How your kid can rule the Science Expo

Bill Nye the Science Guy tells you how to assist your son or daughter in wowing the judges and landing a trophy

 

Guide Inspiration

Kids in Preparatory School don’t have to experiment with uranium. Ask your kid to look around the kitchen with a questioning eye: why is fizzy cold-drink bubbly? Why do some bottles have caps and others have corks? Comparing items shows the critical thinking that judges value, so go beyond just observation.

 

Step Back

Once your child has settled on a subject, its time for you to back off. Judges can tell when an adult has interfered too much; besides the child will learn more by taking the reins. Request a simple assignment instead. Say you’ll be the ‘assistant’ to set the tone. Ask questions instead of providing explicit instructions.

 

Follow the method

Judges will look to see if the student stayed with the scientific method (hypothesis, experimentation, refine the idea, experimentation, final statement…remember). If your child becomes upset because the experiment isn’t working, just say that’s part of the process. After all, that’s how Science works.

 

Present with style

Solid Science beats loud flashy displays every time. Keep the presentation to a trifold, going easy on the neon and glitter. And resist the urge to edit; you can point out glaring errors in the report, but don’t swat the occasional stray comma or sloppy letter. This is one time when too much perfection can thwart success.

 

Ideas for people struggling to find a project

1. Test different dishwashing liquids on greasy plates to see which ones clean best. Are manufacture’s claims all they’re up to be?
2. Put tea-leaves into a cup with water and stir. The leaves aren’t thrown to the outside as you’d imagine, but move to the middle. How come? Try it with things like peppercorns or sunflower seeds. How do they compare?
3. Test how testing affects critical thinking. Ask your child to solve problems while testing and not texting, note the relapsed times. Then have him or her replicate the experiment with other people. Why are the results the way they are?

 

Adapted from Men’s Health (March 2013 Edition)