These 10 Science Fair Projects Could Guarantee Your Kid First Place

Why is science so important? No, it’s not simply to fill up class schedules.

Science can be helpful in day to day life. But then we should teach relevant facts. If we get this right, children may become more passionate about this—for some—difficult subject.

Yes, schools already try to make science more practical, interesting and even fun.

If you have a child (or nieces/nephews/that kid down the street who won't leave you alone), you're probably familiar with the annual science fair. It's when students get creative with scientific methods. For a lot of children, it's their first real exposure to testing their own theories.

Yes, a science fair should actually be about allowing children to think a little further than their textbooks. But parents and teachers don’t always allow that.

As a parent/guardian, sometimes things get competitive. Really, really competitive. And adult competition causes children’s wishes and interests to be ignored.

Parents’ involvement in kids’ science fairs results in doing the well known—but very boring—projects such as the effect of sunlight on plants. You may pick it because it’s science you know. That means someone else knows it too and will probably help his or her child to do a similar project.

Don’t risk your kids’ science fair projects by keeping to your own limitations. It’s time everyone thinks outside the box. Don’t you have something better? In addition, this boring approach will dampen your child’s enthusiasm.

Former NASA engineer and YouTube science guru Mark Rober understands that competition. In this video, he talks about the go-to science experiments him and his nephew use for guaranteed success.

And don’t worry. He knows how to keep it relevant for children and impressive for the adult judges that walk past. These are definitely more interesting than the stereotypical baking soda volcano.

Mark’s relevant projects also allow children to learn about variables and hypotheses. Because it’s about familiar objects, children aren’t overwhelmed so there’s scope to learn something new.

Mark’s science fair projects involve Petri dishes, playing cards, and even soccer balls. Suggest to your child that he or she proves whether the five-second rule is true. I guarantee you their eyes will start to sparkle with excitement. This is how we’ll get children’s creative juices going.

Oh yes. That’s another thing Mark advises us to remember. Creativity. When you see his diverse list of science fair projects you realize he—and the nephews he helped to win their science fairs—didn’t let anything limit their creative thinking.

Who else would think of linking science to Rock-Paper-Scissors?

And these creative approaches don’t apply to younger children only.

Young scientists learning about data can follow Mark’s hairdresser project. His hairdresser provided him with historical data on the tips she received from a customer. This proved that Americans are more comfortable with and used to tipping. This is the start of your child’s interest in different cultures and even politics. Mark even has advice on public speaking and presentations.

And it’s all sparked by science.

Via Mark Rober`