Students Build Critical Thinking and Leadership Skills During HMS Science Fair

“Science fair gives students real-world experience,” Ms. Topper said. “It is not just a school project, but it’s a gateway to real-world experiments and problem-solving. It’s my goal for every student who comes through the door to be excited about science, what you can do with it, and how it helps you understand and contribute to the world.

The fair ties in with High Meadows School’s tenets of progressive education as students utilize resources and experience the real-world application of their learning. At HMS, students are active partners in their education. They develop an understanding of science by asking big questions, experimenting boldly, and sharing their findings with the community at the annual science fair.

“If a student is studying air going through a parachute, there are multiple guiding principles they need to understand and articulate when presenting their findings to listeners,” Ms. Topper mentioned. “What is air? How does gravity work? What are the important aspects of parachute design? The questions help students adequately grasp their experiment and ensure it can be well simulated outside of a classroom environment. They are also fundamental to our inquiry-driven approach to learning.”

Students consider scientific questions for their science fair projects, and they naturally explore concepts from multiple perspectives that incorporate a transdisciplinary approach to learning. Ms. Topper collaborates with Ms. (Kimberly) Reingold and Dr. (Tasha) Babiar, tying in mathematics. 

“You can’t just say two numbers are different,” noted Ms. Topper. “Our science fair has grown in that regard. Students use mathematical calculations to defend their data. When they show that there is a difference between 3.2 and 3.3 because of organized data and statistical calculations, it’s truly impressive.”

Each November, sixth and seventh grade students present their experiments to parents, faculty and staff, community members, and their peers. Eighth graders serve in a leadership role as judges. “It’s important that we give students leadership opportunities,” Ms. Topper stated. “They go from two years of participating as experiment designers to judging the fair in their final year. We want to teach our students to be respectful community members and to listen. In this case, we want them to use their skills to evaluate fairly and honestly.”

In early February, Ms. Topper traveled to the Fulton County Regional Science & Engineering Fair with five talented students. Davis B., Mae Charles C., Molly J., Elliot L., and Oliver P., represented HMS. Mae Charles won second place in the microbiology category for her presentation on preserving strawberries, and Molly took home a third-place medal in material science after presenting on which materials make the most efficient speakers.

"It was an amazing opportunity to present at the science fair," Molly said. "I hope it opens more doors to showcase our work."

“Our students do work at a high level, and it’s an honor for them to go to the fair,” Ms. Topper added. “They often think well beyond their grade level. I am so proud of all our students”

Curious to see the next generation of scientists in action? Follow High Meadows on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for highlights from the on-campus and county science fairs. Visit our Middle Years page to learn more about the science curriculum at HMS.