Lately I have been focusing my blogs on science news that kids may find interesting and that teachers can use to create science demonstrations and science fair projects. However, I’d like to turn your attentions to science competitions that your students can enter. As a kid I loved to enter these contests. I found that they not only helped to direct my science skill development, but they were also a lot of fun. Also, as a side effect of entering a lot of skill contests, I accumulated a lot of cool science prizes and scholarship money. Which I am still benefiting from.
One fun science competition that your students can enter is the Toy Challenge. This year’s Toy Challenge is already under way, but sign up for the 2009 program will begin in the fall. I am telling you about this contest now because, as a teacher or mentor, you may need time to get school approval for putting together a team.
I like this particular contest because it requires each team to be comprised of at least 50 percent girls. A lot of contests focus on male entries, and this one tries to at least encourage girls to get involved in science competitions. Each team needs to be made up of between 3 and 6 students who are in the 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grade. Each team will also need a mentor and coach. The coach will be responsible for handling the team’s administrative duties like registering the team for the competition and leading weekly meetings.
Getting kids involved in science is why you probably got involved in education. Science competitions, like the one mentioned above, is a great way to inspire students to create awesome science fair projects and experiments. It is also a great way for kids to explore their own scientific science experiments which they can use to further their middle school science fair projects education.
