World of Wonder
Zuni students explore science

PTO president and science fair judge Edmond Kaskalla listens Thursday as Kolin Quam, left, and Marty Shashewanie explain their science experiment in which they tried to create their own lava lamp at St. Anthony Indian School in Zuni. Quam and Shashewamie are fourth graders at the school and used vegetable oil, water and food coloring for their project. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Staff Writer

William Wallace pours vinegar colored with food coloring into a model volcano where it mixes with baking soda and causes the model to erupt "lava" on Thursday at the St. Anthony Indian School Science fair in Zuni. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

ZUNI — Savannah Wylaslucy's two parakeets moved restlessly in their cage as their owner waited for another round of judging.

Three judges made their way through tables, interviewing young scientists and marking down scores, during Thursday's exhibition.

Wylaslucy, 8, studied her pets for this year's project entry in the St. Anthony Indian School science fair.

What she found, she said, was that her two male birds Pauline and May had a few peculiar habits.

"When they get mad, they eat sloppy and toss stuff out of their cage," she said.

The third grader was one of several dozen to enter the contest, open to kindergarten through eighth grade students.

While the science fair is not mandatory, contestants do receive credit for their science classes.

The projects varied between grades, although several students experimented with volcanoes.

Two third graders, William Wallace, 9, and Alan Salvador, 8, said they chose to study volcanoes because they "wanted to see how it erupts."

One fourth grader chose a study closer to home.

Jason Romancito, 9, won second place for his experiment with anti-bacterial soap.

He said his results indicated that anti-bacterial soap did more than regular soap by studying its effects on bacteria.

"Anti-bacterial soap washes and kills bacteria," he said, "(whereas) regular soap just washes away."

Second grader Kenley Mateya, 8, dug into his kitchen cabinet for his science project.

Using pinto beans from a bag, Mateya soaked them and then wrapped them in newspaper to see if they would sprout.

And they did.

"My aunt helped me," he said. "I wanted to grow a bean."

His charts were written in Zuni.

Two younger girls Karli Najera and Tanisha Boone placed third for studying the effects hot and cold have on a rubber band.

And two of their classmates Mackenzi Edaakie and Tylin Killsontop took second place for their project "All About Circuits".

The pair experimented with power using various sizes of batteries to stimulate a fan, a light, and a buzzer.

Other projects included the effects of music on people's emotion and movements, kidney failure, and finger printing identity.

Judging was conducted throughout the day and a public viewing took place Thursday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., when the winners were announced.

Vice Principal Nenita Mosqueda, who is also a math teacher and the eighth grade class sponsor, said the science fair gives the students a chance to get creative.

"Just look at the projects," she said. "You wonder, 'How can they come up with this?'."

Winners from grades fifth through eighth will have a chance to compete in the American Indian Science Fair in March.