I am very excited because this year we are participating in a science fair. Our homeschool co-op is hosting a science fair for kids of all ages and for displays of all varieties from simple to complex. It is our first one and our homeschool co-op’s first one so it is especially exciting.
The first thing you need to come up with is a project. There are so many great projects from the traditional volcano to alternative energy. I have to admit, I am looking forward go seeing if someone chooses the volcano. What’s a science fair without a volcano experiment? Of course, my girls decided not to do the volcano.
My seven year old was blessed with a snap circuit set a month before the fair. She immediately decided she wanted to use it for the fair. She will be demonstrating fiber optics and how light is turned into sound. The activity was detailed in her snap circuit set so it was easy to put together. She will expand on the circuits a bit and show how sound can cause a light to “dance” to the beat. I purchased a black display board and poster lights to really make her project shine. She is very excited and learning so much. The best way to learn!
My preschooler’s project is on expanding polymers. Sounds a bit complex? Not really. The absorbent element in diapers is a polymer. Silly Putty is a polymer. The water crystals used to keep plants watered without over watering is a polymer. She is simply showing that there is something called a polymer that absorbs water and grows. We have a few different types of polymer balls that will be shown before adding water and after to demonstrate how much the polymers expanded. We came up with the idea because, quite frankly, we had a polymer kit with some leftover supplies.
Does your homeschool co-op host a science fair? If so, what was your child’s project?