Science is the study of the natural world. With subjects including Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, History of Geology, Mathematics, History of Physics, and Technology, it is a way to find out how nature works.
Science education consists of making observations, asking questions, and collecting information. This scientific method is practiced in order to make discoveries about the world.
So it’s time for science fair projects again. Many students dread these assignments, but there is really no need to panic. For the elementary grade levels, you could do something as easy as growing a crystal garden. But for middle or high school science fair projects, you will probably need to do something that involves more scientific research and experimentation, using the scientific method. Science fair projects should be fun and interesting, and when you are done you will have learned something new to share with your friends and family.
One of the best things about doing science fair projects is that they are not like doing homework. You get to pick the topic, ask the questions, and design the experiment. When you analyze the results, there are not necessarily any right or wrong answers. Many kids find that it is much more fun than doing schoolwork.
STEM makes headlines every day–a definite education priority from the highest levels of government on down. The goal: invigorate the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and math in our middle and high schools and raise America’s academic standing in the world.
Like many others, President Obama has been quite vocal about the shortcomings of STEM teaching and our students’ lackluster testing performance, hence the government’s push for improvement. To that end, he has…