Science fair projects - Is it wrong to “recycle” science fair projects?

@miamilady (4910)
United States
November 25, 2007 10:31am CST
It’s that time of year again! Science fair project time! I understand the purpose of the assignment, I think. One – The child is learning the scientific process Two – They are learning to work on a large project and plan their time. Here’s the thing. Kid’s today don’t have all that much time. At least some of them. I have a 9th grader and a 6th grader now. We (yes WE) have done our share of science projects. Yes, I helped, to varying degrees, depending on which child. I think how much a parent “should” help is debatable. It’s easy to say that kids should do this on their own, when you have a child who is good at doing projects and is able to stay focused. I have ONE of those. I also have a child who has a short attention span as well as some other challenges. So, we have done our share of science fair projects. When my daughter was in middle school, for some reason she didn’t have to do any. Or maybe she just chose not to, and took the hit on her grade (I’m not sure) When I was in school. I didn’t do the big projects. I didn’t have a lot of parental support and I wasn’t a self driven kid. I learned how to do projects when I had children of my own. This year, we’ve waiting til the last minute. Our nights and weekends have been busy. We probably should have MADE the time to do this, but at the time it seemed we had more pressing matters. We have 4 previous projects still on their project boards. None of them have been turned in at this particular school. I think we are going to choose from one of those four and then retype the information and create a new board. What do you think of this? Wrong or practical?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@nica269 (1395)
• United States
28 Nov 07
LOL...I think it all depends on your outlook. If I were running low on time because of whatever reason, then I'd probably recycle one of the projects, but I would definetly try to have the 'next' project done by your child from start to finish. But I think a one time exception should be okay.
@musicman6 (2413)
• United States
25 Nov 07
This is one subject that I had trouble with! I just wasn't a project person! I somehow got around them, and the ones I did accomplish, I just barely did the minimum I could get away with! Now my kids, when they were in school did pretty fair on them, and now I notice that with the grandkids, they go all out to help them with theirs! The bottom line is, I guess you just have to do what you have to do, to get by! That's all that I would do!
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
25 Nov 07
If never done before in this school I see nothing wrong in doing it again for its right there for you to use.
• United States
25 Nov 07
I hated science project time. My kids hated science so this was torture for them. I would rather that these things be done on a volunteer basis. Kids that don't like what they are doing and are forced to do it anyway do not learn anything from it. Making it voluntary and providing more options for projects would get better results I think. Also allowing them to work in groups may get more participation.