The Science Fair

We had Elliott again this evening, and again my children were on their best behaviour. I'm sure it can't last much longer, it has to be the calm before the storm and when they blow it will be nothing short of catastrophic.  I had forgotten how much fun it is to have a toddler in the house, and how easily they are amused. Elliott just kept running laps around the coffee table, and as long as I laughed on cue, he just kept doing it. He was even more amused however, when Grady started lobbing cushions at him. When he goes home and tears his house apart, I'm sure I'm going to hear about it.

Tomorrow Grady's Science Fair Project is due. That is a misnomer if ever I heard one. How about 'The Project From Hell", or more realistically the "WTF? Project", because let's face it, the parent's involvement far outweighs that of the student.  Even Grady who typically likes science in general, got his knickers in a knot over his experiment. The theme this year was Futuristic, and with all due respect to the teachers, whose bright idea was that one ? He finally settles on an experiment to see what colour conducts solar energy best, which involved filling different colour garbage bags with water and leaving them in the sun, measuring the temperature at set times.

First of all the materials, seemed like a good idea at the time, but it took two weekends and half a tank of very expensive gas driving all over town looking for a store that sold thermometers, not as easy as you would think. Next the weather, the experiment hinged on a sunny day, again should have been straightforward but wasn't. Finally, and my favourite, the mess; filling garbage bags with water, apparently involves a skill set not yet acquired by my 10 year old son. Spilling water over the counter, chairs, table and floor, that part was easy. Filling garbage bags not so much. Then there was the treacherous trail from the sink through the kitchen, to the sunny location outside.

Once the experiment was conducted it was time to prepare the presentation. Grady wanted it typed, but with him at the keyboard, it would have taken him well into high school years before completion. So, that task fell to his long suffering parents. Deciphering his notes was a task and a half. Tonight was the big reveal and time to paste all the work on his board.  My son, a glue stick and copious amounts of paper. Are we having fun yet ? I am convinced that Science Fairs are a punishment that teachers inflict upon parents, as retribution for having to endure our offspring.

As an added bonus we get to spend Thursday evening at the school, so we can go around and view what the other parents have done for their projects.