Parent's Guide to Science Fairs

Projects, Topics, Experiments and Ideas

What is the main topic of conversation at your dinner table?

Have your children been asking which laundry soap best takes stain out of the clothes?

Or, have you been noticing a growing collection of worms, ants, wires, magnets or batteries?

Is there unfamiliar talk about hypothesis, independent variables?

Well...what is all this activity about?

Science Fairs are annual events where students are encouraged to design and carry out scientific investigations. At some science fairs, students also compete for various levels of recognition.

Sargent Shriver, NBC anchorwoman Maria Shriver's father, was asked what he believed to be the most important attribute of being a parent. His response:

"To be my children's cheerleader. They will get beaten up by others, told that they are not good enough or cannot achieve their dreams. I'm here to tell them that all things are possible with focus, hard work and faith."

Did you know that each person has a learning style? When your child works through his / her individual learning style, projects and homework seem much easier. I took this test myself before I put it on the site. The results were right on. Have your child learn how s/he learns best by taking an online learning style profile. I think you will enjoy their article: Building Self Esteem in Children, Celebrate Your Child!

Learning Success Institute has an outstanding selection of unique books that are written just for kids in language they will understand... from motiviational to how to write a report. .

What are the Attributes of a Coach, Cheerleader and Parent? Love in your heart spirit of fun patience a smile from within belief in your child's greatness... BECAUSE YOUR CHILD IS GREAT! Why? Because there isn't another creature on the planet that is like your child. Your child is unique! Tell your child... I believe in you. You are fun. You are great. I love you. I'm happy you're in my life!

Before reading the suggestions in reference to science fairs for you child, here is a new resource for parents that I highly recommend, The Mom Book Goes to School: Insider Tips to Ensure Your Child Thrives in Elementary and Middle School . I think being your child's advocate is now included in a parent's job description! Let's move on to science fair projects...

Considerable thought and time was been spent in finding outstanding, up-to-date resources.

After your child's project has been approved by his / her teacher, I recommend that s/he meet with a parent and set a realistic budget. Scroll down to Clue No. 4, Part E (science project topic page). It is not necessary to spend a lot of money. What is a lot? That is different for each family.

So... what's important is to stay within a comfortable budget and ask yourself, "What resources will benefit my child and be an educational investment for his / her future?

Keep in mind that projects for science fairs usually take about 2 to 3 months to complete. During that time it is recommended that your child owns at least one science fair reference book. This will make information easily available, and besides, a personally owned book encourages ownership of a project that takes a long time.

After reviewing over 100 science fair books that were published in the last 3 years, here are the best resources that I found. You will see them changing as new ones are published.

Detective ThinkMore invites you to look at the Super Science Fair Projects eBook where Detective Inuit, former Rookie of Thinkmore, has been assigned to help you discover the clues in their new ebook.

It gives you a Winning Edge with a detailed, step-by-step, easy how-to format. Now everything is in one location so you don't have to search through the web site... in instantly downloadable eBook form! Everything is at your "fingertips"! You will easily find what you are looking for with my Index. Plus, you will receive a secret code to access my private Resources on the net! And your parents will have their own resource guide that they can access from the Parents Guide.

Over 1,000 science projects!
If you are looking for the ultimate resource to science fair projects, look at Scientific American's, "The Amateur Scientist," Science Fair Edition. It has a special section of hints, tips and helps for anyone (students, teachers, parents) who is involved with a science fair.

Up-to-Date, Well-Researched, Science Project Experiments: 5th - 8th Grade!
Emphasis is placed on biology, the physical sciences, and chemistry. Some of the more than 50 experiments ask questions about organic foods, secondhand smoke, synthetic and natural fibers, biodegradability, and truth in advertising.

Science Projects for 4th through 8th Grade!
Janice VanCleave outlines fifty science project experiments in the areas of astronomy, biology, earth science, engineering, physical science, and mathematics.

Science Projects for High School Students!
Science Fair Projects For Dummies®
has an immense amount of information and is packed with more than 50 innovative science project ideas!

Projects, Science Experiments, Kits, Supplies
Extensive links to science fair projects, experiments, ideas, books, magazines, kits and supplies.

A true story...
My son, Mark, is now 39 years old and he still has his 10th birthday present, a telescope. Now, he and his two sons use it together. What Mark remembers most is that his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles pitched in together to get his "wish" present.

Back to my story... this turned out to be such a great strategy... so we all pitched in for Mark's next present, a microscope.

* Here's an idea for a science fair project... Your middle school or high school student will love building this Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Experiments Science Kit? 30 distinct experiments gives a fun, hands-on way to discover fuel cells, one of the most significant technologies of the 21st Century. Winner of the Silver Award from The Parents Choice Foundation.

Experiments include a car that uses solar power and a fuel cell to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. Discover the effects of direct and indirect radiation; electrolysis and its effect on water; qualitative and quantitative analysis of gas in a fuel cell; how efficient is electrolysis?; how does light influences electrolysis?; or add make up your own experiment! Check it out...

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Instantly Downnloadable 101 Easy Science Projects
Whether you are a parent or a student trying to find an idea for a science project, a teacher looking for ideas for the classroom, or a science enthusiast who enjoys the delight of experimentation, you'll find what you're looking for. These projects can be used for science fairs.

There is new information showing up about science fairs all the time and I am always adding more to this site. So please stay in touch, and subscribe to my Science Fair Enthusiasts e-zine.

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