STEAM Fair

Grade 5

This Year's Projects

(the experiments are underway)

Alex and Jared focused on the amount of CO2 that is polluting the air. They want to grow more mycelium so the mycelium can take in the CO2. Their clients are urban farmers and people that are getting affected by the amount of CO2 that is in the air. They asked which type of mycelium, shiitake or oyster, sequesters the most amount of CO2 from the air?

Avery and Maya L focused on the problem of water pollution by agriculture, specifically by pesticides. They hope to filter out the pesticides before they get into the streams and then to the ocean and affect coral longevity. They hope to use chemical filtering and UV radiation as treatment. They asked which natural pesticide treatment, UV light or charcoal, is more effective in removing pesticide from humus and clay soils?

Myles, Noah, and Zev focused on farmers in hilly areas where soil erosion is a problem affecting the yield of crops. This is getting worse because of climate change and dry, windy conditions. They want to see if they can retain more of the soil by building different types of terraces. They asked which type of terrace, one with a lip, and another flat, will collect more or less soil when the hill is "watered" like rain?

Addie and Maya M hope to help people living in acidic conditions and protect them from not getting enough food. Mushrooms are nutritious and healthy food sources so they decided to test if they could grow in acidic conditions. They asked if different mushrooms, shiitake, oyster, and lions mane mushrooms are exposed to acidic soil, which will have more protein growing in acidic conditions after two weeks?

Adam, Elie, and Scarlett are helping rural farmers in places where there are draughts. Farmers are struggling to find a way to contain extra water and use it for the right plants that need it. Plants require varying amounts and timing of water supply. They hope to create a natural plug that will act as a valve to control the flow from the water collection. Based on testing plants in drought conditions, they will recommend to farmers which types of plugs to use and on which plants. They asked which natural material for a plug, a, b, c, releases the least amount of water in 1 minute and which plant, lima beans or chickpeas, grows more in drought conditions?

Elsa, Ike, and Lola are interested in whether certain plants absorb CO2 better than others so that they can be planted in urban environments. They asked which local tree absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide most?

Madison and Yael focused on farmers facing periods of flood and draught. They want to take the water from floods and use it when they have droughts. They asked which material, hydrogel or gelatin, is more effective in releasing the water that is absorbed in a flood?

Ella, Paige, and Simon focused on drip irrigation. Sprinklers waste a lot of water. Farmers need a way to not waste as much water, but still have a good way to water their plants. Drip irrigation solves this problem, but they want to make it even more efficient. They asked which size hole, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, or 2 mm, produces the best rate of germination of black beans?

Charlotte, Elena, and Julia focused on helping farmers find non-harmful pesticide for plants to deter pests from disrupting growth and eating the plants. They asked which natural oil, neem oil or peppermint oil, will repel caterpillars more effectively?

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