Science Fever Takes Over Roosevelt School

Students at Roosevelt Elementary School could barely contain their excitement Wednesday as they moved from activity to activity at the annual Science Olympiad.  

From donning astronaut gear to squishing their fingers through gooey blubber, the K-5 students learned science, not from a science book, but through engaging labs.  

“Instead of a science fair, we wanted a day for students of just hands-on activities,” said Brennan Brockbank, the science coach for the Burlingame School District. “We found that science fair projects typically have too much parent involvement.”   

The Science Olympiad has been a tradition for over a decade at Roosevelt, something the older students look forward to every year, Brockbank said. Compared to the 45 minutes of science students get three times a week, Science Olympiad devotes an entire day to a subject loved by nearly all students.  

“We can squeeze in a dozen labs today versus just one,” Brockbank explained.   Students’ glee and excited participation could be heard as they rotated through parent volunteer-led activities inside and outside.  

“Hurry up, you can do it!” students cheered each other on as they tried to complete tasks with clunky, inhibiting astronaut gloves.  

“The rock definitely falls faster than the paper!” students asserted as they tested the laws of gravity.  

First grade teacher Sean Kuiper said the Science Olympiad was perfect for teaching students new skills as well as approaching subjects differently.  

“These labs are way more interactive so it helps them learn with a different type of knowledge,” Kuiper said.  

The day culminated in a special visit from a scientist from Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science.