Leonardo da Vinci first developed the odometer for measuring distance, the jack for lifting heavy objects, and the pile driver. He did not have modern power sources or advanced mathematics, but used his remarkable intuition and observation to make many scientific discoveries including: gears, cutting tools, lathes, bridge trusses, clocks, sawmills and hydraulics. Excerpts from the film Leonardo da Vinci from Pictura Films Corporation are shown, highlighting the many artistic and scientific developments from his notebooks including models of flying machines, catapults, cannons, guns, and tanks.

Howard Owens, of Northwestern High School in Prince Georges County, MD, briefly discusses the purpose of the National Science Fair. Talented students then display and explain their Science Fair projects. Don Boyle experiments with the effects of radio waves on seed germination. Mary Catherine White reconstructs a functioning battery using Volta's methods. Gary Miggs creates a diorama based on the fossils characteristic of the Devonian Period. Jean Spencer determines the amount of black widow spider venom required to kill a white mouse. Fred Shindler researches the life cycle of the corn borer in an unsuccessful attempt to break that cycle and thus eradicate the pest.