Both of our children attend daycare at a small private school/daycare. Every spring the daycare holds a science fair for the kids. All the children that want to participate do a project and present it with their parents in front of the other children from the daycare and the older kids from the school. That time is again fast approaching.
Last year, we helped J make “fossils.” We made a dough, then let him stamp toys, plants, and a dog paw (thanks Abbey!) in the dough, and finally baked them in the oven until they were hard as rocks. Through the process, we talked about real fossils and how they are made.
I arrived at J’s class a little before they headed to the auditorium for presentations. We talked about what we would say and how we would show the fossils. When the time came for our presentation, J came up to the stage and just stared at me. He refused to say a word! I don’t blame the little guy. He was only two years old at the time, and I wasn’t always fond of public speaking either. I was proud of him for sticking it out and staying up front with me, though. He helped to pass the fossils around the auditorium so all his friends could see them up close. They were a big hit.
This year, J has spent a lot more time outdoors. He loves plants and animals, especially bugs. He chases our chickens around the backyard to see what kind of bugs they find. He follows bees from flower to flower without fear. As an ever-curious child, he is always asking questions about the bugs he sees. So, this year we are going to teach him a little about bugs and let him make a project to present to his peers. Stay tuned for progress!