Science fair shows progress and problems
This year’s P.S.E. results, while generally considered a disaster in math, did demonstrate a few bright spots in science. Indeed, just going by the number of science open days being held around the country, we should not be surprised if the next Einstein held a Belizean passport. Jacqueline Woods reports on the latest Belize City school to follow the trend.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It was Queen Street Baptist School’s first science fair.
Herman Lambey, Teacher, Queen Street Baptist
“After discussing with the staff, we decided it was best to give the children the opportunity to display their work and to explain it to their other classmates and to those parents who come along.”
One month ago, the boys and girls started to prepare for the open day. The students may have been camera shy to speak about their presentations but the displays demonstrated the hard work that they did for their teachers and parents.
Some of the children, like ten year old Oscar Maldonado, brought pets to school to show their classmates what animals can be found in Belize. Maldonado, who has had his rabbit, Seraphin, for five years, was more than happy to talk about his friend.
Jacqueline Woods
“How do you take care of Seraphin?
Oscar Maldonado, 10 years old
“By taking Seraphin out of the yard.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What else?”
Oscar Maldonado, 10 years old
“Nothing else.”
Jacqueline Woods
“But you have to give Seraphin something to eat right?”
Oscar Maldonado, 10 years old
“Carrots and lettuce.”
The children took the time to tour each classroom to see the displays. While some of the presentations brought smiles to the students’ faces, other exhibits were more serious. The standard six students built a coffin to show their younger peers why they should not be influenced by what they see happening on the streets.
James Staine, 13 Years old
“Gang, they can shoot you, kill you, because in gangs you have something for them and maybe they don’t like it, so they come and kill you.”
“Drugs, weed, marijuana, crack cocaine, alcohol, these kill in some way. Alcohol roasts your liver, you get cirrhosis of the liver and kill you.”
There were a variety of displays to view. One colourful presentation was done by the standard four students. The children constructed a model of the solar system.
Regina Drysdale, 13 Years Old
“Earth is close to Mercury and Jupiter is the largest and then Saturn. Then you have the whole sun all over it.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Did it take you guys long to put together this project?”
Regina Drysdale
“Not really, it just take us like two days to do it.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And you all use balloons it noticed.”
Regina Drysdale
“Yes, balloons, irons and stars.”
Teacher Herman Lambey says the students are talented, but admits that it was their first show and there is plenty of room for improvement.
Herman Lambey
“That it takes time, co-operation and unity to get it done. It cannot be done in one day. Those who try to wait for last minute did a poor job on it. Those who have been working right along are better able to explain their work, so that why I think they learn from it.”
It is not certain just how much time the other class had to prepare their presentation, but nothing could have prepared us for what took place. One of the projects was suppose to have demonstrated how fire starts… But, in a case of art imitating life, this blaze quickly grew out of control.
(Cardboard house burning)
Like the teacher said, there’s plenty of room for improvement next year. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
Fire fighters arrived too late to save the house, but did manage to prevent any damage to nearby buildings. The house was valued at approximately seventy-five cents and according to its owner, was not insured.
