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Lifelong Benefits
of Science Fairs for Kids
By Sarah Lyons
I
s your child considering participatANALYSIS ing in a school science fair? Are you When the science experiment is comwondering if the benefits are worth plete, the child will need to compile the the time commitment? Participating data, analyze it, and create a chart or graph in a science fair is a great way for kids of the findings. The answers to their questo explore their world and how things tions will not be from a textbook, but will work. Science fairs first became popular come from their own hard work and expein the 1950’s when the invention of the rience. Reflection is key as they have an optelevision and atomic bomb piqued the Most would agree portunity to think about what they would interest of budding scientists all over do differently, what they have learned, and that hands-on America. (The University of Chicago why. The ability to analyze and problem learning leads to solve will be skills they use throughout Press Journals) Today, with the growing popularity of STEM education (focusing better understand- their lifetime. highly on the study of science, technoloing, which is what COMMUNICATION gy, engineering, and math) in our schools Once the science experiment has been participating in a and the potential for a drastic increase completed and analyzed, kids will be science fair offers in STEM related jobs in the future, sciexpected to communicate their results ence fairs are more popular than ever. to students. through writing, speaking, and materiKids who participate in science fairs will als such as storyboards or other displays. learn skills that can be used for problem Communication is one of the most important skills a solving and critical thinking throughout their lifetime. child can develop. Even as our culture moves more toINVESTIGATION wards digital communication, such as texts and emails, The first step in participating in a science fair is good public speaking skills are an asset they will rely to come up with an idea. Kids will have the opportuon throughout the rest of their school and professional nity to choose a topic they are curious about, plan an careers. experiment that will help answer their questions, and Most would agree that hands-on learning leads to conduct an experiment. This fosters their creativity better understanding, which is what participating in and problem solving skills. It will also encourage them a science fair offers to students. When time is spent to question how things work and make them aware of researching, developing a project, analyzing the results, scientific principles all around us. and studying it thoroughly in order to communicate the findings to others, we are much more likely to unPROJECT MANAGEMENT derstand and retain the information we have learned. Once the child has planned their science experiment, Teachers and parents would agree that science fairs help they will need to manage their project. This is no small develop benefits that last a lifetime and kids will tell you task. Kids will need to use time management, stay that science fairs are a lot of fun too. Y within a budget, acquire the materials needed, conduct the experiment, and meet deadlines. The ability to successfully manage a project is an invaluable skill that kids can use now and in the future as they continue their education and enter the workforce.
Sources: http://www.classroomscience.org/new-research-justwhat-are-the-benefits-of-science-projects http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/681879
Sarah Lyons is a mom of 6 and has been published in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine, Creative Child and over 150 other parenting publications.
34 Parents Press | November 2021
