Sylvania kids learning about germs

Hailey Blackford, 10, describes her science project to Laura Sauber, treasurer and CFO of the Sylvania School District.

Sylvania resident Knick Laux, 10, is going to think twice before letting one of his two dogs lick his face.

As part of a scientific experiment that was exhibited at the Stranahan Elementary fourth grade science fair, he displayed the petri dish photos showing germ growth from each specimen's tongue -- himself and his dog.

After day four, the germ results were dog 104, and Knick 95.

“I wanted to see if a dog or a human had a germier tongue,” Knick said. “I didn’t get grossed out when they licked my face until now."

PHOTO GALLERY: Stranahan Elementary fourth grade science fair

Knick’s scientific project was one of more 70 that were judged by a panel made up of community members including Robert Boehme, Sylvania Township chief of police, Benjamin Forman, a civil engineer for Owens-Illinois, Michael Ramm, Sylvania Township fire deputy chief, and members of the Sylvania Schools Board of Education.

Teachers Lori Mack, Jennifer Kasee, Stephanie Fredrick, and Fran Moyer instructed the children, using the scientific method, to test the hypothesis.

“We conduct several weeks of lessons on scientific method,” Mrs. Mack said. The teachers then let the children pick out an experiment before approving the method and hypothesis, she said.

For Taryn Wachowiak, 9, she tested her curiosity about eggs bouncing. For three days, three eggs were dunked in water, a vinegar and water solution, and vinegar, and then dropped from a height of 42 inches.

Her curiosity about what water does to an eggshell membrane led her to believe the water-logged egg would bounce. However, it cracked on impact. The other two turned into squishy eggs without a shell.

Nicki Owen, 10, learned that the acid in an apple produced the most energy to get a wristband watch to tick. Halved apples had wires and nails running out of them for her test circuit. She said that the potatoes, onions, and carrots did not have as much acid in them to compete with the apple.

Other experiments sought the answers to how does water move through celery, what liquid can dissolve M&M’s best, and can one taste the difference between fat-free and regular foods.

Contact Natalie Trusso Cafarello at: 419-206-0356 or ntrusso@theblade.com.