I have fabulous memories of science fairs from my elementary school days. It was a time when my parents really bonded with me, it was fun to do non-book schoolwork, and (in that fabulous competitive way I have) I enjoyed the fact that I tended to win prizes for my projects. I even got my picture in the local paper once. :-) My parents usually helped me dream up ideas, and they were adamant that I *not* use kits from the stores. (Though I know that kits are the One True Way nowadays where they weren't when I was little.)
As for doing messy stuff outdoors--I *loved* getting to do "outdoor" projects. I built a water turbine, I collected edible weeds, I did experiments with snails. It was great!
My "little cousin" (who is now a sophomore at Davis) did science projects far later than school required. She made it to the International Science Fair and got to travel around the country with her projects. She often spent the bulk of the school year working on her project on the side. It was largely her fascination with those projects that inspired her to major in Biology.
You're doing a great thing by getting N and E into this stuff early. They'll appreciate it later.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-02-22 09:26 pm (UTC)As for doing messy stuff outdoors--I *loved* getting to do "outdoor" projects. I built a water turbine, I collected edible weeds, I did experiments with snails. It was great!
My "little cousin" (who is now a sophomore at Davis) did science projects far later than school required. She made it to the International Science Fair and got to travel around the country with her projects. She often spent the bulk of the school year working on her project on the side. It was largely her fascination with those projects that inspired her to major in Biology.
You're doing a great thing by getting N and E into this stuff early. They'll appreciate it later.