When you see the words "science fair projects" it is easy to think you are talking about the school gym filled with kids, parents and display boards full of pictures and graphs. But one day science fair projects can also be used as middle school homework assignments for science concepts covered in class without having to deal with all the hoopla of a science fair. This way the kids can do the project without having to deal with the posters and demonstrations and all that goes with that.

In middle school, science turns into a major subject, with homework, and for many it can be a big turn off. Kids like to say, “When will I ever need this in life?” Now, when they say it about algebra it makes sense but with science you are talking about the world around you, so that line makes no sense. It is easy for many parents to buy into this because for them, science was boring lectures, outlining chapters and answering the question from the book. Luckily, your new parents, those 30 and younger, mostly grew up with a hands on science curriculum, with a much more interactive thing going on with the teacher and students, so hopefully over time, "boring" will ease out of the conversation when science comes up.

It is important to keep the kids engaged in science as it affects almost every part of your life. Cooking and nutrition, including dieting all are based on science. Health, medicines, and cures for diseases are all science in life. Growing plants indoors or in a garden is science. Cars are aerodynamics and gas mileage, all science. You can't forget the weather, that you pay attention to every day, what is more science than that? All of these areas lend themselves to a variety of one day science fair projects that could be adapted for homework use.

Variety is always a good thing in education and with middle school kids it can be a welcome break in the routine. They can even think they are getting away with “easy” homework when instead of memorizing a list of terms, or reading about how something works, they get to do it themselves. Then later when they read about it, it will make learning those terms easier and understanding what they are reading more meaningful.

The best idea is to get these one day science fair projects worked into the curriculum whenever they fit in with what you are teaching, and frequently assign experiment to do at home. This way when the annual science fair comes along and they get into things that take a little longer to do, it will be no big deal. They will have had plenty of practice with quick,easy science fair projects and so be ready to tackle whatever comes next.