Ideas for a Super Science Fair

Science fairs are an excellent way of getting students involved in science. Because students are able to focus on one subject in which they are genuinely interested, they are more eager to learn. The competition and rewards involved provide incentive for the student to work hard and do their best on the project. Science fairs also allow parents to be actively involved in their child's education, helping to spark their imaginations and fan the flames into a lifelong interest in the world around them.

What Not To Do

The following list of items are things you don't want to do if you want your child to have a successful science fair project:

1. Don't choose the topic. Let your child choose the topic. You can help them explore ideas and narrow those down into a practical project, but let them tell you what they are interested in. They will be more eager to do the project, and more eager to learn, if they are interested in the subject.

2. Don't do the project for your child. While it is a great idea to help your child figure out how to do the project, as well as to help them do it, give them the opportunity to try. Your child will learn more by having you assist them than by having you fill in for them. In the case of judged fairs, the judges will know if you did all of the work, so you won't be helping your child score more points.

3. Don't be afraid to get dirty. Science projects are meant to be active. You and your child are supposed to roll up your sleeves and get involved.

4. Don't be afraid to try. While your child should be doing projects that are appropriate for their age, grade, and ability levels, it is perfectly normal for them to want to try different projects. It is also perfectly normal for one project to lead to questions that may lead to variations in the project. Try them and see what happens. That's part of the scientific process.

5. Don't forget to have fun. Relax and enjoy the project, and be sure to let your child do the same. Both of you will encounter less frustration and fewer feelings of "I can't do this" if you simply take the time to enjoy doing the project together.

Project Ideas

There are literally thousands of potential science fair projects. If your child is curious about it and wants to know more, it can probably be turned into a science project. When your child asks a question, answer with, "Let's find out." That puts you on the road to a great science fair project. Some examples of questions children ask and how to make them into projects are:

How do flowers grow? Plant seeds in clear plastic containers, with the seed against the side so it can be seen. You and your child can watch the seed germinate and grow, sprouting through the surface and becoming a plant.

o Try planting several seeds in different containers, and use different types of soil, different amounts of sunlight or water, or different temperatures to see how it affects plant growth.

How does electricity work? Make lemon batteries to explain circuits.

o Use different types of material to create static electricity on a fluorescent lighting tube to see which one makes it glow brighter.

o Since heat and electricity act similarly, hold different types of materials in front of a light bulb or hair dryer to see which get warm, meaning they are better conductors.

Is the more expensive soap really better? Use several brands of soap and have a cleaning competition to see which works better. You can also put them in water and see which lasts longer.

o Variations of this can include every household item from motor oil to shoe polish to furniture cleaner.

o You can even expand this to include which tastes better: store-brand or name-brand, frozen or canned or fresh, diet or regular.

There is no limit to the number of projects you can find if you let curiosity and imagination take control. The real goal of science projects, and of science fairs, is to encourage exploration. You may be surprised at how much fun you will have with your child when learning about the world around you.

Robert McKenzie is a former teacher and writer. Visit his website Science Lessons, for more information about Science Fair Projects and Ideas.

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Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas For A Super Scientific Birthday Party

Get Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas so your next kids birthday party will be filled with scientific facts and fun games. It is easy to plan a science theme kids party when you know how to and I can show you something about that! Sid the Science kid is a popular children's TV show that teaches everyday science to anyone who watches it.

Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas

You can get some great party ideas from this kids TV show. Look at the experiments the show talks about and see which ones you can use as a party activity. Set up a Super Fab Lab in your kitchen and imagine how exciting it will be for your party guests when they make a homemade volcano erupt with mentos and soda or create a cyclone in a soda bottle. Serve kids something scientific like ice cream and talk about how it gets frozen or serve up something from space like freeze-dried ice cream for astronauts. You can decide to make slime and let the kids take it home as a party favor.

There are also some great science experiments you can buy like instant snow, tasty science kits and even glow chemistry sets in case you want to get really into this science party theme. You can also find aprons for the kids to wear over their party clothes just in case the science experiments get a little messy

Science Party Supplies

You can find science theme party supplies with Sid and the TV gang on them. These party plates, cups, napkins, table cloths and streamers are perfect to set up a lab and serve party foods and cake. The party favor box for this theme has a sticker sheet, a notepad and some crayons, a temporary tattoo, a magnifying glass, some candy Pop Rocks and a glow putty egg. These fun favors will thrill your party guests.

There are also some really cool party decorations for this kids theme. Check out the giant wall decals of Sid and the kids from the show...May, Gerald, Gabriela, Susie the Teacher. There is even a personalized birthday banner you can hang across the doorway or in your party room. Don't forget to add some colorful latex helium filled balloons to float around your party room. Why not explain what helium is and does to the kids. They will be able to see science in action with these floating balloons.

Sid the Science Kid Party Games

Play games that ask questions...trivia is always fun. Science asks the questions how, why and what...at least that is what the Science decal decorations for this party theme says, so your games should ask questions as well.

Get the 25" pull string magnifying glass pinata and fill it with candies and goodies. Let the kids have a blast pulling the strings on the pinata until it bursts open and spills out all it's hidden treasure for the kids to gather up. There are some very special party favor pinata fillers you can find just for this party theme. The fillers include tops, yo-yo's, toy guns, kazoos, mazes and plastic glasses for the kids to play with.

These fun party games combined with some of the really cool science experiments for kids I told you about are going to make this a party the kids will remember for a long time...and that means it was a successful birthday party.

Science can be lots of fun when you use the wonderful ideas you will find from Sid the Science Kid and the kids will have a blast with this colorful party theme. It's a winning kids party idea and it is easy for you to plan and host!

Find everything you need to plan and host a birthday with Sid the Science Kid Party Ideas. You can find crafts, favors, supplies and most important...fun ideas for all your kids party needs. Find more kids party themes at Party Ideas Parade.

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Super Science Fair Projects

Even if kids deny it, winning the science fair is a pretty big honor. It is something a student will get to boast about for years to come. Instilling pride in their school work and sparking a genuine and possible lifelong interest in science is something not many subjects can do through a fair or a competition. Just like in any competition, most children will not want to submit something that will be so-so. Even if it does not win, a science project submitted to the fair has to be world class. It has to be one of the super science fair projects!

Depending on the year level of your child, as well as their branch of science of choice (usually, you have three branches throughout a child's elementary and middle school life), there are many super science fair projects out there. The first step to getting a super science fair project is to carefully study the rules of the fair. Each fair is different depending on the school or school district. Getting to know the rules, as well as the criteria of what the judges are looking for will help you and your child come up with something worthy of the colored prize ribbons.

Earth Science is the science that studies our world and what it is made of. Think geology, anthropology, carbon dating, and the like. The most famous earth science project out there is probably the baking soda and vinegar volcano which shows how magma can rise from the earth and out over the volcano simulating a volcanic eruption. The project also demonstrates a basic chemical reaction. For a super science fair project that involve earth science though, try coming up with your own system for carbon dating. Study the method behind carbon dating and see if you can probably do the same with a few household tools.

One of the more popular choices for super science fair projects in the lower grades is a project that involves life science. Life science is the study of trees, animals, humans, and all other living things. Something as simple as comparing plant growth will count as a science fair project. In order to win, though, take the project up a notch and try growing plants through a hydroponic or aeroponic system. The most important thing is that your child comes up with a good system that they understand and can present healthy growing plants without the use of soil!

Finally, there is physical science, which is by far the most commonly used concept when it comes to super science fair projects. If you pick physical science as your branch, be ready for the competition! If you have a lesson outline of your child's physical science lessons, choose a lesson ahead of what they are currently studying, and base the project on that lesson. This will assure you that your child's project is unique and will throw everyone off by surprise. Being ahead of everyone else in terms of concepts or theory is always a sure winner!

You can create super science fair projects from the various fields or areas of study of science. Help your kids find super [http://www.easysciencefun.com/science-projects/solar-oven.html>science fair projects that they can create and show off during the fair by clicking on the links here.]

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