HOPE – Can a pickle conduct sufficient electrical current to provide light? Does the “Five Second Rule” actually work? Inquiring minds at Clinton Primary School learned the answers to those and other questions in the CPS Science Fair competition.

A total of 44 student science projects were entered in the 2016 contest among third and fourth grade students in the CPS Gifted/Talented Program. Project were exhibited and awards presented at Hempstead Hall on the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana campus recently.

Overall project winners included:

Fourth grade – Payton Rhodes, “Seeds in Different Fruits,” first place; Braydon Burris, “Electric Quiz Board,” second place; Bethany White, “Color Milk Explosion,” third place; and Brandy Chapa, “Homemade Light Bulbs,” fourth place.

Third grade – Braydon Russell, “Will It Spill?,” first place; Edward Chook, “Color Changing Milk,” second place; Jena Brown, “Does the Five Second Rule Work?,” third place; and Camden Green, “How Much Sugar is in Your Drink?,” fourth place.

Winners by category in the fourth grade included:

General science – Payton Rhodes, “Seeds in Different Fruits,” first place; Axel Yhoss, “What Effects Do Different Chemicals Have on Plants?,” second place; Tatyana Flemons, “Where’s My Water?,” third place; and Amber Cisneros, “Box Oven,” fourth place.

Physics – Braydon Burris, “Electric Quiz Board,” first place; Liberty Leathers, “Electric Charge,” second place; Brandy Chapa, “Homemade Light Bulbs,” third place; and, Vincent Marks, “Marble Run,” fourth place.

Chemistry – Bethany White, “Color Milk Explosion,” first place; Graci Helmick, “How Does Frost Form?,” second place; Kaden Brown, “Invisible Soda,” third place; and, Eva Davis, fourth place.

Winners by category in the third grade included:

General science – Edward Chook, “Color Changing Milk,” first place; Camden Green, “How Much Sugar is in Your Drink?,” second place; Kennedy Phillips, “Food Clock,” third place; and Angelica Soto, “The Sun,” fourth place.

Physics – Braiden Lowe, “Power of the Pickle,” first place; Savannnah Adams, “Which Paper Towel Works Best?,” second place.

Chemistry – Brayden Russell, “Will It Spill?,” first place; Jena Brown, “Does the Five Second Rule Work?,” second place; Arrington Turner, “Cylinder Volcanoes,” third place; and, Harley Helmick, “How Do Clouds Make Rain?,” fourth place.

Students were required to formulate a hypothesis, devise a research methodology, conduct an experiment, and report a conclusion in their project development, according to GT Teacher Alvis Conway.

And… yes; pickles will conduct sufficient electrical current to glow, but the “Five Second Rule” doesn’t work.

(See photos on CPS Facebook page.)