Science Fair

This is our first year dealing with Science Fair. It's not my favorite. I'm not a big fan. I'm a lazy parent and I don't understand how choosing a random project or experiment enriches or reinforces what is being taught in the class room. If there was an assigned subject that related to one of the units being taught at school, and the supplies were provided, I might be a little more inclined to think Science Fair is a valid part of learning. And why make it mandatory? Let the kids and parents who are interested go for it and have a great time, I'm happy for you.  As it is, I feel like it's homework for parents. And I'm not talking about doing the project for the kid. I know this is the wrong attitude to have but, WHY DO I HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN? Besides Sam's other homework, that we do and take seriously, but which plagues our life, WE HAVE A LIFE AND OTHER THINGS GOING ON BESIDES ACADEMICS. And I only have one school aged child. I don't know how other parents do it.
So, Sam came home with a packet that had all the rules and what not to do and a list of projects to avoid (because the judges are sick of those ones... Who cares? Get some new judges, or even better, cancel the science fair.) There was also a list of websites that had project suggestions. Not included in this packet: any dates, dead lines, or any other type of specifics like when the actual fair was or where. Seriously aggravating for this mother who needs it all layed out for her. I'm sure they were telling Sam the dates and what not but he cannot be relied upon to remember and relay this type of information. Especially since he was really concerned that he didn't have a partner. That's all he could say was that he didn't have a partner and he needed one. After a few weeks of waiting for the rest of the info to come home I finally started calling around. Found out that no more info would be coming home and that the Science Fair was in three weeks and the project was due in the day of the Fair. And he didn't need a partner.
We got on one of the Websites with project suggestions and decided on a simple project involving starch and water. Not too complicated. We were going to find four starches and see if they took the same amount of water to become a colloid.Sam came up with his hypothesis. We added some color and took pictures of the experiment, which Sam really loved doing even though he was just using a medicine dropper and dropping water into starch and stirring. Then we got the pictures developed and typed everything for the board up. Then he set everything out in a few different arrangements on the board and eventually taped it all down. Hallelujah! I just had to go to the Fair the next day and we would be done.

 This part was surprisingly fun. I liked seeing him take pride in his project and he was enjoying being with his friends and I liked walking around and looking at the other projects. And what a relief to be done.

 And then Sam's project was one of 13 from his school to go onto the district level science fair... UGG!

So we saved the project for a few weeks and then last night we spent four hours at a high school while his project got judged. It was a long night and again I was feeling relieved to know this was it.

 And then his project advanced to the Regional level and he was invited to participate at the Science Fair at BYU next month... UGG! Again...

 Of course Sam is thrilled. And after sleeping on it, I decided that I am excited for him too, even though this Science Fair ordeal is never ending.

 Sam got a medal, which he loves and he stared at it all through a very late dinner. He commented more than once that it had some weight to it, which I think legitimized it for him. And he got a packet for registering for the next level. And, of course, he wore the medal to school today.