Aiden Conner, a second-grader at Mars Elementary School, adds the baking soda to make his volcano erupt at the school's science fair March 28, 2012, in the high school gym. Butler Eagle file photo

On March 28, 2012, more than 240 student science projects were displayed at Mars Area Elementary School, some by individuals and some by groups of students who worked together.

Aiden Conner, a second-grader at Mars Area Elementary School, made the classic volcano experiment and added baking soda to vinegar in the cone to make it erupt in the Mars Area High School gym during the fair.

Participation in the science fair was up from the previous year, a fact that fair coordinator and PTO president Carol Knox attributed to positive word-of-mouth among the students.