I fondly recall my science fair projects of long ago. My father was a builder, and together we made some really kick-ass school projects. Actually, he often did most of the building while I looked on and assisted where I could. For 7th grade history class we made a light-up map of New York State with light-up sections for each of the five nations Indian tribes that originally inhabited the state. Then we made a working version of an Erie Canal lock where the water level would go up and down, with a painted wooden scale model of an Erie Canal boat. Very cool. The teacher left the water it in too long and it was irreparably damaged.

 

   

 

We won 1st place in the junior science fair with an ‘ahead of its time’ demonstration of the methods of producing useable electrical energy. We built a battery of sulphuric acid, a thermocouple with a torch to convert heat to electricity, and used a solar cell and a fan blade to power a toy motor. I think I was destined to build my life around building things, and to use toy motors in particular. My father was an early electronic guru, but sadly I was too disinterested to ever learn anything from him before he passed.

Winning that science fair was a school days highlight. How about you? What school-age activities and interests do you still find rattling around in your life today?

 

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