| It's that time of year again. Kids learn by doing, | | | | students like to do holiday specific science |
| and this is the opportunity the inquisitive geniuses | | | | projects and they could do an experiment to |
| have been waiting for. | | | | determine how to make your Christmas tree last |
| Is second-hand smoke harmful? | | | | longer. This project involves testing several |
| Do boys or girls have better study habits? | | | | Christmas trees using water combined with |
| Is the air more polluted at the bus station than | | | | different substances to see which tree lasts |
| near my home? | | | | longer. For Halloween, they could do a science fair |
| Kids are always asking questions and science fairs | | | | project to determine whether the diameter of a |
| afford them the opportunity to answer these | | | | pumpkin has any relationship to the number of |
| questions in a scientifically valid manner. Great | | | | seeds in the pumpkin. This projects requires a |
| science fair projects begin with the teacher or the | | | | number of pumpkins of different sizes and |
| parent. Helping your students select a project | | | | diameters and a lot of patience counting seeds. |
| topic is undoubtedly your first task during the | | | | The sports fans will be able to find projects about |
| science fair season. | | | | baseball and football. After all, when you study the |
| DO help your students to find the right project. | | | | immovable object and the irrestable force, such |
| The internet can be a great resource for | | | | as happens in sports like football and baseball, |
| gathering project ideas. There are thousands of | | | | almost any results could eventuate. The students |
| science fair project ideas listed. | | | | who watch current events will be able to find |
| Teach them to enter key words like "science fair | | | | projects about tsunamis and hurricanes. For those |
| projects" or "science project ideas" or any | | | | interested in ufos, they can find a project about |
| combination of related key word. If the student is | | | | flying saucers. In this interesting project, the |
| interested in biology, he/she could enter "biology | | | | student actually gets to test his skills to determine |
| science fair projects". | | | | whether he can make a real flying saucer; |
| Finding something that interests them is the key | | | | Other interesting projects include determining |
| to their success. Here are some helpful dos and | | | | whether caffeine increases blood pressure. This is |
| don'ts: | | | | a good science fair project for testing adults as |
| DON'T do the research yourself. The student's | | | | well as students. They can find out for example, if |
| search for the right project is a necessary first | | | | people who drink several cups of coffee a day |
| step in getting their interest. It will be really | | | | have higher blood pressures than those who do |
| exciting for the student to surf the web and | | | | not. Coke and tea may also be tested in this |
| enjoy the experience of finding the project that | | | | project. They can also learn whether caffeine |
| he/she just cannot wait to do. | | | | affects woman more than men, or teens more |
| DON'T micro manage their efforts. They should | | | | than adults. |
| feel free to express themselves. | | | | Presentation is another area where many |
| DO give them general guidelines for completion | | | | students could use extra guidance. Even the |
| dates. | | | | greatest science fair project will fail if it's |
| DO teach them the step-by-step scientific | | | | presented poorly. Show your students examples |
| method. | | | | of award-winning displays. And be sure to tell |
| DO make them feel secure about asking you | | | | them about the judges' criteria for excellence. |
| questions. | | | | Guide them on any science fair project limitations. |
| Be certain to advise your students that their | | | | Some science fairs discourage the use of live |
| science fair projects do not have to be limited to | | | | animals. Others may not permit projects that |
| the generally accepted fields of chemistry, biology, | | | | require growing plants because of the time |
| physics and earth science. They can, for example | | | | required. Still others frown on the use of certain |
| do a project about who has better manners, | | | | chemicals, especially for the younger grades. Make |
| boys or girls? Or they could investigate to see | | | | sure your students are aware of the limitations of |
| what part of their town is more polluted Many | | | | your school. |