FLASHBACK: Science Fair

Back before Christmas, I received an e-mail from Wes' first grade teacher. It read,

"Today I mentioned to the class that the school will be holding a Science Fair in February. After telling them what a Science Fair was and what would be required of them, I asked those who are interested to raise their hand. If your child expressed interest, you will be receiving a permission slip in their folders this afternoon for you to sign in compliance with the rules."

I knew immediately...I would be reading a permission slip in a few short hours.

How did I know?

Wes is easy to excite. Wes is eager to learn. Wes loves an adventure. Wes gives 110% in everything he does (minus eating vegetables or cleaning up his room-without scooting things under his bed). The words Science Fair have WES written all over it.

My first reaction?
UGH! Please. No, not yet. First grade? Doesn't a mom have more than a year and a half of big school to warm up to the idea of projects?

My reaction when he excitedly filled me in (after finding the permission slip in his folder and and my asking questions as to what this was about-he is not much on details)?
YES! You can do this - not so sure about designing a battery for an unnamed robotic object that picks up trash - but, YES! (he had several wild ideas, let me tell ya!)

And, so, the research began. After talking to a few teacher friends and looking at websites for ideas, I decided that we would set out to determine the most absorbent paper towel. I wanted to choose a project that was relatively easy to understand, put to the test, and that he could do. This idea fit the bill!

We went shopping for our supplies and Wes picked out three brands of paper towels that he thought would be most absorbent. He separated the towels and cut them into equal sizes. Then he filled a measuring cup with an exact amount of water.


He used a dropper to saturate the paper towels.



Once the paper towel had absorbed all it could, he measured the water left in the measuring cup.


The result? Out of the three brands of paper towels we tried, Bounty was the most absorbent.


He did a great job writing out all the elements of the project and gluing them on the display board. I helped with the layout and cutting out the letters for the title. But, he contributed in every other way!


The day of the Science Fair they set up his project in the big room and he let Kris take his picture before heading to class :)


I was so proud of Wes for not only having the desire to participate, but sticking to the assignment (I could have easily been talked out of it). He did such a good job working through the experiment and drawing a conclusion. I know he learned a lot from this experience and expect there might be a few more projects in our future!

PS - He won first place in Engineering! (I don't have a picture of him with his medal - remember, not much on details - as we did not know parents could attend the awards ceremony!)