All About Science Fairs
by Betsy Van DornIt's a curious thing: even though American scientists are valued and respected in American society, fewer and fewer American students are pursuing the sciences beyond minimum graduation requirements. What can we do to reverse this trend? How can science transcend the classroom and transport kids to new dimensions of discovery and invention? For starters, consider the science fair.
Local, national, or international, science fairs are organized events where students submit projects to be evaluated by a team of judges. Real-world scientists know that discoveries and breakthroughs are built on learning what doesn't work as much as what does. Science fairs aren't about having "right answers." They're about learning--and fun.
Grins or groans?
Even if your student's the type who wouldn't consider entering anything in a science fair, he or she may still be required to do some sort of long-range project as part of a science assignment. If this is greeted with groans of dismay, you might want to remind the groaner that there could be some surprises in store: Many kids learn--to their delight--that science projects frequently involve much more than science. For example, students are often surprised to find themselves incorporating art, photography, and unexpected ingenuity as part of their exhibits. Risk-taking is part of the process. It can translate into confidence and self-esteem when a child is able to make a presentation to a judge or explain a project in front of a group of peers.
The long-suffering parent
"When my sixth-grader came home with a long-term science project," says one mother, "I gritted my teeth and thought, well, there goes my free time for the next couple of months." Hold on, parents. This isn't about you, and it isn't your project.
Perhaps the single most terrifying thing for parents is not understanding what their child is actually expected to do, nor what a realistic time frame is for doing it. Once you feel comfortable with the basics, you can help your child step into a scientist's shoes and march confidently off to the science fair. Here are some tips and projects ideas for kids in different age groups: For elementary-school children, this may be life's first experience with a long-range project. In order to keep kids from feeling overwhelmed, it's important they stick to a topic that's simple and straightforward. You can smooth the way by helping to brainstorm ideas and making sure that the final choice is something your child seems genuinely curious about.
Sample topics for elementary projects
- How a tooth decays.
- How plants reproduce.
- Parts of a hen's egg.
- Plants grow toward light.
- Ecology of our school grounds.
- Fire must have air to burn.
- How a doorbell works.
- Causes of the seasons.
- Using a compass.
- Fat is fatal.
Remind your middleschooler that possibilities for science projects are everywhere. How about those ads on the radio or TV? Can a person really taste the difference between one cola and another? What's the difference between brands of paper towels or mouthwash? Do cats really prefer one brand of food over another? It's all fertile ground for a science experiment.
Sample topics for middle-school projects
- Testing and comparing consumer products (colas, mouthwash, paper towels, stain removers).
- How traffic signals work.
- How paint is affected by temperature changes.
- Factors affecting the strength of hair.
- The composition of frost and dew.
- What factors encourage the growth of roots.
- Effects of sunlight on rubber, ink, paper.
- Connections between hair and eye color.
- Reactions of protozoa to changes in the environment.
- Scientific principles behind musical instruments.
The natural teenage tendency toward self-absorption might serve your high-schooler well when it comes to finding a cool science project. Keep your eye out for newspaper tidbits that might lead to intriguing topics. Who knows--an article about weather conditions might trigger brainstorming about how dryness or humidity affect different hair types. A sports article might lead to determining the differences between metal and wooden baseball bats. Enthusiasm and perseverance have a better chance if your teen is really psyched about a topic.
Sample topics for high school projects
- Effects of cigarette smoke on the growth of plants.
- Hydroponics.
- The effect of different types of music on plants.
- How a compact disk produces sound.
- A study and observation of urban wildlife.
- What constitutes efficient home insulation.
- The mathematics of snowflakes.
- Methods of controlling erosion.
- Developing a computer video game.
- Effects of changing humidity on hair.
