First Science Fair

The Children's Museum in Bloomsburg hosts a science fair each year for students in grades 4-8. The winners in grades 7-8 then progress on to a regional science fair competition. They give cash prizes to three children per grade level. This year the majority of the participants were in 7th or 8th grade. There were only ten students who participated from grades 4-6, which meant that 80% of the kids in grades 4-6 received a cash prize. The first prize for fourth grade went to a homeschooler we know from gym class. The majority of the participants came from public schools, but there were also kids from private schools and homeschoolers. There were three fifth graders who participated, and Nadia received second place. She got a red ribbon, a certificate, and $25.00. We were at the Children's Museum for almost 3 hours from the time she set up her project until they announced the winners. The judges circulated around the projects and asked the children questions about their projects. Three judges evaluated each project. The kids were each given a voucher that

they could redeem for a donut, chips, bottle of water, and either a hotdog or sandwich. Next year I'd like Nadia and Ian to each complete a science fair project, and I want us to start it sooner so we aren't scrambling at the last minute to get it together. We circulated around the museum to see the other projects. Nadia says she wants hers to involve food next year. One of my science fair projects when I was in middle school was about the amount of baking powder or baking soda used in baking bread. Nadia spent $22.50 of her prize money by purchasing two Adventure in Odyssey CDs on Amazon last night.

I usually take the boys to their basketball practice on Thursday nights, but Paul came home earlier than usual from work so he could take them in light of my taking Nadia to the science fair. After basketball practice, he and the boys went to Walmart so Ian could return a Lego set he received that he already had and also to the library.

We got a little snow last night, but thankfully we didn't have trouble driving home from the

science fair. Today there was a two hour delay so gym class was rescheduled, and I also shifted the start of the Bible study to next Friday instead of today. I wasn't sure what would happen to the 5th grade art class in light of a two hour delay, so we didn't go today. I did email the art teacher so I can know for future reference what happens with a two hour delay. The only time we are leaving the house today is for my hair appointment (less than 2 miles from our house) and the grocery store (which is very close to the hair salon). Because the kids didn't have gym, I let them watch three episodes of Magic School Bus that related to human anatomy (which is what we're studying in science). We're supposed to get more snow tomorrow, which means their basketball games might be cancelled tomorrow.

I found out I will have 6 student teachers, which represents 5% overload (overtime). I had 10 student teachers last semester which was 25% overload. All of my student teachers are VERY close to home this time, which is a big improvement.

Ian said he was giving Patches armor.