Class Presentations!

(I AM NOT PEEKING!!)

Here is my funny story from the Science Fair........... Growing up I never had to participate in the Science Fair. And it is a good thing really. I had a lot of anxiety when it came to science, not really my cup of tea. So when I realized how seriously they take this at Sundown I got nervous. Six weeks before the projects were due, I asked Jay if he would take this task and run with it. The great news was the school allowed the kids to do a sibling project so we did not have to do separate projects and it was not required in Kindergarten. Jay reassured me he would do it AND not wait until the last moment. For Hunter this was 100 points and his Science grade for the term. Tanner would get extra credit.

Each week I would "gently" remind Jay (okay NAG) the date was approaching quickly and the kids had to give oral presentations in class. Each week nothing would happen. I would search the internet for great ideas, print them out and hand them to Jay. As the due date got closer my anxiety level would rise. There is nothing worse than getting up in front of your peers and not being prepared. (I did that once in elementary and was scarred forever) Okay not forever, clearly I got over it, but I do not want my kids to live through that moment. (For the record it was not my parents fault, I never told them about the report I had due.)

Finally, the weekend before the projects are due, they decide on a project. Two days before they test and gather data. Day before, I am running around trying to get pictures printed, and make sure the kids have everything they need for their oral presentation. Jay gets home and they start putting their display board together. At 7:30 that night I go downstairs to listen to watch and listen to their oral presentations. ( If you remember correctly, we get up at 6:15 to be ready for school on time. Therefore, bedtime is 7:00) It is Wednesday night and the kids are tired. Hunter is practicing and cannot spit out the word propellant and apex. Daddy is asking them if they can say propeller? Because propellant sounds just like it? Are you kidding me?!?!?!? Clearly there is a huge difference between Daddy's engineering pilot brain and my child discussion brain.

Not only can Tanner and Hunter not pronounce the words, they have no idea what they mean. So if the judges or teachers ask them about the words the kids are stuck!!! I can see the anxiety in their faces as they are trying to figure out what to say ,when to pull the stuff out of the box or which picture to point to. So I demo what they should say. Let me guarantee you propellant and apex are not in my vocabulary. LOL! Instead I use vinegar and water (propellant) and highest point (apex). Still I can see stress in their faces. So we sit down, write on index cards, and practice, practice, practice. Finally at 9:00 they are heading to bed confident they will survive. Next morning they are still both practicing around the breakfast table for their brothers and sister.

We are proud to announce both Tanner and Hunter got 100% and survived. We learned some great lessons on what we need to do for next year. And now we can all rest well and know........we survived the Science Fair!!!