Thomas Edison, Move Over - Ranney Lower School Students are Our Next Generation of Scientists and Inventors

They may be slight in stature, but Ranney Lower School students have some ‘big ideas’ when it comes to the next scientific discovery or research project. Nowhere was this more evident than at this year’s Lower School Science Fair held on Thursday, March 25 in RSPA Panther Hall.

Judging by the more than 400 exhibits, Ranney students displayed their creativity and ingenuity to hundreds of beaming parents, students and friends who wandered through a jam-packed gallery of inviting displays and interactive exhibits. Each child in the Lower School completed a project for this year’s event that were not only topical and informative but sometimes just plain fun. Visitors had the opportunity to speak to Ranney’s budding scientists and inventors who were on hand to discuss their individual and group projects in greater detail.

Fifth grader Austin Dobrzynski eagerly showed off his new and healthy way to open soda cans. Worried about the germs from the metal piece breaking off the top of a can, he came up with the idea to redesign the flip-top to prevent the aluminum from going into juice or soda. Hence, his “Flip ‘n Slide” invention was born. Fellow fifth grader Amanda Aboujaoude was excited to demonstrate her “Trashbot,” a device that picks up garbage without having to get up, while Michael Ingulli, also a fifth grader, showed off his “Small Dog Food Dispenser.”

Fourth graders Meilina Amaral and Jacqueline Erler posed the question “Does Purell Work?” and scientifically proved that, yes, this popular hand sanitizer was effective in killing bacteria, while Sarah Killian, along with her classmates, patiently explained how seismographs work.

In a collaborative project that included teachers, parents and students, Ranney first grade students learned to dissect and discover the importance of the life-cycle – a natural chain of survival in the animal kingdom. Their owl pellet dissection revealed the secrets of night birds and students learned how to articulate a hypothesis and conclusion in the science lab.

From projects that explored “The Bermuda Triangle” and “The History of Space Travel” to those that addressed “The San Andreas Fault” and “Why Do Onions Make You Cry,” this year’s science fair was a sparkling venue for students to showcase their scientific knowledge, inquiry and research skills.

Patricia Marshall, Head of Lower School, acknowledged the hard work and dedication of Ranney teachers Jen Colon, Judy Salisbury and Jen McDermott, who organized and helped to make this year’s Lower School Science Fair a resounding success. Said Marshall, “Our students have proved that they have the wisdom to impact and shape this 21st century.”

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.