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WDA Students Get Excited for Science

by Whatcom Day Academy4/16/2008 4:38:29 PM

At a time when politicians and policy makers are bemoaning the fact that the United States isn’t producing enough engineers and scientists, Whatcom Day Academy is doing something about it. On Wednesday, April 2nd, this independent school located in north Bellingham held its annual Science Exposition.

Middle School student, Makayla Donaldson, speaks to parent judge Chip Hilarides about her science project. Photo by Marilyn Gill.

Fifty students shared their science projects with a curious crowd of all ages. Judges for the event included physicians, university professors, and several engineers from Blue Sea Systems, an international firm based in Bellingham.  “I was very impressed with the wide range of topics and blown away by their enthusiasm,” said Jeanette Baughman, an engineering technician judging at the event. “They were very articulate and had a great grasp of the details of their projects.” 

Aidan Woods describes his experiment, “The effect of liquid type and temperature on the frequency and amplitude of sound." Photo by Marilyn Gill.

Each year WDA students from age 8 through 14 spend several months conducting their own inquiry projects using the scientific process. “They learn science by being scientists,” says Misty Nikula, who teaches Middle School science at WDA. “We worked really hard. I learned a lot about soils,” claimed George Stedman, a novice 8 year old whose project was on how soil composition affects its permeability. Savannah Smith, a 10 year old in her first year at WDA, said she didn’t have science at her previous school, so this was her first project. “I liked the process of doing the experiment, but not so much writing the report.” When asked how she feels about completing her project, she exclaimed, “I am very proud of myself!”

Baughman stated that she was excited to see so many young girls enthusiastic about their science projects. Justin Kaufman, another engineer judging at the event, noted that there are very few women in engineering school or working in the field. According to Baughman, “Doing real science like this would have encouraged me much earlier rather than later. It was great to see a girl doing a project on the Seebeck Effect.” Marie Kochman, the student who conducted this project explained that the Seebeck Effect was named for a scientist who noticed that the electrical conductivity of wires changed when they were immersed in different temperatures of water. “It was hard for me to understand it by reading about it. Conducting the actual experiment helped me understand a complicated idea.”

Intermediate student, Morgan Hawley, describes how the weight of an object affects its speed down an inclined plane to judge Mike Etnier. Photo by Marilyn Gill.

Mitchell Stoneberg, a graduate of Whatcom Day Academy now attending Bellingham High School and planning to pursue an engineering career, reflected on how doing science inquiry projects at WDA helped prepare and inspire him. “I took Honors Biology in high school which involves doing a project like this. I knew exactly what I was doing, but most of the students were learning it for the first time. And doing a Culminating Project for graduation isn’t intimidating after this.”

Stoneberg added that doing these projects in middle school helped him decide early on that he enjoys science and engineering. “The inquiry projects involved me in my own learning process and I know that I enjoy that part of it. I based my decision to go into engineering on that. I think it is better to make a decision based on what you enjoy rather than on whether you do well or not in a particular course. It helps you get through required courses that may not be too inspiring.”

Each year many WDA students participate in the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair to present their projects. In 2007, the school received the High Points Trophies for grades 4 – 6 and for grades 7 – 9.

Visit Whatcom Day Academy or call (360) 312-1103 to find out more about their unique opportunities for learning.