Long Beach Middle School students demonstrated the many ways in which they have experienced and explored science on Nov. 17, when they showcased their work during the annual Science Symposium held in the building’s library, cafeterias and gymnasium. Parents, staff members and other attendees took the opportunity to witness an assortment of research projects created by sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.

Sixth-grade classes collaborated to test the effects of launch height, mass and structural design on the distance a paper plate travels, while another group studied Vitamin E. Their findings were detailed in a report and through display boards.

Seventh- and eighth-grade students worked individually, with partners or in small groups to created visual exhibits that outlined their hypotheses, experiments, observations and conclusions. Projects were selected by the researchers based on their own areas of interest.

The Science Symposium and the work that went into it supported the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program by focusing on student engagement, student-centered learning, and inquiry-based projects and explorations. Students extended and deepened their knowledge as they attempted to answer their own questions through the scientific method.

Many of the students used their Chromebooks and the Google for Education application to produce charts and graphs to display their findings.