There’s never any shortage of bright young minds and lightbulb moments at the Elementary Science Showcase.
Every year, PCPS fourth- and fifth-grade students come together at the Showcase to present their science projects and discuss their findings with peers from other schools. Notably, the event is not a competition — it’s an opportunity for students to interact as colleagues.
“It’s a unique event,” says Jeff Hancock, PCPS’ senior director of K-12 science. “It’s judgement-free, and it’s students learning from other students … hopefully it’s driving the inquisitive nature of kids, so they can choose to do something in the future that would benefit all of us.”
This year’s showcase, hosted at the Aerospace Center for Excellence on Wednesday and Thursday, followed the Polk Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF), a competition among Polk middle and high school students. The elementary students at the showcase were able to view the winning PRSEF projects, so they can see what it takes to be successful at the next level.
Hancock shared a remark overheard from one of the adult attendees at this week’s showcase: “I can’t believe what these fifth-graders know.”
Well, we certainly can!
