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Science Fair Tips for Well-Meaning Parents
© Copyright DiscoverThisJanuary means Science Fairs at schools throughout the country, and if you're like most parents, you're probably wondering how you can help your kids without doing their projects for them. We've compiled a few tips to help keep you, your child and your household happy from project planning through presentation night.
Repeat Your Mantra: "It's my child's project, not my project. It's my child's project, not my project." The goal of a science fair is to allow children the opportunity to explore scientific methods of discovery, not, as many might believe, to win a prize. As parents, we need to help our kids understand that and we need to keep it in mind ourselves. Offer support and encouragement - never criticism - and the project will be a success no matter who takes home the ribbon.
Focus On the Science: For many students, the science fair is their first chance to use the scientific method, an important concept not only for science but for critical thinking and problem solving in all areas. In a nutshell, the scientific method is a standard way of answering a question. The basic steps are as follows:
- Question: First your child should choose a question he or she can answer through experimentation or research, such as, "Will my plant grow faster if I water it with plain water or sugar water?"
- Hypothesis: Next, your child should guess, or hypothesize, what the answer will be. Have him write down his prediction before beginning experimentation.
- Experimentation: This is where your child tests his hypothesis. In the case of our question above, your child could plant two identical seeds, place them in the same location, then water one with plain water and the other with sugar water. Because this requires several weeks to test, make sure your child chooses a question he or she can answer in the time allotted. If your child has extra time, encourage him to repeat the experiment to verify the results.
- Conclusion: After experimentation, your child should document his results and draw his conclusion (answer the initial question). Did his experiment prove or disprove his hypothesis? Many children think they've failed if their experiment disproves their hypothesis, but success lies not in guessing correctly. Success lies in discovering the answer to the initial question using the scientific method.
Help Them Choose a Topic: If your child needs some assistance selecting a topic, help him explore Science Fair Books or online science fair resource sites. Rather than answering a scientific question through experimentation, students can often use research to answer a question or design a model illustrating a scientific principle. If your child isn't interested in performing an experiment, he or she might be interested in a project such as constructing a model of the solar system or building a solar powered vehicle. Just make sure your child's project is safe and won't create a huge mess at the science fair.
Be Supportive: While you don't want to take over your child's project, there are many appropriate ways for you to help. Offer assistance in locating research sources or the materials your child needs for experimentation. Listen to your child's ideas and ask probing questions. Encourage her to share her progress and present her project to the family. Show her you're proud of her efforts. You can also get involved by volunteering to help at the science fair or in your child's class. Whatever you do, you'll show your child you value the work she's doing without taking over control of her project.
Extend the Learning: When the science fair is over, don't let your child's enthusiasm wane. Brainstorm ideas for next year's science fair (and keep the list where you can find it when the time comes). Talk about science as it relates to daily life and explore nature together. Seek out projects, kits and games that allow your child to experiment with scientific concepts and continue on the exciting path of discovery.
At Discover This, we get as excited as our children when it comes to their science fair projects, but we're careful to allow them to explore and discover for themselves. We remind our children (and ourselves!) that science is not about winning a prize: It's about exploring the world around us and discovering how things work and why. Science isn't a once a year activity ... it's a way of life!
For more ways to nurture your child's natural scientific curiosity, check out the award-winning science kits, toys and games on Discover This, and make science a regular family affair!
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