Science fairs give students the opportunity to explore concepts they learn in the classroom. The goal of this event is to help kids see that science is evident in everyday life and has importance beyond the textbook. First-grade students are just beginning science instruction, usually studying broad concepts that are developed further in later grades. Participation in science fairs at this age can be effective at generating an interest in science. Projects should be simple enough for kids to understand and reinforce standards they have learned in school.
Experiments/Demonstrations
First-grade students will enjoy conducting an experiment for their science fair project. Usually, the experiment is carried out before the day of the fair, and the student displays the steps, procedures and results. Some experiments can be carried out in front of the judges to demonstrate a concept. Education.com has many suggestions for simple projects that teach kids practical applications. For example, they can make hand sanitizer or demonstrate how popcorn pops. Children can also learn about chemistry by making a zip-lock bag bomb to show how common household ingredients like vinegar and baking soda react to each other.
Collections/Displays
Collections and displays are good ideas for science fair projects because they indicate that the student put forth long-term effort. Some examples are leaf collections that show the effects of changing seasons or plants that represent the various stages of growth. An ant farm shows how certain animal species work together for the good of the community. Fossil and seashell collections represent various types of rock and animal life prevalent throughout Earth's geological history.
Models
Kids also will enjoy making models. These should convey a scientific idea at a specific time and place. Popular ideas are models of the solar system, animal habitats and volcanoes. Students can construct a a solar display to simulate eclipse conditions. They can also make rain forests or polar environments and display pictures of animals that live in these regions. Children can demonstrate a natural meteorological occurrence like a volcano. They can make a model of the volcanic mountain and show the effects of lava on the surrounding area.
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