Last night we attended the annual science fair at my daughter's school. We were totally blown away -- there were over 125 participants in grads 2-5, and it was an optional event! We saw everything from experiments on magnetism, to what bubblegum blows the biggest bubble, to how to create electricity.
My daughter did a project on air pressure. It was pretty impressive, if I do say so myself! (It helps if your dad is an engineer and your mom is a scrapbooker - not only do you get a cool experiment, you get a great poster!).
We had never taken part in a science fair before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. And since I am sure there are other parents out there wondering what the heck to do to help their kids create an amazing, yet simple, science fair project, I've put together the following five tips for those who want to stand out from the crowd, but whose parents aren't willing to spend a month of solid effort creating the project!
1. Skip the volcano project. Here's why: It's (A) a lot of work (B) messy and (C) not original. There were no less than seven volcano projects there last night! Even if your kid really, really wants to do the volcano project, and even if she does the whole thing herself, and even if it looks really, really, cool, it's got to be a big downer when she shows up at the big event and she's sitting in a row of six others with the exact same project. It's kind of like showing up at a movie premier wearing the same dress as someone else. Even if you looked pretty hot, you're not going to be able to avoid comparisons.
2. Go for the flash factor. No matter what field of science your child would like to explore, there's going to be a project that won't put the judges (and the poor parents) to sleep. Want to do an experiment on geology? Why not simulate an earthquake? Taken with physics? Lightning is always a sure-fire (haha!) crowd-pleaser.
3. Think outside the box. Just like with the volcano example, push your kids to go beyond the ordinary. If they're repeating a tried-and-true science fair experiment, can they dress it up somehow to make it more original? Costumes, props, video and audio are all relatively simple ways to make a classic project their own. Presentation counts!
4. Let them do it. Last night there were projects that were obviously concepted and created by a parent, not a kid. It does everyone a disservice if the parent gets too involved. We live close to MIT and Harvard (and about 5 zillion other colleges) so there is a high Ph.D.-per-square-mile rating. Some of the parents obviously saw this event as a chance to out-do the other geniuses in the crowd. No fun, no fun at all. And totally transparent. (No fourth-grader's Powerpoint skills are THAT good).
5. Have fun! Don't let your kid get stressed, and don't you get stressed out, either. The whole experience is about learning. If your child learns a little something he or she didn't know -- even if it's how to talk in front of a group -- then it's been a successful science fair. And if the experiment is a flop, that's okay, too. There's always next year!
And since I know you're dying to see it... here's Dr. Kinsey Ehmann:
Hooray for Science Fairs! I sincerely agree on letting the kids do it themselves. It took a lot of self control to let my daughter make mistakes on her experiment, but that's what made the whole popcorn theme exciting. I would never have picked her topic (Which brand of popcorn leaves the least unpopped kernels?) but she was thrilled to have her favorite snack involved. Plus, like you said, the scrapbooking mom is a good advisor for fonts and cardstock colors, and balanced posters. Rule of thirds, ya know. ;)
Posted by: FuzzyCricket | 03/05/2010 at 10:42 AM
Oh My goodness!!! your daughter is so cute !! And what a great job she did. That is one project my kids never tried and I have four kids that had to do science fair projects every year for years!!!:) How long did it take you to film that whole 4 mins and 44 secs?
Posted by: Jersey Girl Anne | 03/05/2010 at 03:50 PM
Good tips, Lain.
Dr. Kinsey did a beautiful job explaining her experiment and doing it! Loved it.
Posted by: sue | 03/05/2010 at 06:37 PM
What a delightful presentation! It was so real, it took me back to my days of teaching 4th grade. She really understood what she was saying. I'd give her an A! I just love 4th graders!
Posted by: Hannah Means | 03/05/2010 at 09:35 PM
Wow, what a fantastic experiment. And Kinsey did an amazing job. She really knew what she was talking about - and she's adorable as well!
Posted by: Gab | 03/09/2010 at 09:46 PM
Great Job, Kinsey!
Posted by: SusanC | 03/10/2010 at 07:40 AM
Oh my GOSH Lain, how adorable is she?!!! I love when she said "my hypothesis"... I can't wait till my kids are old enough to enter in science experiments - brings back fond memories :)
Posted by: Cori-Lyn | 03/10/2010 at 03:10 PM
That was so cute!!! What a great job she did! I liked it because she explained it so that I could understand it, I never liked science :) Awesome job!
Posted by: Marcie L | 03/11/2010 at 12:16 PM