A science project integrates many diverse skills, including reading, writing, math, statistics, ethics, critical thinking, and use of computers, graphics, scientific methodology, and public speaking.

The journey to and through the Science Festival is one of self-discovery. It teaches children to develop questions into formal, testable, and solvable problems; it helps prepare them to approach life's challenges systematically. Learning outcomes and finding answers offer powerful self-validation.

How Can I Help?

While your encouragement is the most valuable contribution, your eye on safety is also important.

You may offer guidance wherever you can, but the project should reflect your child's individual effort and design. The project's performance at the Science Festival is less important than what your child accomplishes and learns.

Your child might need help with:

• selecting an age-appropriate project
• planning and managing the project timeline - watch out for registration deadlines!
• getting to libraries, museums, nature centers, universities, and more technical work, such as construction or photography—or, for the youngest, drawing straight lines
• explaining the project to an audience. You might, for example, play the role of a Science Festival judge and ask probing questions

REMEMBER:

The most important possible outcomes of your child's project are the joy and learning that come from scientific discovery.