Years ago we started separating January out of our regular home school year as a time set aside for special projects and an opportunity to step out of our normal routine and do some of those things which we never have time for. For Steam that means a month focused on one of his favorite diversions - the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair. As a home school student he bypasses the 'school' level of the competition and goes straight to the regional fair at the UM February 24/25. If he is recognized for his efforts there the next level of the competition is at the end of March in St Paul.
This year Steam started off with one project, developed his entire reasearch plan, filled out the paperwork and then realized in a dry run (thankfully before submitting the application) that it wasn't going to work in the home testing environment. It was great to watch him come to the realization that he was going to have to start over with only a week before our family deadline for the application process. (I hate last minute pushes so we set family deadlines on things like this about a week ahead of official ones- gives margin for real crisis and teaches some good life lessons.) He was able to choose a new topic, devise a testing method and research plan and Lord willing, have it all completed and submitted by the end of the weekend. I love watching this stuff. The determination and maturity that surfaces when a crisis occurs and a new level of flexibility which shows that I truly do have a young adult on my hands.
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