Disclosure, I received access to Netflix in exchange for this post.
When I was young, the science fair was a volcano. Using paper mache with caked on dirt or a pilfered mug from my mom covered in clay to simulate lava, I would combine baking soda, vinegar, and voila! Science fair complete.
Not so in this day and age. The PreTeen brought home a SIX page instruction booklet about the rules for the science fair for his school. Sighing, I paged through and knowing most of the work would fall on me, tried to find a project that was the least rage inducing.
Needless to say the day of the fair, I found two new gray hairs.
The Stages of Science Fair
- Denial
This is going to be a piece of cake! We have plenty of time to do the project, the idea chosen aligns with work from his Scout manual, and The PreTeen will see how much easier it is to work in stages instead of the night before. We can do this! -
Anger
I got the supplies, we made a timeline, and he has yet to do a darn thing. I finished seventh grade many moons ago, I’m not doing it again! His procrastination will NOT be my problem!
3.Bargaining
I cleared a space for him and made time in his schedule to work uninterrupted. I even shooed the cats away so his seedling would have a chance to grow. You can get on the computer AFTER you have collected the notes you need for the day. Let’s get started!
- Depression
My child is going to fail seventh grade and it’s all my fault. I should have just did it for him.
Acceptance
It is what it is.
We have a year before the next science fair. Until then, we’ll enjoy these flicks to get us in a scientific sort of mind.
For grown Ups needing a break.
For the young and young at heart some inspirational titles:
- Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
This show was a staple in my house when The Teen was a young girl. She loved to ‘duplicate” some of the more tame adventures with her brother as the test subject.
Peep and the Big Wide World
On first glance this show was a little dry and I puzzled at how captivated my son was with this program. I found that the lessons from the show were not only humorous, but subtle enough that even a toddler could learn about friendship.
The Magic School Bus
Miss Frizzle could be a piece of work, not giving the kids any type of heads up about the day’s adventure. Her outfits were a hoot, and opening song sung by Little Richard was worth the half hour we all spent watching this. A bonus were books found in the library that helped my children become the strong readers they are today.
Wild Kratts
shifty side eye This show may have played when I was knitting and no kids were around.
Ahem
What Science Fair List would be complete without the ultimate science in action show? This is definitely not for the kids!
What tips do you have for making the science fair less stressful. For real, because my blood pressure and the crop of gray at the crown of my head are not having it.
Keep the conversation going. Comments welcomed!