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