I never did a Science Fair project when I was a kid. Not at any level of school — elementary, middle, or high school. My school — an all girls school in the north of England — was wholly focused on exams…preparing for exams, studying for exams, cramming for exams.
I took Science when I first started middle school, followed by Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. But never did a Science Fair project. I recall doing science experiments in each of the science lab classrooms. I even did experiments at home with my sister’s chemistry set. But, there was no school science fair.
I first noticed that there was a school Science Fair when my oldest was in 3rd grade. At the time only 5th graders were required to participate. At the school wide enrichment, a pair of girls experimented with getting power out of a lemon. I’m no scientist, but I knew that I could find projects to interest my daughters.
Middle schoolers participate at the Broadcom MASTERS Science Fair
Fast forward a few years… Now we have a high schooler, middle schooler, and elementary schooler who create a Science Fair project each year. With each school year the level of difficulty increases. My 9th grader’s Science Fair project was much more complex and thought-provoking than her 1st grade brother’s experiment last year. By doing simple, straightforward Science Fair projects as a young child, my children are better prepared for the rigors of what is required for middle and high school science classes.
My tween and I were invited to participate in the Broadcom Masters Science Fairs for middle schoolers (6th, 7th, and 8th graders). For a Broadcom Science Fair location near you, go here. Elmer’s is the official 2011 Classroom Sponsor.
The national science, technology, engineering and math competition for U.S. 6th, 7th and 8th graders, the Broadcom MASTERS™ (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars), a program of Society for Science & the Public, inspires and encourages the nation’s young scientists, engineers and innovators.
I was compensated for this series of posts by Elmer’s through Collective Bias. The views expressed in this post are my own or those of my tween.
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