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How Do Science Projects Benefit You?

I’m not a very big fan of science and it wasn’t my favorite subject at school; however, if there’s one thing about science that I remember fondly and would still be interested in today, it’s the practical projects we did in middle school. It was a time when I enjoyed science class, simply because most lessons were hands-on in that we were taught how and encouraged to make working models of theories we had listened to the previous class. And so we made working volcanoes that spouted realistic ash in chemistry class; we designed siphons that allowed us to see how water and other liquids could flow in the upwards direction, defying gravity, in physics class; and we grew our own plants and learned about photosynthesis by observing it firsthand in botany.

While some teachers would argue that projects are a waste of time, the majority know that they’re the best way to not just learn about science, but also remember what you’ve learnt throughout your life. Besides this, projects offer the following benefits too:

  • They make science more interesting: There’s no doubt that a class that involves hands-on work is much more interesting and preferable to one that comprises only boring theoretical lectures. Projects generate interest in science by inducing curiosity in students and encouraging them to delve deeper into the many layers of the subject. They pose a challenge that students are driven to achieve, and because of this, they look forward to science classes instead of dreading them.
    • They bring out the engineer in you: The link between science and engineering comes out strong and clear when you get down to creating working models for your project. You combine out your mathematical and engineering knowledge to come with the perfect scale models that not only look authentic but which also work without a hitch. You go back to the drawing board when there are errors or when your results are not accurate and you research other sources so that your project is better than those of your classmates.
    • They tap your creativity: The theory may be the same, but there may be many practical ways to implement it. So even if your whole class is given the same project, your team strives to be the most creative. You don’t have a whole lot of room to maneuver and the competition is tough; this is a situation that gets your juices flowing and encourages you to come out with a stunning design and implementation of the theory.
    • They help you understand science better: It’s easy to see that science becomes simpler to understand and learn when working models demonstrate the theoretical equations and principles you read from your textbook. You look at the subject as a means of explaining our world and how things work rather than as just text that must be memorized in order to secure a passing grade in your exams.
    • They encourage teamwork: And finally, projects foster teamwork and encourage bonding with the others in your team. This helps you prepare for real-life situations in work environments where you will most likely be part of a team and must know how to interact with the others smoothly and in good cheer.
    Science projects must be encouraged not just by teachers, but by school administrations as well in order to boost interest in the subject and encourage more students to base a career on it.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Beatrice Owen, she writes on the topic of bachelors of science . She welcomes your comments at her email id: owen1.beatrice(@)gmail(.)com.

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The Holiday One Day Science Project

Often times holidays that are not December holidays, come and go and no special mention is made of them. All the kids know is either they are off school, or there is no mail that day. Creating simple activities to do around all the holidays throughout the year is a way to make note of the day. A common thing to do is some craft project, or themed baking. Why not try one day science projects that center on something you associate with the holiday? This will give the children a hands-on fun activity to do, and help create positive interest in science as a way to observe the world around you.

Here are some random thoughts to show how easy it is to hook one day science fair projects to the holidays.

Valentines Day- You think about red and chocolate. A project that figures out how much red food coloring is needed to bake a red heart cookie that ends up being red and not pink, will hardly seem like science. Doing something with chocolate should always be a hit, like seeing if there is a difference between how long milk chocolate and dark chocolate takes to melt.

St Patrick’s Day- Of course you think green. So use the green theme and do a simple environment kind of experiment. You might try a blind fold experiment to see if people really can tell the difference between Green Eggs and Ham and regular ones.

Mother’s Day and Fathers Day- For one could be a longer than one day science projects since it is the beginning of the growing season. Plant a variety of seeds and compare the results on Fathers Day. Plant annuals some with and some without fertilizer and compare the difference on Fathers Day.

As you can see, the holiday becomes the jump start for a fun or even silly idea to explore. Fourth of July brings comparing home made burgers to store bought, Halloween can test out all kinds of gross and gooey substances to use as props for costumes, and Thanksgiving could include a test to see how best to make sweet potatoes not taste like a vegetable.

The idea is to make simple one day science fair projects a part of everyday life, and not something just for science class. This will also teach kids that science is everywhere and a healthy curiosity about science means you are aware of the world around you.

Here is a link to a great digital resource for simple, easy to follow 24 hour science projects, weekend projects and demonstration projects. Often these digital products cost less than what you would pay for a pizza. Go to my Blog!
One Day Science Fair Projects
Look for great Middle School Science Projects too!
Step by Step Blueprints for Students and Parents
http://24hourscienceprojects.blogspot.com

You could also try using some fun math games.
http://www.thesue-teaching-tips.info

My name is Sue Gnagy Fegan and I used a structured, sequential multisensory teaching approach for the past 34 years. I saw first hand the benefits of engaging students in productive, hands on activities to make learning more meaningful and more fun.

Ready for a Science Project that can be done in just one day of your winter break? You got it!

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Last Minute Home Science Projects For Kids: The First Step

With Home Science Projects For Kids To Do At The Last Minute, Be Sure To Start Right

Remember  folks, not all home science projects for kids end up being done at the last-minute!  Lots of them go for a longer time, like a weekend ove a week or two or even a whole semester  But, any parent knows  there will  hose times a project has to be done quickly with short notice.  Do  not overlook the first step and get started on the right track.

There is one main thing all parents must do before running off on a wild goose chase looking for some quick and easy science fair projects, or  to the store buying things to use and that is the simplest thing of all:  Read the directions!  As a teacher I can’t begin to tell how how many stories I have heard about the last minute rush and having to start over late into the night simply because the did not do this!

Benefits of reading the directions for any home science project for kids assignment!

Both parent and child should sit together and read the whole assignment, beginning to end. and then talk it through. Why? Here is what can happen.

  • One common roadblock is not realizing that there are  a couple of different types of experiment. Some are doing a demonstration instead of an investigation experiment.  The organization and procedures are just enough different for both types that it could affect the grade. For this a demonstration home science project for kids  you might not realize that you need a lot of extra supplies on hand to make sure the demonstration can be done several times for their classmates, in case of a mess up or they just want to see it again.
  • Seems pretty obvious, but without it you will run the risk of going off  in the wrong direction.  Say your child says, “I have to do a project about evaporation.”  You then you jump to the conclusion that you just leave water in a dish and time how long it takes . But may-be the assignment was to compare different liquids or compare sun to a sunlamp evaporation. Or  may-be there was a step by step diagram to create.  Depending only on your child’s “memory” you could be in trouble
  • There is get a built-in check list. The kids have something to go back to along the way and  when they finish to make sure they did not forget to do something, and include everything asked for in the final report. Your child could end up with an amazing  award winning project,  but get a bad grades for not following directions.

It might be a good idea to think ahead of time and do some research into science homework help and advice to be better prepared for these last minute situations.  Keeping some supplies on hand will be a life saver.

I also have a blog with lots of  information on One Day Science Projects where there is more about home science projects for kids that are quick and easy . These things don’t have to be a hassle, they can be fun!  It is wise to be

Running out of time to do your home Science Project for kids? Get one of our 24 Hour Winning Projects here!

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One Day Science Projects: Use When Children Are Sick

Schools have this rule that children should not go back to school until the fever has been down for 24 hours. All the people at school, especially the teachers who do not want to get sick themselves, are happy with this idea. Parents, on the other hand, are stuck with a kid at home who is not sick anymore, but cannot go back to school yet. If they have their make-up assignments, they can work on those, but that will not take up an entire day. They cannot go outdoors to play, since you do not want to tempt fate, so having a fun project like simple one day science fair projects, just might be the thing to save sanity in your home.

What if our science fair is already over? These one day science fair projects are called “science fair” because they are the sort of experiments you might find in a science fair. Something specific, geared towards one thing, and that follows the scientific method where you observe and question something you notice in the world around you, develop some hypotheses or possible reasons why, and experiment to see if what you thought would happen does. Then you share the results. By using the term science fair, it give the project an educational standard.

Why should I make my kids do even more schoolwork when they are home? Science is really an every day, look at the world around you thing. If you use projects based on simple curiosity about things that are seen and used everyday, and you make it sound interesting enough, then it will not feel like school, but feel like a fun activity. Doing projects like this help develop creative problem solving steps that are used all of the time, not just in science class. Kids often feel that school and the rest of their life are two separate happenings. So the more kids can see that school work like science can be applied to every day life, the better it is for them in the long run.

What happens if they are old enough to be home alone without adult supervision? There are plenty of projects that use everyday materials that do not involve matches, using the stove, knives, standing on ladders or any of those things you do not want kids doing while home alone. Simple projects centered around everyday household experiences can easily be found online and downloaded to your computer. Digital products will even have built in spreadsheets in the download to enter the data and make nifty charts. All of this the older child will already have learned how to do at school.

Having some digital one day science fair projects on hand will at least give you some more options of things your child can do on that day they cannot go back to school while waiting for their temperature to stay normal for 24 hours. You will even have them on hand for other times you find your child needs something constructive to fill their time.

Here is a link to a great digital resource for simple, easy to follow 24 hour science projects, weekend projects and demonstration projects. Often these digital products cost less than what you would pay for a pizza. Go to my Blog! One Day Science Fair Projects Step by Step Blueprints for Students and Parents
http://24hourscienceprojects.blogspot.com

Look for great Middle School Science Projects too! (on the top right side bar!)
http://24hourscienceprojects.blogspot.com

My name is Sue Gnagy Fegan and I used a structured, sequential multisensory teaching approach for the past 34 years. I saw first hand the benefits of engaging students in productive, hands on activities to make learning more meaningful and more fun.

Got a Science Experiment Due? Need a Project? Get 5 Fast, Easy, and Winning Projects Here!

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Science Projects for Sixth Graders

Finding the right science project for 6th graders can be a bit difficult. It has to be something they can understand and do mostly for themselves, but also be able to hold their interest, and teach them something. You can help find the perfect 6th grade science project for your student by using some of the resources you have readily at your disposal, including your child’s science teacher, the library, and even resources on the internet. 

Consult with your child’s science teacher when trying to find a good science project idea, especially at the 6th grade level. This way, you’ll be sure to know what the class is currently studying to keep the project relevant but not redundant, and clarify any requirements or deadlines that some 6th graders might not quite know how to manage yet.

Science project books, easily found at the public library, are reliable and easy to use resources for finding and executing a science project. Trying the library is a great way to teach your child to search for books by subject matter, in this case looking for science projects or the subject matter that interests them, and to ask for help from the librarian if you need it. 

Also, the internet is a great place to find huge amounts of 6th grade science project ideas, but you have to know where to look to save yourself time. While you can begin with a general search for science project ideas, it might be a good idea to search more specifically for websites like http://www.akronlibrary.org/DBS/SFDB/Default.aspx that are searchable by subject matter or grade level, so that you aren’t finding projects that are too easy or difficult for your student. Another great tool is the free project guides found at http://www.middle-school-science-projects.com/guide.pdf .

Visit 24 Hour Science Project

today and get your science experiment!