Boiling Hot Science

     This month we have feverishly been working on the science fair.  When it was time to sign up, I asked the girls if they wanted to do it.  They said they did, then when it was time to do the work, Andi had second thoughts.   She did not want to do it.  So I said, "fine, just tell your teacher that you won't be doing it."  She didn't like that answer, so she decided a project would be a good idea.       Christyne thought of the question we worked on, "if you put different things in water does it take longer to boil?"  Of course we changed it a little to sound more scientific.  We basically tested the time it takes to come to a boil for different solutions and plain tap water.  It was a lot of fun, and it was a lot of work.  The girls worked hard, and did a great job.  These projects are hard for 2nd and 3rd graders.  They don't read very well, and they don't write very well, but they love the hands on stuff.  They also don't quite get the concept of some scientific principles.  The main reason why I wanted them to do this was because I wanted them to learn some things about science, and know how to do a project.  

     One thing that is very hard is to know where the line is between mom just helping and mom doing too much of it.  There is a lot they just can't do, so I have to do some of it.  But I also try to make them do a whole lot, and sit with me and discuss the things I have to do.  I also made them write the whole journal by hand, and pick out the way to decorate it.  As well as do all the mixing, and timing, and measuring, writing the data of the experiment, etc.  I keep hoping I didn't do too much.    

     Anyway, the kids won a first place ribbon.  Of course many people won first place.  Andi was so proud.  She has been struggling in school.  She had a IQ test that says she is very smart, but she has some learning problems.  It gets her discouraged.  She is so smart, yet reading is hard. Reading is needed for everything, so she has a hard time in school.  I hope that things like science fair will build up her confidence and desire to keep working hard in school.  I was glad they won, but we weren't doing it for the ribbon.   I am glad that they saw their hard work paid off.  I am really proud of my hardworking, smart, good girls!