Science Fair

I recently came across these photos and they’re occupying my Thursday Thoughts. This is one of the years before we began the journal, so Mikey was either in Kindergarten or First Grade.  Our school called this event Big Science to back away from any competition aspect. They wanted all the kids to participate since the goal was to have students choose science topics of personal interest and explore those topics on their own.  The day of Big Science, everyone got together at school to share their projects and walk around to see others.

One way we included Mikey in our community events was through collaboration with Will, Mikey’s typical big brother.  Will wanted to do something for the science fair, but he didn’t feel strongly about what project.  I thought Mikey might want to join in the fun and he was obsessed with the solar system.

I asked Will if he would be okay with doing the research and letting Mikey do the artwork for the project.  He agreed so he made a tri-fold poster board about the solar system and Mikey painted a wooden mobile of the planets in our solar system. We also put out books about the solar system and asked the Big Science participants to vote on whether they thought Pluto should be classified as a planet.

I learned 9 planets when I was little, so I was always pro-planet classification for Pluto without regard for any pesky sciency facts. The International Astronomical Union has considered my point of view, but they disagree…They’ve gone with dwarf planet. Harrumph.