By Misty DUPLESSIS

Each year the fourth grade students of Valley View team up with partners to test hypothesis, conduct experiments and form scientific conclusions as they explore different aspects of science.

Although it was mandatory for fourth graders to participate, 50 students in grades one through five enthusiastically chose to take part in this scientific adventure with encouragement from the PTA.

The PTA helped transform the school cafeteria into a laboratory where students saw the effects of tornados, learned about the mystery of quicksand and tested delicious fruit drinks for Vitamin C.

Several weeks prior to the event, PTA President Myra Goethals set up an after school workshop that gave all students the opportunity to learn everything they needed to know about doing a science project from choosing a topic to forming a conclusion.

Fourth grader David Melendez and his partner made a marshmallow launcher out of a mousetrap, but ran into a problem when the wind kept blowing the marshmallows off course. The young scientists switched out the marshmallows for jelly beans and turned their experiment into a device that visitors of all ages enjoyed playing with.

In addition to the hands-on fun the students had, they received a special visit from volunteer students of the Crescenta Valley High School Science and Medicine Academy who were stationed at posts ready to help students make goo out of common household items, test gravity and make toys glow with touch.

All those in attendance had the privilege of meeting students from Clark Magnet High’s robotics team 696. Students enjoyed a sort of tag game with Raul, a mini robot that was programmed to spin and move randomly on its own. Clark’s Queen Hannah’s Revenge, who won the title of Best Quality during this year’s Rebound Rumble competition, also joined the fun.

Many students enjoyed running after the robot as they tried to anticipate its next move and playing catch with the basketball-throwing machine.

Goethals credited a mother at Mountain Avenue for sharing a lot of materials with Valley View and for giving her “great ideas.”

“All the schools in the area work so well together,” said Goethals.

Goethals said the science fair event was a success and credited the school for its support for the first annual school wide event.