Do Plants Love Sweets?



Several months ago, Aaron's science teacher offered his class the chance to participate in a science fair.  In eighth grade, it is part of the curriculum, but for seventh graders it is a chance to get their feet wet and experience the process. 

Aaron's class was working on a large project.  In place of the project the students could choose to do a science fair project.  Whether or not the project was successful, the reward is a one hundred and ten extra credit points on a future assignment.  I told Aaron any time he has a chance for a higher grade or to earn extra credit, he should take it.  Even if he has a solid "A" in a class, it is always possible that he might slip on a later assignment and that extra credit will be helpful. 

He decided to try a science fair project.  He had his mind set on doing something with plants.  We threw around some ideas and he settled, very strongly, on "The Effects of Sweeteners on Plant Growth."  PK and I tried to get him to do something a little more original.  We thought doing something about the effects of video games on kids would be neat.  In the end, it is Aaron's project, so we let him stick with what he wanted to do.  Besides, I really don't like projects that were obviously done by a parent.

He ran the experiment for a couple of weeks and found that their was no effect of the different sweeteners on plant growth.  I'm not sure I would include his findings in a scientific journal or even believe them to be accurate, but he ran the experiment.

I helped him get all of his paperwork in order and turned in by the December 3 deadline.  I thought we were finished.  It was my understanding that the experiment would be reviewed and certain entrants would be invited to participate in the actual science fair.  Wrong!  Aaron brought home the paperwork required for the science fair.

We bought a display board and I gently guided him in getting it set-up.  The science fair was last night.  He enjoyed being there and seeing the other experiments.  He had to explain his project to the judges which he thought was hard, but he was able to do.  He told me that he would like to do a science fair again, but the next time he will pay more attention to the details and try a more involved original experiment. 

That seems like a good outcome to me and he will receive that one hundred on the project and extra credit.  It's a win-win!