Science: 'Which Bandage Stays On Longest?'

Hundreds of families made tracks to Truman Elementary school Friday evening, after a snowy morning, to take part in the PRISM experience—or what in some circles might be called a science fair.

PRISM is the acronym for Practical Research Investigating the Scientific Method.

Parents, siblings and even grandparents jammed the aisles between tables in the gym to ogle projects displayed on poster board triptychs lined up one after the other and back to back.

Entrants were Lindbergh district elementary school students in grades 1 -5.

"There were a lot of hands busy working late last night," said one father--remaining anonymous--who espoused the theory that many projects were whipped up the night before.

The cafeteria next door held working displays of robots built from Legos, and students with the help of coaches, kept robots in motion on a raised wooden platform. Fourth-graders described the science at work on their "bots."

Team members and coaches wore t-shirts with team logos  like PEGBOT and I.C.E. and GEM.

The most frequently spotted experiments tested which paper towel was toughest and which bandage was stickiest. Every conclusion turned up a different brand as the winner. So much for advertisers' claims.

The science projects were truly impressive--if not overwhelming--in their wealth of information and the creativity displayed in answering the assignment. Every student took home a certificate.

Despite the event's non-competitive component, students were overheard saying to adults: "I'll show you my competition, over here."

By the end of the night, parents were streaming out to parked SUVs and put the awkwardly-shaped projects in the back.

The precious projects could make their way into the house and bedroom, and then maybe into the basement, until next year's PRISM.