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From tornadoes in a bottle to volcanoes on a desk, the first ever sixth grade science fair at the Bronx School of Science Inquiry and Investigation was a real force to be reckoned with.

"It was hard but we knew that if we keep working together the project will come out successful," said sixth grader Shanera Manning.

Sixth grade science teacher Cheryl Yang, together with her colleagues, organized the fair so students could learn outside the textbook.

"A lot of times in class it is very guided, we give them all the information, they're learning. But they are not really processing the skills by doing what we tell them to do -- by taking notes, taking quizzes. So I feel this opportunity really taught them the scientific process really well because they had to do it on their own," Yang said.

Students could choose any subject, but had to follow the standard scientific method -- from hypothesis to conclusion -- to carry out their experiments.

“I decided to test Gatorade versus water and see which one would make my pulse rate go up more,” said sixth grader Julius Budd. “I found that Gatorade made my pulse rate go up more and water was less."

And while Budd worked with humans, sixth grader Amber Luna decided to work with a different species. She tested the effect of chocolate on mice.

"We found out that they are actually almost similar to humans because when we eat chocolate we get really hyper and after a while we crash and the same thing has happened with the mice," Luna said.

With clipboards and pencils in hand, students from the lower grades stopped at different tables to meet the young scientists and to expand their own knowledge of science.

“I learned that when you put baking soda and vinegar together it erupts,” said fifth grader Mariel Gutierrez.

“All of these experiments I never have seen it. I was really excited to be in the science fair,” said fifth grader Ezequiel Parra.

Parents were also invited to the science fair to see their children present their projects.

"She had been working on this volcano project for about a month or so and I came out to support her,” said sixth grade parent Dorothy Manning.

For more information on programs that engage youth in science, technology, engineering and math, visit www.ConnectAMillionMinds.com.