Science Fair Backboards

Church, school VPK program encourages parent involvement

Our year really begins about two weeks before the students arrive. Each parent and child has an individual conference with their teacher. This enables both the parent and child to get to know the teacher and see the room. By doing this, they become much more comfortable with their new environment. The teacher also uses this as an opportunity to tell the parent how they can become involved in the class or with our PTL (Parent Teacher League). Parents are encouraged to join in the fun during the school year with some of our projects. This year we made reindeer food and snowman poop _ as well as other cooking projects. Science Fair is another opportunity for parent involvement. Our older students participate in the Edison Regional Science Fair so we start in VPK with science experiments also. We select a project, do it as a group, and then construct a science backboard – just like the “big kids.” Parents help with each step of the process. The first was to the Pumpkin Patch. Kids of all ages love picking out a pumpkin and having stories read to them during this excursion. This is a short trip and enables parents who don’t have much time to get involved. Our second trip was to Il Primo Pizzeria. Parents and students loved the opportunity to make their own pizza. They learned what goes into making their favorite meal and then they got to eat it. We are able to turn this into a good lesson on nutrition. VPK is not daycare. The more the parent is involved, the more they learn that their child can and is learning more and more each day. The parent really begins to realize that this is their child’s first real experience in going t school and the joy that learning gives. The more the parent is involved the easier it is on the child. They gain the confidence they need for when they start kindergarten. They have learned to socialize and learn with the skills that an active and involved VPK program offers. Our program uses the Early Childhood Standards set by the State of Florida. VPK is a State of Florida funded program that all children who are four years olds by Sept. 1 of the starting school year can go to school for free. This program is offered all over the State of Florida.

Tyrek Science Fair - Backboard, Plants and Report | Flickr - Photo ...

Thanks! The plants were planted in November, so the experiment went on about two months. Tyrek was able to finish up the backboard in one evening.

I was feeling pretty confident in this project until we turned it in the next day. Tyrek's classmates also did spectacularly splendid jobs and really got creative with their backboards. I'm afraid Tyrek is going to have some stiff competition! :)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgaw/5369624305/" title="Tyrek Science Fair - Backboard, Plants and Report by Vicky TGAW, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5369624305_5f14b71a28_t.jpg" width="67" height="100" alt="Tyrek Science Fair - Backboard, Plants and Report"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgaw/5369624305/" title="Tyrek Science Fair - Backboard, Plants and Report by Vicky TGAW, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5369624305_5f14b71a28_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Tyrek Science Fair - Backboard, Plants and Report"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgaw/5369624305/" title="Tyrek Science Fair - Backboard, Plants and Report by Vicky TGAW, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5369624305_1cdebbc837_o.

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