Austin Petefish, 10, works on setting up his Science Fair Project dealing with batteries Wednesday in the library at Deerfield Elementary School. The exhibits will be judged by Kansas University engineering students and on display to others on Friday.

Students at Deerfield School are hoping family, friends and judges are blinded by their science. Well, at least their science experiments.

“Our project is the potato-powered clock,” said fifth-grader Samantha Travis. “My dad had to help us because my mom does not know anything about science.”

Students spent a week brainstorming on what their big question would be.

“They got to pick it all themselves, so it was really something they’d be interested in,” said fifth-grade teacher Diana Bailey.

From moldy bread to cleaning pennies, students covered a wide science spectrum.

“Our project is testing lima beans to see which one grows better in either soil, sand or Miracle-Gro,” said fifth-grader Christina Craig.

All fifth-grade students were required to submit a project, but the fair got submissions from every grade except kindergarten.

“It’s really problem-solving skills and writing,” Bailey said. “A lot of state standards are involved in doing the scientific process.”

The projects will be judged by Kansas University engineering students and will be open for viewing at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the school, 101 Lawrence Ave.

“Hopefully we get a blue ribbon,” Christina said. “We put a lot of effort into this.”

Her partner quickly chimed in. “A lot of time, too,” said fifth-grader Syndey Gard.

Students have been working for eight weeks to finish their projects.

“I love doing the experiments because it’s a hands-on thing instead of just reading in a book,” said Tanisha Kaur, who worked with Samantha on the potato clock.

Some of the projects will go on to the Douglas County Science Fair, which will be open for viewing from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Feb. 5 and from noon to 10 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.