1st Grade Science Fair Projects

It is important to note that 1st graders, cannot do science fair projects because they do not have the reading or mathematical skills. They can do science projects and experiments.

Learning Characteristics of First Graders

• Through hands on experience teachers encourage 1st grade students to discover their own answers to questions about the world around them. Through the discover process they learn to find patterns in that world.
• They begin to explore abstract concepts that require them to understand more than they can explore concretely: for example, living things being made up of small parts. At the same time their brain development is in its infancy stage of development when it comes to abstract learning and concrete learning is still their main learning modality.
• Science explorations include finding out the characteristics of plants and animals, identification parts of the human body, and water and weather. Experimenting with motion intrigues them such as pushing and pulling affects an object.

Structure of Learning in School

• Children still enjoy playing but their school day is more organized than in kindergarten, BUT with freedom to explore.
• Children this age learn from their mistakes. Because this promotes frustration it is important for parents and teachers to focus and compliment the positive to promote self-confidence and powerful learning skils.
• Up until now 1st grade children have learned in a natural setting and through their play. Expectations by adults and peers may cause the frustration. That is why it is so important to not give grades at this age. I believe grading school must only begin in middle school. Judgment is a negative influence on any human being, let alone a vulnerable young child.