Students swap places with teachers for Science Fair

For two days, students of San Anton School, in L-Imselliet, limits of Mgarr, swapped places with their teachers.

Science teachers organised a Hands-On Science Fair during which students explained to visitors, including parents, students from other schools, and also other teachers, the projects they had worked on. These ranged from simple but interesting experiments about convection currents, light and electrolysis, to complex constructions such as a real electromagnetic crane and an oven that grills sausages using only the sun's direct sunlight.

Marissa Galea, who teaches Grade 9 (Form 2) students, and Valerie Agius, who teaches Grade 8 (Form 1) students, worked round the clock to organise and set up displays involving working or static models, practical demonstrations and charts. School laboratory technician Sonia Mifsud and science teacher assistant Ruth Borg set up practical displays on such topics as optics, radiation and chemical experiments.

No science fair would have been complete without powerpoint presentations and website displays. Students in fact, prepared slide shows and interactive displays and their teachers collated all the presentations into an ongoing display that was accessible in the school foyer throughout the fair. Visitors could take part in magnetic and electric games that could be timed, with the record breakers receiving delicious chocolate prizes!

"Parents and school staff alike remarked that such activities help students build confidence in themselves and acquire a deeper insight into the subject they are studying," a school spokesman said. "The main aim of a school is to educate students in a number of disciplines, but no less important is the need for students to walk out of school able to communicate and pass on what they learn. It is through such activities that San Anton can ensure that its students receive an all-round education," he added.