leaf blower engine, piece of plastic and some help, the Grade 6 student took home an honourable mention for her efforts.
Shelby Buckley earned second place in her Grade 5 class, for her project on the effects of smoking -- but her dad will get the real prize.
"My dad smokes and he said if I get an A, he said he'd quit smoking," Shelby said.
Using a vacuum cleaner and some ingenuity, Shelby had mounds of tar extracted from cigarettes to illustrate her display.
Terry Rowe from Mrs. Turvey's Grade 4 class, captured 6th place with his experiment, "Who has the dirtiest mouth: Dog, Cat or Human?"
He collected saliva samples in petri dishes and incubated them for three days to determine the germ count.
"I went to my dog's house and to (his friend) Cole's house and made the cat lick one and I had to lick it too," Terry said.
He said he was quite surprised by the results.
"I found out that the human has the dirtiest mouth," he laughed.
The fair's Grand Champion award went to Grade 6 student Jennifer Marshall, who tackled Evolution and Creation.
Some other first prize winners were Grade 3 student Michael Tennant, with "Does Diet Pop Affect my Teeth?", Mikey Morgan in Grade 4 with "Amazing Liquids", Grade 5 student Mathew Gagnon with How Does an Explosion Work?"
