Science for the Non-Science Kid: The Cook

If your child is not interested in doing a science project, find what does interest him and look at the science behind it.

What if your child likes to cook? Really, the kitchen is a chemistry laboratory, and every meal is the result of a successful science experiment! Not sure how to convert a cooking session into a science fair project? You are in luck! There are a number of books and references to help you!

I have a copy of "Science Experiments You Can Eat" by Vicki Cobb (Illustrated by Peter Lippman). It has a experiments ranging from the simple (suitable for a kindergarten-level child) to quite complex.

"On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee "Cook's Illustrated" Magazine are more comprehensive references. They are targeted towards the adult cook, and are focused on better meals rather than better science projects. Still, they are quite useful in understanding the science behind food preparation.

An advantage of a food-based science project is that it is easy to repeat. Running through an experiment several times makes for a better science project.

Science For the Non-Science Kid

I have one son who is a natural scientist. He is always doing experiments or collecting rocks or demonstrating the latest think he learned. The other son is pretty ambivalent about science, although he is keen on other academic subjects. I talked with a number of other parents in a similar predicament -- their child is apathetic, even hostile, to the idea of doing a science project.

How to get a decent science project out of a kid that could care less about science?
I am going to tackle this in a series of posts.

I don't have all the answers, so if you have something to add, chime in with a comment.

The basic strategy is:

• Keep exposing your child to science-type stuff. Something is bound to click. Set the example.
  
• Figure out what your child is good at, and build on that. Science permeates everything, so the thing your child is interested in probably has a potential science project that just needs to be figured out.
  
• Don't sweat it.
  

Turning Observations into an Experiment

Had an interesting conversation a couple of weeks ago. A friend called to ask about a good idea for an experiment. She was concerned, because they had done some observations of insects over the summer, but since the insects were gone, there was no way to test any hypothesis based on the observations. In the course of the conversation, however, she mentioned an idea her child had based on the insects' nest, which remained. It sounded like a great project.

Key to the development of a good hypothesis is familiarity with the subject. That comes from puttering around. Get your child's hands on the subject and soon you will get insightful questions and ideas.

"Thunderstruck", by Erik Larson (an excellent book, but NOT for elementary school students), discusses how Marconi and his contemporaries developed working radio transmitters without a good understanding of the underlying theory. The more they tinkered with the technology, the more instinctual understanding they had. This allowed them to design and conduct better experiments.

Explaining Collections

Had an interesting talk with a mother at the Celebrations Program. She wanted more guidance on how to do science projects, but in the course of our conversation, she mentioned a great tip.

Her daughter had done a collection-type science project. The judging notes asked why the student had used the classifications that she did.

The key to a good collection is to have a good classification of the objects in the collection. Classification criteria can be quite simple, but it is vital to explain the classification criteria and why you chose that set of criteria.

As an example, let's think about something basic: a collection of rocks can be classified by color, roughness, hardness, appearance, weight, attraction to a magnet, density, melting point, ability to be polished, location found...and I bet you can think of a dozen more. For just rocks.

Elementary school students are often not so good at explaining stuff. They have a lot of brilliant thoughts passing through their heads, but they may need help figuring out how those thoughts got started. Practicing their presentation can help. Have them talk a lot about their project -- to everyone and anyone who will listen. Grandma and Grandpa can help, but do not be hesitant about seeking out experts.

Returning to the rocks example, if my son did a rock collection, I would start at the Texas Memorial Museum. They have a nice minerals collection there, and I bet I could find a geologist who would be happy to discuss rocks with an elementary school child.

Santa Claus is Coming!

I've always suspected Santa Claus was a scientific sort of fellow. My theory is that he delivers all those presents by using the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to be in many places at once. That is probably why he does not want little children to spy on him. If they observe him, they can collapse the probability waveform and ruin the whole enterprise.

Maybe Santa will help with your science project by bringing some cool science toys.

Make Your Vacation a Science Project Vacation!

A lot of folks like to travel over the Winter break, and a lot of parents are getting nervous because their kids have not yet decided on a science fair project. Well, as I said before, it is best to let your children discover their project, but there are some creative ways of giving them a nudge in the right direction. Why not work a science museum visit into the vacation agenda? Usually, your child will come up with at least one good ideat!

Last year, we went to Southern California for our Christmas Vacation. While we were there, we mad time to visit two great science museums; the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits and the Discovery Science Center in Orange County. The concept of large beasts mired in goo was irresistible to one child, so with a quick visit to the gift shop, we had the makings of a great diorama of a mammoth, stuck in tar, attacked by saber-toothed cats (which, we learned, were not really tigers -- Hmm). The Discovery Science Center had a exhibit on viscosity, which let us expand on this theme, and a cool presentation on taste and smell, which gave us a back-up project.

OK, so not everyone is going to Southern California. If you are traveling at all, check out to see if there is a science museum where you are going.

Does anyone have any "science on vacation" stories or tips on where to go?

The Display

The last step in the science project is creating the display for the fair. So why am I addressing it so early? Well, because if you are like me, this pulling-it-all-together step is the most daunting.

After all, we do science projects with our kids all the time. Whether it is out back in the yard looking at funny bugs or visiting a museum on Saturday, we are two steps away from a collection or an experiment or a display-type project. Those steps are documentation and layout, and those can be a big hurdle if you, like me, have difficulty with closure.

So lets make it easy:

1. Get some custom made tri-fold displays from a hobby store or an office supplies store. Get a few, because they come in handy. Get them early because they run out.
   
2. Review the rules for the type of project you are making.
3. Ensure you have documented all the elements for the type of science fair project your child is doing.
   
4. Glue the documentation to the tri-fold.
5. Submit!

Now a special note to all you scrapbookers out there: I know you have all sorts of color-coordinated papers and stickers and cut-outs and stamps and fancy little scissors just dying to jump out of your scrapbooking boxes and get to work. My advice: Restraint.

Let your kids do this part. Help and advice? Sure. A tasteful background for the photos? Certainly. Some of those adorable little punch-out letters? Of course. I'm not trying to be a monster here. But when you start to send little Timmy and Suzy off to play while you give those displays the treatment they really deserve, stop, take a deep breath and back off. Lay down with a wet washcloth over your eyes until the urge passes.

Even in kindergarten, it is amazing how much the child can do on his own. Let them.

The Presentation

One big difference between the school and regional science fair is that at the school science fair, the students present their projects to the class and to the judges. Your child will spend several minutes telling about their projects. Then the judges will ask a few questions about the project.

I like the presentations. It gives the teacher and the judges a better feel for how well the student knows the project, and whether the student or the student's parent did most of the work. It is also a lot of fun for the class as a whole, and most students enjoy being in the limelight, especially in front of actual, genuine, real-life scientists!

On the other hand some students who are very intelligent and science-oriented may be a little shy about getting up in front of the class, and may not present as well as some of their more extroverted classmates.

If the presentation is something that might challenge your student, prepare in advance. Look for some practice audiences. A family gathering is a good chance to trot out the project and let your child get some practice. Youth groups also are a good opportunity. At our Cub Scout meetings, we have show-and-tell, and other youth groups might have something similar. Perhaps you can get together with some other parents and organize a practice presentation session beforehand, or ask your student's teacher for a little extra help in this area.

Great Science Project Books at the Book Fair!

I was at school library previewing the book fair. There are lots of really great science books, including some fantastic Science Project books and kits. Here are some ones I got to look at:

Last Minute Science Fair Projects by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen had some wonderful project ideas that do not take too much time. I plan to get a copy of this book myself. Word of warning: Procrastinators of the purest form, who think that "last minute" means the night before, will find that some of the coolest projects in this book take a few days or weeks.

Beetles and Stinkbugs, both by Mary Packard combined readability with a surprising level of depth of information. Carol Schwartz did a good job putting together the illustrations for this book. Each book comes with a set of trading cards and an insect specimen in a plastic box. I think this would be good for a younger student who is interested in creepy-crawlies.

I liked the Rock and Mineral eguide by John Farndon. It had beautiful pictures to describe the different types of minerals, and a good description of the geological processes which formed each type of rock. If your child is interested in rock collecting, this might be a good book.

There were also some good kits. Steve Spangler Science has put out Great Geysers and PH Power. These kits come with all the materials and equipment to perform several experiments. They would be good for a birthday present, or as an emergency last-minute science project.

I also saw a kit with a book about bones and a small model skeleton which could be assembled as a demonstration, a magnet kit, a rocket kit, and a great white shark model. All of these could be demonstration-type science fair projects.

So make sure you stop by the Book Fair in the School Library!

So What IS Allowed at the School Science Fair?

When you review the rules for the regional science fair, you will find them rather, uh, restrictive. Not to worry, most of the restrictions can be handled by including models or photos in your display rather than the real thing.

How about the School Science Fair? Two basic guidelines:

1. Common Sense
2. Ask your child's teacher

So if you want to do an experiment growing bean sprouts, and you are worried because the regional science fair will not allow animal or plant matter, ask your teacher, and if your child is selected as a representative for regional, use pictures instead of the real exhibit.

The one rule that cannot be avoided is no experiments that make animals unhappy.

More on Buying Science Fair Projects

Madeline Binder, of http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/ had some good comments about buying a science fair project. Her full discussion is here and I think she makes some good points.

It is good to expose your child to cool science projects, and there are some really cool science projects out there. You can get something really advanced. On the other hand, I still don't like the thought of buying a science project to "Guarantee Victory", and with any science project, the main thing is what the student contributed to it.

When your child does a science project for the fair, it is important to list any outside help from either the parent or one of these sites.

Buying a Science Fair Project?

In a previous post I linked to a couple of sites that are good science fair resources. One of the comments (My first comment! Hurray!) noted that one of the sites -- "Dr. Shawn's Super Science Fair Support Center sold science fair projects. My commenter asked if this was how it was done -- buy a science fair project?

What I like about Dr Shawn's Super Science Fair Support Project:

• Most of it. Lots of good resources, many good ideas, good experience.
• Dr. Shawn is obviously a highly educated person with great dedication in bringing science to our children.
• Dr. Shawn's experience. The man knows science fairs. He has done this for years. I have done this for months.
  
• Lots of tips.
• Resources for science fair ideas. The CD of Scientific American columns is great -- I have it at home, although much of it is beyond the scope of elementary school scientists.
• Supply for science equipment
• Lots of good links
• That LabRats program looks really good, though I do not have any experience with it.
  

What I do not like about Dr. Shawn's Super Science Fair Support Project:

• Cookie-cutter hypothesis-to-conclusion packaged science fair projects. Seems like such a project entry would be Dr. Shawn's victory rather than the student's.
  
• Focus on winning the science fair ("Victory Guaranteed").
  

Now one qualification: I think that the projects would make GREAT non-fair science projects -- that is, something you do just for fun to learn about an area of science. Heck, I may buy a project just for myself!

Finally, I fully admit that Dr. Shawn is more qualified in the areas of science, science education, and science projects that I am or ever will be.

Parents and teachers: what are your thoughts on this matter?

The Early Bird...

The science fair is not until the end of January -- so why start looking for a science project now? Well, the earlier you start, the easier it will be, the better it will be, and the more educational it will be.

First, familiarize yourself with the three types of science project. Review the science fair handbook so you understand what constitutes each type of project.

Then all you have to do is watch your child and wait. Sooner or later, your child will do something and you will thing "THAT would make a great science project!" Thinking back, how many great science projects have passed under your nose?

As an example, if your child asks you about some bug in the backyard, all you need to do is have them research some background information about the bug and you have a demonstration-type project. Find a few different bugs, and you have a collection -- all that must be done is for the child to classify them by shape, number of legs, or color and you have a collection with classification. Questions about how the bug is behaving? Well, find out what happens -- and you have an experiment.

Have your child spend ten minutes writing it up. Then let it be for a bit. It may be that your child's interest increases. Now you have an even better science project and maybe a hobby.

If your child changes their mind and gets interested in something else, not to worry -- soon they will get interested in something else.

The coolest thing about this is that the project is truly your child's -- not something you had to convince them to do or even suggest to them. Furthermore, since it is your child's idea, there will probably be more enthusiasm for the project.

So familiarize yourself with the rules NOW and the science project will do itself -- with no last minute hassle!

Good Link for Science Fair Ideas

There are a lot of good sites out there that will suggest ideas for science fair projects. One of my favorites is the Society for Amateur Scientists (SAS) You do not have to be a member to browse through the site, though membership ($5 a month, one month free trial membership, or $47 for a family membership for a year) has its benefits. I am a member.

I like the SAS's The Citizen Scientist, which is a on-line publication. It has some interesting articles, and my favorite column is Wanderings which is a semi-weekly report on interesting science web sites, with some good links to science fair project ideas and hints.

The SAS home page also links to something called "Dr. Shawn's Super Science Fair Support Center". I am not familiar with that site.

The Three Types of Exhibits

A science fair project for our school can be one of three types: Collection with classification, demonstration/model/display, or experiment. This corresponds to the types for the regional science fair. Here is my take on the three types:

Collection with Classification

The collection should be somewhat science-y. A collection of leaves would be pretty good. A collection of toys, not so good. The collection must be classified according to some criteria, hopefully also scientific. Classifying leaves according to the number of lobes or what type of tree they came from is good. Classifying leaves according to which type is the prettiest is not so good.

Some people write this type off as something for a Kindergarten or First Grade student -- Sort of a starter science project. Sure, it can be simple, but a collection can also be quite sophisticated. Lots of important science types are known primarily for gathering a bunch of stuff, slapping labels on it, and putting it in a museum. Carl Linnaeus made a pretty good name for himself classifying stuff.

If you have seen the Indiana Jones movies, you know that a Collection with Classification science project could be the gateway to an exciting life of romance and adventure.

Demonstration, Model, or Display

Lots of kids like this one the best, because it basically is find something cool and show it. Again, the subject should be somewhat science oriented, and sometimes it is a bit hard to explain to junior that just because something is cool does not mean it is a good subject for a science project. A demonstration of the Carnot cycle is a good science project. A model of the liver is a good science project. A detailed diorama of the Battle of the Alamo, while undoubtedly cool, and educational, and in general a glorious beacon of inspiration to all freedom-loving peoples, is not such a good science project.

A successful demonstration/model/display requires that your child learn a lot about the subject, and can be a rewarding science project indeed.

Experiment

This one is generally considered to be the hardest type, because it requires that the student go through the process of observation, formation of hypothesis, testing of hypothesis, and so forth. Lots of parents think that this is the only type to do, and I used to agree. Not anymore. I would rather see a demonstration or collection that the student obviously did and enjoyed rather than an experiment where the parent obviously dragged the kid kicking and screaming through the whole procedure.

On the other hand, some might assume that an experiment is too sophisticated for a kindergarten or first-grade student. Not necessarily so.

Science Fair Guidelines

Our school science fair will be January 30 to February 1, 2008. Lots of parents are interested in getting an early start -- many had questions during parents' night.

A good first place to start is the science fair guides for the regional fair. Our school generally follows the same guidelines and rules as the regional science fair. The link to elementary school regional science fair information is here. An excellent starting place is the Elementary Division Handbook. The handbook has a lot of good information, including items that are not allowed, the three types of entries, and the judging criteria for each type of entry.

That said, there are some important differences to remember. Although we choose projects to represent the school in the regional science fair, the school science fair is a teaching tool, not just a precursor to the regional science fair. Different classes may have different requirements. Some teachers require participation and some do not. The science project may be a graded project...and the criteria by which it is graded may be different than the criteria for selecting representatives.

The science fair is run by the school, and the teachers and staff have the final say-so in all matters. The PTA assists by providing support to setup, monitor, and take down the science fair and by forming a committee of volunteers to judge the science fair.

As the PTA Science Fair Coordinator, I am happy to offer advice and you are welcome to bend my ear if you wish.