Ryan’s Project

Picture taken exactly 9 hours before due date… at 11:30pm… after Ryan’s last soccer game…

It’s done… Ryan’s 2009 Social Science Fair Project.  Halleluiah!

Last year, in fifth grade he did his project on ‘Are Credit Cards Good or Bad?’  He likes economics, money, charts, and graphs. (Yes, he is his father.) He was chosen from his class and then school to go to the district level where he got Honorary Mention on his project. 

Not surprisingly, he was excited about project time again.  This year, in sixth grade, he had the choice of either completing a project for the Social Science Fair due November 10th, or completing a project for the Science Fair due January 7th.  But like I said, this kid likes economics, money, charts and graphs.  So the Social Science Fair is was.  He was totally motivated and excited about the idea.  We were a little less excited, remembering exactly how much time was spent last year… we had a Disney trip to prepare for and go on, Halloween costumes to make, and Grandparents to entertain just to mention 3 of about 100 things going on in our busy October.  As soon as Grandma and Grandpa left we had six days to really pull the whole thing together… and yes, it was quite the group effort.  The requirements are extremely strict and he needed lots of ‘how do you say this in your own words?’ kind of guidance when writing his report.  He wrote a survey and had 40 people complete it.  He went to every grocery store in Columbus (with me) and found 40 items to price.  He wrote about every grocery store.  He made graphs.  He printed stuff out.  He picked the colors.  He used the paper cutter.   He even had to write an ‘acknowledgements’ page.   It was kind of fun… but it was consuming for six whole days.  And exhausting.  And we’re so glad it’s done.   Except for Ryan.  He loves projects… and he can’t wait until next year. 

(Oh, he got 100%  and was chosen to represent his sixth grade hallway in the school Fair.) 

Oh, and another Halleluiah for not having to work on a Project over Christmas break.  Definitely worth the craziness to just get it done!