Stop the Summer Brain Drain - 7 Top Ideas for Science Fair Projects

Encouraging teenagers to learn at any age is a challenge in itself. Ever tried to get your kids to do their homework when the sun is shining? Or when the Xbox or PS3 are within their line of vision? It’s even more of a challenge when the long summer holidays lie outstretched before you in one endless run of days spent on computers killing zombies with a new online friend.

If you have a budding entrepreneur in your midst don’t let the summer sunshine drain their brain. Summer camps that focus on education and life beyond school are a great way of maintaining their brain development. Even the most reluctant learner won’t fail to be impressed by the thought of a science fair or entrepreneurial project.

Here are some of our favourite ideas for science fairs with a mix of the obvious and the not so obvious but all practical for those long summer holidays. 
   
Astronomy What inspires teenagers more than a space fair? Science fairs revolving around astronomy are sure to be a big hit. Encourage them to explore space ‘the final frontier’, with projects like building a working sun dial or creating a telescope. Explore the origins of comets, the individual planets and carry out gravity experiments. Who knows what it might set off in an inquisitive brain?

Earthquakes It’s estimated that there are 500,000 earthquakes detected across the globe each year. Thankfully only a fifth of them can actually be felt and around 100 cause damage, some of which as we know can be catastrophic. Learn about plate tectonics and build a working model of an earthquake. Participants can investigate the different types of faults and learn about how earthquakes are measured. After all, ‘quakes are natural phenomena that fascinate kids of all ages and they may also appreciate how lucky they are living in a ‘quake-free zone.

Volcanoes Closely following on from earthquakes with their link to tectonic plates, volcanoes are guaranteed to hold youthful attention. Discuss how they form, where they are located, why they erupt. Look at the differences between active and dormant volcanoes. Apply practical examples such as the volcanic ash from Iceland that disrupted air flights in 2010.  

Global Warming
Kids today are probably more eco-conscious than their parents, having been educated from an early age on the challenges and effects of global warming. Encourage them to discuss the greenhouse effect, melting polar ice caps and understand how we can help to protect the environment. They may come home with a solution to global warming all ready to go.

The Science of Dating
Yes, it’s unusual and yes there will be a few squirming at the back but at the age of first crushes and broken hearts, a science fair discussion on dating will help teenagers in particular to open up and discuss their emotions. Consider different dating rituals and carry out surveys on what type of looks attract them, such as hair and eye colour. What personality do they prefer? Do they like tattoos? Compare the results of their survey by asking members of an older generation the same questions – you’ll soon quell the hormones (temporarily of course) and it may help them gain perspective. It won’t stop the crushes though.

Spiders
Spiders, insects, whatever it is that’s easiest, any project that involves a field trip in search of bugs is always a bonus. When it comes to spiders the list of questions is endless. How long do they live? Are they poisonous? How do they create their webs? Who’s afraid of them? Do they have fangs? Which one is the biggest spider? Probably best avoided by the squeamish! 

Body Temperature
This is another great and easy science fair project which will encourage teenagers to discuss topics they would normally avoid. Taking their own temperature at scheduled times during the day will show them how it changes. Send them off exercising for half an hour (easy if they are at an adventure camp) and check their temperature immediately after exercise and an hour or so later. Explain the consequences of their body temperature dropping too low or too high.  

Summer science fairs are ideal for stopping the summer brain drain and getting kids of all ages involved in their environment and understand themselves too. This is your challenge should you choose to accept it. Turn off the computer and get them outside! 

Biog: Kate Smedley looks at innovative summer camps to get through the school holidays. 

Learn Urban Dance Skills to Improve Your Rhythm and Fitness

Let’s face it, exercise classes are rarely cool and sexy. Whether you are sweating away on a bike during spinning class, or repeatedly squatting during an aerobics class, exercise classes are never something you would want your friends or partner to see you doing. However, there is a new spate of dance forms taking over gyms and health clubs, guaranteed to not only tone you up and improve your general fitness, but also to give you new sexy skills which you will want to demonstrate at home, and even in clubs on your nights out!

Classes such as pole fitness or salsa are fun and give you tone and rhythm like nothing before, but I think that the very coolest of exercise dance classes is the Urban Workout, available at a number of gyms, and even in independent classes throughout the country.

What is Urban Dance Workout
During Urban Workout classes you will learn to bump, grind and shimmy just like the girls (and guys) in the MTV videos. You’ll be given expert choreography from people who have worked directly in or on these videos and learn actual dance moves and routines which can be used to tone up muscles you never knew you had - or impress everyone at your local club (just try not to get carried away and clear the dancefloor!).

A great cardiovascular workout, learning urban dance moves will strengthen muscles throughout your body and help you to develop a better posture and stronger core. Energetic hip-hop style moves are combined with low level break dance - difficult but not too difficult - and elements of free running, and all put together to modern dance songs to keep a party vibe going that will make you feel as though you are really learning a usable skill. And probably feel a little bit trendier than you do already!

Getting Started with Urban Dance
You will need to wear flexible shoes as urban dance relies heavily on footwork, as well as breathable stretchy clothing to allow you to get into any particular move with ease. It may also be more fun for you to organise a group of friends to go with you so that you can all experience your first classes together. Urban dance classes are not self-conscious places and you will be given great instruction to allow you to get into the rhythm of the class quickly, but with friends by your side it may make the whole experience more fun for you - plus a great bonding exercise!

Urban dance classes will quickly tone up your body and improve your general fitness, and are also a great way of relieving tension after a tough week at work, or to energise you for the weekend. Take a couple of classes a week and you are sure to find that your body starts to look just as you would like it to within a few weeks, without the stress or struggle of toiling away at the gym. Urban dance can become addictive and, you never know, might even lead you in a new direction career-wise!

This article was written by Caitlin a blogger for http://www.poledancingpoles.info who is a lover of all things dance and fitness. When she is not busy blogging she can usually be found practicing her latest dance moves or hanging upside down on her X-pole Sport Dance Pole.