science fair projects -- love 'em or hate 'em!

so, if you are in any way familiar with middle school, you have probably heard of science fair. i feel like i should almost add DUN DUN DUNNN [that would be a loud, ominous drum roll to symbolize something scary] after saying science fair. not that there is anything wrong with it - in fact, i have learned A LOT from this whole experience, and i think it is awesome! however, when i agreed with the science teachers to support the science fair through my AVID classes, i really, truly had no idea how super intense things would get! it has been fascinating watching [and trying to help] my students go through the process of choosing a topic [and boy, it really tells you something about a person when you look at their topic! now, are you sitting there and wondering, "uh oh, what does mine say about ME?!" ha ha ha], doing research [go ahead and groan when i mention research], and putting it all together onto those fabulous backboards. oh, backboards, we love you so. especially the part where we have to cover you with paper to create a background, and then it wrinkles, and then tears, and the staples all come out, and we get maaaaad and throw you across the room, stomping our feet and not-quite-cussing, almost in tears but then the tears would just mess it up more... again, you know who you are :)-- here is another hug, just calm down, it's okay. we really did some intense critical thinking, though, and it was certainly time well spent.
i am fortunate, however, because in all these wonderful learning experiences, i have learned the greatest lesson of them all: SOMEONE FROM MY AVID CLASS needs to invent a cheap, re-usuable backboard so we don't have to spend all this money on these tri-fold things and we can use them over and over and over again! c'mon, y'all, there is the challenge! who will it be? you are intelligent enough, go create it! i know whoever can invent a re-usuable backboard that is not TEN DOLLARS [how ridiculous is that - TEN DOLLARS?!] and will hold staples and glue and still look nice after two or three or ten uses will make some mad cash. i hope you remember where the idea came from when you hit it big with this invention! i will be waiting... and after you make the amazing durable backboard, you can start on the UNBREAKABLE BINDER. now that will be something, too! mad cash, i am telling you...
All joking aside, i would really like to send out some thank yous and shout outs:
thanks to ms. harrington and ms. hoffmier for offering us this opportunity, and for giving us the support to be successful on it. you rock!
thanks also to the 3rd period and 6th period teachers [mr. bordeaux, you are awesome] that have been flexible with me while i work with my students to complete these projects. thank you, thank you, thank you!
finally, a huge SHOUT OUT to all my AWESOME AVID students for putting such amazing efforts into this project. for many of us, it was a first time thing, and it was daunting! however, we were determined, and through collaboration and patience and the willingness to succeed, we will REPRESENT at the science fair next week! you are all awesome, and i love ya.
good luck at the science fair, and have fun!