Oglala Lakota College Hosts Successful Annual Science Fair Despite Low Turnout: Showcasing Students’ Hard Work and Creativity

Oglala Lakota College hosted the Annual Reservation Wide Science Fair in April, despite having over 100 students, only 12 projects were completed due to time constraints. From January to April, the students worked 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 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 projects and experiments, including studying the quality of water in Wolf Creek, exploring the breakdown of meat exposed to room temperature, comparing different types of gum and potato chips growth on various surfaces. There were also projects that focused on chemical reactions such as growing crystals and creating a lava lamp. Social projects were also 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 skills and scientific abilities.