5th Annual Middleburgh Library Homeschool Science Fair Encourages Exploration & Creativity

Science Fair participants got to play with MVLS kit mBots. (Left to right: Gemma, Middleburgh Library Senior Clerk/Program Assistant Rebecca Young, Honor, & Xzavier.)

MIDDLEBURGH — During the morning of March 21st, Middleburgh Library visitors were greeted by a sign inviting them to check out their 5th Annual Homeschool Science Fair.

Middleburgh Library Senior Clerk/Program Assistant, Rebecca Young, went all out to make the event extra special; filling two rooms with participant trifold display tables and MVLS kit stations including foam dinosaur bones (with model examples pre-built by 11-year-old library volunteer, Adison Liberatore), KĒVA Planks, Kinetic Sticks, Cubelets, & tablet-controlled mBots. Snacks included grapes & cupcakes. There were crossword puzzles, word searches, and I *heart* Science stickers, pins, & temporary tattoos.

“I love to see kids be creative in ways they decide and this is a great opportunity for that,” Anthony McGibbon shared about the Science Fair while there with Xzavier. Last year, Xzavier presented on the color genetics of rabbits. This year, McGibbon explained that the chemistry of baking has gotten Xzavier excited about science. Xzavier wondered, “Which one do people like more, butter or margarine? Is there a difference between the two?” He compared prices, nutrition facts, and consistencies and made a batch of sugar cookies with each. Imperial brand margarine has over ten ingredients and isn’t labeled as gluten-free, while Great Value brand butter has only two ingredients (pasteurized cream & salt) and is labeled as gluten-free. The margarine cookie batch was out for people to taste test.

Erika Palombo said that Matthew loves science and every year he picks something he’s interested to work on for the Science Fair; last year a volcano model and this year he wanted to do something involving electricity. Palombo shared that she dreaded science fairs when she was in school because they were a part of her grade and presenting made her nervous, but, “Science is supposed to be fun!” With Middleburgh Library’s Science Fairs, she has enjoyed watching Matthew get to try things he’s passionate about without the kind of pressure she endured, and has been witnessing the experiences help him become more comfortable and more confident to try new projects while getting to see what science concepts other kids are passionate about.

This was Gemma Skinner’s third year entering the Science Fair. Previous projects covered sounds that help heal bleached coral reefs by attracting animal life back to them and the science of The Wild Robot book series. On Saturday, she detailed how she extracted DNA from a strawberry and showed what it looks like under different magnification levels because she wanted to know if DNA really looks like it does in book illustrations. 

Renée Bilby was excited for Honor to give the Science Fair a try for the first time this year. They borrowed the book, Human Body Learning Lab by Betty Choi, MD, and loved the book so much that they bought their own copy after returning the borrowed copy and recommend you borrow it next time you’re at Middleburgh Library. Honor’s trifold exhibited interactive models that inspired him to learn about muscles, ears, lungs, and the urinary system. Bilby’s impressed by how much the book will be able to continue to aid in Honor’s curriculum beyond his Science Fair project, and how it touches on a long list of skills and subjects like arts & crafts, math, and critical thinking. 

Tiffani Mast came with Hunny & Mason for their first year at the Science Fair as well. They’ve been experimenting with magnetizing objects by rubbing them against magnets. They’ve had lots of successful results with long-lasting magnification of objects like hair clips and paper clips.

Every participant received a laminated Science Award Certificate, “For an outstanding performance at the 2026 Middleburgh Library’s Homeschool Science Fair.” Honor said of his project, “I am very proud of it and I’m glad that my mom helped me.”

McGibbon is one of the Organizational Leaders of Schoharie County 4-H Community Club, which can be found on Facebook; both public school and homeschool students ages 5-18 are welcome. Like 4-H, McGibbon likes that the Science Fair provides kids with experiences that can be applied to curriculums and the added benefit of adults getting to revisit and build an interest in things through the eyes of kids.

Palombo is founder of the homeschool group, Wild & Free Schoharie County, NY (also on Facebook for those interested in joining). Palombo appreciates the way this Science Fair brings awareness to what homeschoolers are doing and what groups and resources they have available to them, especially with the consistently growing numbers of new homeschooling families in the area.

After this year’s Science Fair Young shared, “I honestly believe that kids and adults are life learners. We all learn by doing the things we enjoy and that opens the door to new things. I like to try to keep kids looking for the new things that might spark an interest and to help them find the path to learn more and give them out of the box ideas on how to learn more.” Adding, “Sometimes learning looks like puppets thrown all over the room and kids rolling around the floor laughing. That kind of learning sticks. Learning and the desire to learn comes from within; it's teaching the kids to listen to themselves and run with it.”

MVLS kits are available to borrow from libraries within the Mohawk Valley Library System. Middleburgh Library is located at 323 Main Street and you can follow them on Facebook. Remember to keep your eye out next year for entry packet and event date details; the annual Homeschool Science Fair is open for all ages of homeschool kids to participate in and for the public to attend. 

Register for upcoming events through their calendar at www.middleburghlibrary.info. Their next monthly Homeschool Explorers program starts at 11 AM on April 2nd. Special Storytime April 7th at 10:45 AM; local Author Anita Sanchez will read her book, A Sky That Sings, and play a bird call guessing game. And, make sure to cast your vote for the next Board of Trustee elects on May 12th from 12 PM - 8 PM because a full Library Board is an important factor in what Middleburgh Library can offer for the entire community. 

Matthew Palombo wanted to know, “How can electricity make sound?” His trifold reflected what he learned from experimenting with electrical circuits. Using Snap Circuits Space War IC to control a speaker and make different sounds, he proved his hypothesis correct.

Those who visited Gemma’s table received instructions on how they could try the strawberry DNA extraction experiment, too: 1-Chill rubbing alcohol in freezer for 10 minutes. 2-Remove strawberry stems. 3-Place strawberries in a resealable plastic bag. 4-Smash strawberries into mush. 5-Add 1 tsp. dish soap, ¼ tsp. salt, and ¾ cup water to bag. Seal, shake well, & set bag aside for 5 minutes. 6-Line funnel with coffee filter & place funnel in tall glass. 7-Pour strawberry mixture into the coffee filter in the funnel. Wait 4 minutes. 8-Add an inch of chilled rubbing alcohol into glass. 9-The thick material that rises to the top is strawberry DNA. Observe with the naked eye, magnifying glass, and/or microscope.

Special thanks to library volunteer, Adison Liberatore (age 11), for setting up MVLS dinosaur kit models for Middleburgh Library Science Fair goers! Rebecca Young credited Liberatore as always up for helping, “and always with a smile and usually Adison and I laugh the whole hour he is here each week.”