Let me speak up for a stupid American custom. I mean no insult, and I am sure you didn't intend one either. I have been reading this forum long enough to know that.

My generation had science fairs in high school. They were a great experience. (pseudo)Geeks like myself went all out for them; other just did it because they had to. It has now evolved all the way down to about the 5th grade. I have been a volunteer judge for many years at all grade levels.

There seem to be basically three types of entry: 1) the student who wants to; 2) the student who has to do it; and 3) the student whose father/ mother did it. Krumlink's robot would be in the first category. (Congratulations, Krumlink) The second is self explanatory. The last is exemplified by the 8th grader who does gene sequencing in a parent's lab.

Judging is fun for both the students and judges and is kept constructive . The biggest problem is dealing with the 3rd type. A few questions, though, can quickly resolve who did what. Unfortunately, politics, like when the dad/mom is a big name researcher in a small town, enters into the equation.

All in all, I do not think science fairs are stupid. I think 5th grade may be pushing the age envelop a little, but not by much. I think the aspect of competition with a winner is good, but there needs to be a normalization process for judging (we had one at the high school level). I think improvement might include an alternative activity in science for those who don't want to do a science fair project. Last and by far most difficult, I think there needs to be a mechanism to curtail or re-categorize the third type of participant. John

 

As I've alread said, I don't think it's a silly custom at all. I think that anything that encourages children to be creative and think logically at the same time can't be a bad idea.

I don't think pushing children into doing it, it a good idea because they probably only will produce a half-hearted attempt.

I take it that there's a rule saying the project has to be all your own work.

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I thought there was a rule it had to be all the parents work?

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*walks in with his neon sign transformer and makes arcs * Pretty funny science projects, though i'd imagine the kids dont find it funny

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There is an upcoming inventors' show in Minnesota on June 13 and 14, 2008. I have seen innovative child inventors show their creations, not like our science fair projects. You can log onto Minnesota Inventors Congress for more info.