Homeschool Science Fair showcases student learning

EPHRATA – What do electricity, water, food, volcanos and slime have in common? These were some of the topics covered at this year’s science fair for the Little House in the Desert homeschool group in Ephrata on Saturday, Nov. 1.  

Six-year-old Joshua Wilson made homemade slime. He learned “that if you put in more water, the more it stretches.”  

If you add less water, it stays in one solid lump and doesn’t stretch. He placed second in his age group. 

His older sister, Melody, 11, placed third in her age group for her experiments with substances that have hydrophobic properties. Hydrophobic substances tend to avoid mixing with water. She found that some substances dissolve in water, while others float.  

“Some coat your finger and keep it dry,” Melody said. “Water has negative and positive charges. Some (salt) dissolve in water. Cinnamon and cocoa powder repels water.” 

Melody said that she first became interested in hydrophobic properties after seeing it on television. 

“I had never learned this before,” Melody said. “I’d never heard of it. I thought it was cool.” 

When asked what substances coat the finger and can keep it dry when dipped in water, she said cocoa powder and cinnamon. Melody also noted that corn starch dissolves in water and makes a substance that is slime-like, but is solid when punched and pours out when dumped or handled. 

The project that took both first place in its age group and received the People’s Choice award was made by Kaemon Miyamoto, 10, who made a renewable energy model of a farm. His project contained wind turbines, powered by a fan; solar panels, powered by a flashlight; a hand pump that watered the garden; and a water wheel, powered by a power station. 

“On a stormy day, all three might not work,” Miyamoto said. “I put in a power station. It’s backup power.”  

Miyamoto explained that his power station, in real life, would have housed rechargeable batteries to store excess energy created by all the various renewable energy sources on the farm.  

To create this renewable energy farm demonstration, Miyamoto dedicated four to five hours each day for two weeks to the project. As a homeschooler, this project became his school lessons, art project and even shop class.

Miyamoto’s mom, Donna, said that his favorite part of the project was working with the soldering gun. She said that one of his first questions in the morning was if he could use it. 

Hannah Gustafson, founder of the Little House in the Desert homeschool group, believes that these types of experiences are important for children. 

“Our kids need to detach from screens and be in nature,” Gustafson said. “They need to be asking questions, discovering, experimenting and testing. It’s important for them to learn, invent, create and discover.” 

Gustafson, a homeschool mother of five kids, started Little House in the Desert five years ago. Before that, she had the group for two years on the west side.  

“This is an opportunity for them to be a part of something where they can work hard,” she said. “Not only do they accomplish something, but they can also be rewarded.”  

This school year, the homeschool group has around 100 kids, including nursery age children. They meet at Bethlehem Chapel in Ephrata.  

“All that I’m doing is prayerful,” Gustafson said. “I am seeking the Lord, letting Him guide this whole endeavor. I would say that the Lord has blessed our homeschool group and families.” 

Results 

Kindergarten and First Grade 

First: Abby Pinkerton
Second: Joshua Wilson
Third: Torie Acheson
Fourth: Alyse Gordan
Other participants: Elias Gustafson 

Second and third grade 

First: Kyla Petersen  
Second: Jael Pinkerton
Third: Hank Leuty
Fourth: Beckett Kooy 

Fourth and fifth grade 

First: Kaemon Miyamoto
Second: Caleb Wilson
Third: Daniel Pinkerton
Fourth: Teyla Kooy
Other participants: John Little, Madison Little and Isaac Wilson 

Sixth through ninth grade 

First: Ronan Kooy
Second: Isla Fortner
Third: Melody Wilson
Fourth: Asher Gustafson
Other participants: Audrey Fortner, Sayde Gustafson 

    Kaemon Miyamoto, 10, took first place for his age category and won the people’s choice award. He made a renewable energy model of a farm. His project contained wind turbines, powered by a fan; solar panels, powered by a flash light; a hand pump that watered the garden; and a water wheel, powered by a power station.
  

    At the Homeschool Science Fair, six-year-old Joshua Wilson made homemade slime to show the differences between the goo, if more or less water is added.
  

    Melody Wilson, 11, placed third in her age group for her experiment on hydrophobic properties.