Lunch money, field trips, school pictures, clothes, shoes, teacher appreciation, snack day, book fair, fundraisers galore…am I the only one that feels as if the school year is an endless drain on my finances?  A proverbial syphon on my wallet?  I’m always wondering, “What next?”  And then it comes home one day in the backpack (which, now that you mention it, is getting ratty and probably needs to be replaced)….the dreaded science project.  Great.  What’s this going to run me?  Twenty dollars?  Thirty?  Gulp.  More?!?!

Years ago (before I was a mom), I worked as a technical consultant for a large chemical company that, among other things, produced chemical test kits.  Even though I didn’t have children, I knew exactly when the science project assignments were coming out.  I received calls from all over the country asking many of the same things:  “Where can I find a cheap, reliable test for lead?”  (You can’t.)   “How much is a spectrometer?”  (More than you want to spend on a science fair project.)  “Do you sell any test kits without chemicals?”  (I preferred to answer that one with silence.)  These calls came from parents of two types:  (a) those that were genuinely unaware of the cost, hazard and knowledge of such prefab kits and (b)  those that regarded money as no object as long as little Susie or Johnny could get a good grade.

Well, I’ve been called many things in my life (some of which I don’t care to repeat in an open forum).  Coupon Lady.  Junker (not to be confused with junkie). Penny Pincher.  And my favorite—-Queen of Cheap.  I decided that there has to be ways to do quality science projects and keep costs to a minimum.    So, here are some thoughts on creative ways to produce quality science projects without breaking the bank.

1.  Consider the cost BEFORE choosing a project.   Make sure you look over the list of required components.  Are you going to have to buy almost everything new?  Don’t forget to allow some money for producing the final product (if you aren’t crafty and don’t have a supply of cardstock, glue, & accesories, remember that you’ll be buying some stuff to make a project board).  If the project you want to do requires five variables that you will have to purchase at $10 each, you might want to move on to a more budget friendly idea.  Have your young scientist brainstorm on ideas that can be done using everyday household “stuff.”  Personally, I think of a new science project almost every time I do laundry or cook supper (the effect of time on stains, home remedy stain removers, water temperature, boiling points, surface area, etc.)

2.  Make it a game to see how little you can spend on the project.  Perhaps you can incorporate it into the theme  and subtitle accordingly.  For example, “Cheap Heats/Building a solar heater without spending a dime”  This is particularly great if you are doing an experiment or demonstration on something like recyling.  Let the entire assignment be a lesson on budgeting, especially if you have a child in middle school or older!  Can you do a project using only resources at home/borrowed/donated?  How about five dollars?  Ten?  Make it fun!!

3.  Know or learn where to shop.  This can be time consuming, but extremely cost-effecctive.  Many, if not all, of your materials can be found at local thrift stores.  Depending on your area, you may have a plethora of “junk” sources right in your backyard–Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and many local ministries as well.   Also, yard sales are a great resource.  The typical rule of thumb for yard sale prices is 1/8 of the original sales price (so it pays to know the value of things).  Often, you can get people to donate stuff if they know it is for school.  Whether you are shopping at thrift stores or yard sales, don’t be afraid to ASK for deals and/or freebies.  Finally, the internet is a great resource for hunting out great deals.  Craigs’ List is a neat tool for finding local deals.  If a parent or someone you know is on websites such as facebook, you can put out a request…”looking for 2 yards of fabric for science fair project” or “need three different brands of sunscreen…”  You’ll be amazed at the response!

Hope this helps you create a great science project without having to sell an organ!  Happy deal hunting!

Cecilia

PS:  Want an inexpensive way to launch your budget friendly science project?  Consider 24 Hour Science Projects.  There are some excellent ideas with very easy to find (and inexpensive) components!!

It’s that time of year again. Fall is in the air, leaves are on the ground. Pumpkin pies in the oven, and the kids are back in school. While for many parents the kids being in school is a sigh of relief, a calm in the midst of the storm of childhood angst, it also brings about its own set of ramifications. What to wear today? Where’s my homework? Does Billy like me? But perhaps that scariest of questions, the one many a parent has sworn was immediately followed by the Psycho soundtrack (rreeeennn, rrreeeen, rrreeeen), the Holy Grail of parent nightmares—-”Mom, I have a science project due next week. Uhmmm, what should I do?”

Now, we all know that this is immediately followed by the lecture that my dearly departed father titled, “You need to get your priorities in order…” i.e. “This assignment didn’t just pop up overnight.” However, no amount of lecturing by the parent is going to accomplish the end goal: a satisfactory project that the STUDENT can complete and actually LEARN.

So, here I am. I’m sure in this world of cyber-anomynity, I will feel free to divulge many dark secrets. Here is one of my deepest: I LOVE science. Not just a little bit. A whole lotta love. Like a bee to the flower. Moth to the flame. Nerd to the pocket protector. While my classmates in highschool all had a crush on the quarterback of the football team, I secretly thought my chemistry teacher was “IT,” in a pale skinned, balding, corduroy-pants-with-flannel-shirt sort of way. Why? Because he brought science to life. Yes, chemistry was challenging. Yet I saw so many applications to everyday life. Do you realize how often you use the concept of limiting reagents? So, I went on to college to graduate with a B.S. in Chemistry and spent many years as a bench top chemist and later as a technical consultant.

But I digress. These days my job title is mostly “Mom.” Occasionally, I get a chance to tutor in math and science. The only chemicals I’m touching these days, however, are the ones found in diaper ointment and children’s Tylenol. I miss it, though, and these fall days where school is in session remind me of my science past. As I watch the parents around me struggle with the elusive science projects, I realized that perhaps I could offer some help. A Geek’s Guide to the School System, if you will. From elementary to middle school to high school science. From someone that enjoys science and was excited to do science fair projects, let me share some ideas, concepts, insights.

Science is amazing. It is real. It is doable. Let’s jump into it together…but for tonight, that is enough. Next post: “What I would do for a science project if I knew then what I know now.”

Until then,

Cecilia

PS Need a fast and easy project for elementary school or middle school? You can have one in 24 Hours – before tomorrow’s post! Visit 24 Hour Science Projects and be finished with a GREAT science project by this time tomorrow!

It usually happens in fourth grade: Your child comes home with a packet of material about the upcoming science fair. For many children, this is the first time they’ve been required to do a science project. They may be excited, or they may face the prospect with dread. Whichever, it’s up to the parent to make sure that the science project gets done.

Your child may have very specific ideas about what he or she would like to submit to the science fair. Before you let excitement rule, however, you need to find out the specific science project guidelines your child must follow. First of all, what type of science project is required? Unbelievably, there are five kinds:

Investigative projects – Most science fairs require students to do an experiment, and usually, this is an investigative, or investigatory science project.

Demonstration projects – This type of project is usually done in class as opposed to a science fair, with the student demonstrating a scientific principle to the class.

Research project – Basically, a research project is a report on a scientific topic.

Models – Models are a three dimensional representation of an object or a concept in science.

Collections – In this type of project a collection of objects is displayed to give an overview of a topic.

Also be aware of any restrictions the science fair or your school may have. Can you use/display food? What about animals? Will your child have to perform the experiment in front of judges?

A 4th grade science project is a huge undertaking. Take it from us – we have four sons, each of whom was required to enter the science fair in fourth grade. We’ve had failures and successes, tears and smiles. And always, after the 4th grade project, we had the 5th grade project right around the corner!

Now, get a free guide to fourth grade science projects – including how to find experiments with step by step instructions – at http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com. Easy and fast, they’ll help you submit an outstanding – and maybe winning – fourth grade science project.

Middle school science projects. Most students in middle school are required to submit a science project to the science fair. For kids who have been used to the more lenient standards of elementary school, the more complicated guidelines can be a shock. Here’s a guide to helping middle schoolers to have success as they head to the fair.

1. Do the project. This should go without saying, but I get emails all the time asking for something that is already completed. Teachers can tell if you copy and paste information directly from the internet or from a book.

2. Choose the right kind of project. Most of the time, an investigatory project is required. That’s a fancy way of saying that you have to do an experiment that follows the scientific method. Demonstrations, collections, and models are usually not accepted.

3. Be interested in your work. If you like what you’re doing, you’ll learn more. And if you’re learning, your project will show that you are interested.

4. Make sure you include all required elements. Experiment logs, charts, graphs, supply lists and even photographs are often part of the judging at the fair. Make sure that you follow the directions exactly.

5. Have an attractive display. Use bright colors, attractive fonts, interesting props, and clear pictures. Make sure your science board is neat. Come up with a catchy title so you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Sixth grade, seventh grade, and eight grade – three great chances for you to learn more about science and more about making a presentation. Choose the right project, and you can enjoy your middle school science fair project.

Now, get a free guide to middle school science fair projects – including how to find experiments with step by step instructions – at http://www.24hourscienceprojects.com. Easy and fast, they’ll help you submit an outstanding – and maybe winning – middle school science fair project.

Source: Choosing the Right Middle School Science Project