Tag - science fair participant

Science Fair Boot Camp – An Intense Training Program That’s Changing the Science Fair Experience

Our blog editor (and my favorite contributor), Susan Wells, recently wrote an article about kindergarteners being banned from science fairs. Susan does a great job of reporting on science happenings that truly stike a nerve. In response to many of your comments, Susan asked if I would share an overview of a long-term research project that I’m working on with students, parents and teachers at one of our elementary school partners, Laura Ingalls Wilder Elementary in Littleton, Colorado. Grab a new cup of coffee and take a look…

Science Fair Boot Camp

Think about a real Boot Camp . . . intense training for a condensed period of time.  The leader motivates, teaches, directs, trains, and models the behaviors or actions desired for the young recruits.  Those young recruits learn discipline, critical thinking, planning, strategy, and organization.  They also learn from their mistakes and work together to find solutions.  Boot Camp is preparation for the “real deal.”

Now think about how this Boot Camp metaphor might be applied to science and elementary school “recruits.”  At Wilder Elementary School in Littleton, Colorado, we started a Science Fair Boot Camp training
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How Roxborough Elementary Encourages Participation in the Science Fair

With strong parent support and amazing teachers to encourage a love for science, Roxborough Elementary is celebrating the largest participation in their Science fair this year.

Science fair can be a daunting event for both students and their parents. But participating in science fair doesn’t have to be scary. All it takes is a question to get started.  It can be a simple question like “Which diaper absorbs the most liquid?” or “Which gum flavor lasts the longest?” After you ask a question, run a series of tests to answer your question. Sometimes, you won’t find a clear answer.

Roxborough Elementary takes advantage of the scientists in their community from Lockheed Martin. Community members are invited to help judge science fair projects. They don’t let their participants struggle on their own. They give each participant a packet of information on how to

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