NATCHEZ — Mousetrap catapults sure beat pencil and paper when it comes to learning for Natchez High School freshman Gregory Terrell.

Terrell, one of two overall winners of the Natchez High science fair, indulged his flair for fixing and building things when he engineered his winning science project.

“I like building stuff,” Terrell said. “I want to be an engineer.”

Terrell tested the distance balls of different weights could travel in the catapult he built and tested on his parents’ carport.

With some wood as the base, a paint stirring stick as the lever, screws and a mousetrap as the spring mechanism, Terrell had created his control group — the catapult.

The experimental group — the balls of different weights Terrell flung from his invention, proved his hypothesis.

Dililah Mitchell, the Natchez High science content specialist, said the hands-on science projects help students apply what they know to real life situations and prepare them for the Biology I state test they will take next year.

“With this generation, they’re so used to manipulating gadgets,” Mitchell said.

“Teachers can talk all day, but if (students) can’t relate it to real world (through) application, it means nothing.”

Dwight Bradshaw, a freshman who tied with Terrell as an overall winner, entered his project in the behavior and social sciences category.

By polling 63 of his classmates he learned through the experiment that outside temperatures did not affect people’s moods as much as he thought.

Weather conditions, however, such as rain, tended to affect moods negatively.

“But it depends on the person and the weather,” Bradshaw said.

Other experiments included one that tested which cookie contained the most fat and another tested whether the Wii Fit game consol provided as good of a workout as traditional exercise — which it doesn’t, according to the experiment.

Mitchell said all freshman participated in the science fair, and participating upperclassman received extra credit for their projects.

She said she was impressed with submissions and hoped for an even better turnout next year.

“I enjoyed seeing their hard work and excitement,” Mitchell said.

Eight other students won first place in their categories.

The winners included Kenisha Barns in biochemistry, Xavier Bates in botany, Debra Whitley and Kierra Jackson in chemistry, Jasmine Winding in Earth, space & environmental science, Peter Foster in medicine & health and Travon Marsaw in microbiology, Courtney Sims in physics and Lonza Williams in zoology.