When I was growing up submitting a project into the Science Fair was an option, but not in this small town. From what I’ve heard it’s mandatory starting in the 4th grade, but at this point not sure how many years is is mandatory so we shall see.
This past summer our oldest son did an experiment in the 4H corn category of the fair and won Grand Champion. We were so proud! Many of his past teachers mentioned that it would be a good Science Fair Project, but at the time I assumed the Science Fair was optional so I thought it was a general statement. My attention did spark though when the Science Fair requirement papers were sent home and the realization that is was mandatory became a reality. Um I wonder if what the teachers said in passing was true that we could reuse the data and enter it in the fair?
Whoo Hoo we got a free pass this year! His 4H experiment for the fair was accepted, so all we had to do was move the data onto the required board and he was set. I must say though it’s a damn good experiment and thankfully all the time and effort he put into it last summer is paying off since he can use it twice. I’m going to have to remember that in the future!
So the experiment was planting field corn seeds at different depths to see what depth would produce the healthiest plant. He took for buckets full of dirt from the field, planted 5 seeds in each bucket at different depths (1″, 2″, 3″, and 4″), watered them regularly, documented their growth over 6 weeks, measured the height of the plant and width of the stalk, and in the end created a poster with documentation & pictures.
His experiment proved that planting field corn at 2″ in depth made for the healthiest plant, which surprisingly enough is the depth that farmers plant their corn in anyway. 
What science fair projects have your kids done?
What a great experiment. Were you able to show off some of the root structures? It amazes me at how certain depths are able to latch on to the soil and get established as opposed to others that can’t. hope he got a blue ribbon on that one!
My oldest did one entitled “Do Boys Make Pigs Of Themselves?”, she took 20 just weaned pigs (10 gilts and 10 barrows) weighed them at the beginning and at the end of 30 days, they were fed the same ration and then she compared their growth – boys do make pigs of themselves they ate more and gained more that the girls! Champion and state entry!
Gotta love when one project can accomplish two things that need to be done – Congrats to you and your son!
Popped in from Lady Bloggers to say hi! I always did stuff with plants!