It isn’t an easy task, convincing elementary age children that committing to extra work and research after school and on the weekends is good for them. It also isn’t easy to convince parents that science fair isn’t the daunting, overwhelming task it appears to be.

After all, last year, I was one of those parents. I had a first grader who loved science and I myself had never participated in a science fair when I was younger. I had no idea where to start and I definitely didn’t understand the difference between performing an experiment and doing a science fair project. I remembered something about the scientific method but couldn’t name a step if I had to.

I’ve been planning this year’s science fair with that in mind. I’m putting together a packet that will help step students through the process and help parents in their support role. I’m reaching out to students and working to get them excited about science. I’ve also found a lot of support from the school staff and teachers.

I had a slow start on the march to get participants, but things are picking up. I have 55 kids signed up. Last year, they only had 30. I’m now more stressed about finding enough space and tables instead of filling the emptiness with four students.

I received a huge reward last week for my efforts. No, it wasn’t a gold medal in science fair planning. A friend of my daughter’s told me I was her inspiration for joining the science fair. The experiments and science activities I have brought into the classroom over the past two years excited her about science.

Up next, ordering ribbons, picking a science experiment giveaway and plotting the space. I think this is the fun part of planning? Maybe not .

The bag collection I have in my garage. And I don't even like them.

I try to live green. I don’t always do it as well as I want, or as good as my friend Amy at Crunchy Domestic Goddess, but I do work hard not to pollute the environment or have a huge carbon footprint. One of my biggest pet peeves is plastic bags.

I hate them. I was happy when Whole Foods Market made a stand and eliminated plastic bags from their stores.

I have to admit, I am guilty of occasionally leaving them in my car and not going to get them because it involves dragging the kids back out of the store and into the parking lot. But I own several reusable bags and I prefer their sturdiness and practicality over the one-use plastic bags. At the mall, I bring my reusable bags. I don’t need a bag from Target or Children’s Place or any other store in the mall that will be thrown away (or recycled) when I get home. I feel guilty using them.

That said, when I bring my reusable bags, I expect to use them. This seems so trivial, but I’ve reached the end of my understanding with why baggers at the grocery store have such a hard time using them. It’s like they are programmed to use as many plastic bags as possible on every order. Maybe this is the training they ALL receive.

I shopped at Safeway today. I usually shop at Safeway. I was busy with my 4-year-old and getting her out of the cart, etc and I didn’t watch my groceries being bagged. When I got to my car, I realized 2 of my reusable bags were full, but two were empty with plastic-bagged groceries on top of them. Now, maybe they weren’t seen at first, even though I handed them to the bagger before he started.

I’ve had to coach baggers through my grocery bagging by telling them they can put more than 3 items in my sturdy bags. Heck, if they aren’t tomatoes or bread, they can pack those bags to the brim. They can handle it and I’m capable enough to lift them. The baggers seem shocked and uncomfortable filling the bags. They look at me with disbelief as I smile and nod as they put more and more groceries in the bag.

I look away, and come home with my bread in a plastic bag inside my reusable bag. They can’t seem to help themselves. Even with my reusable bags, I almost always come home with a plastic bag.

National Geographic is on my side too. They have a post about plastic grocery bags and the over-consumption of them. If you hate plastic bags as much as I do, visit one of my favorite sites, ReusableBags.com. They have a ton of options for bags, bottles and containers. My favorites are the Wrap-N-Mat sandwich wraps. They have replaced plastic sandwich bags in lunches for us.

Does this happen to you? Are you a bag junkie or do you try to reuse? How do I get my baggers to understand that I don’t want plastic bags at all. Ever. Yes, I’m a freak of nature and don’t want the bags. But really, I DON’T WANT THEM.

Maybe it was the lure of science and the science fair. Maybe it was the sinking feeling I had in my gut when the school told me due to budget cuts, the teachers would no longer be paid to run one. Maybe it was the thought that without me, the science fair wouldn’t exist this year.

Maybe I’m a sucker.

Yep. That’s it.

I’m now trying to plan a science fair that is set for March. I have no idea what I’m doing. I may be a planner. I may be organized. I may have a science background. But I don’t think I’m qualified.

My saving grace is that the science fair at the school does not judge the entries but instead encourages and supports the participation. I just need to get the students excited and motivated, help some with ideas of where to get started and set up tables. Hey, I can do this.

I found an amazing site Science Buddies. They have a ton of information on science fair, how to hold one, how to do a science fair project, project ideas and so much more. It also helps that I work for Steve Spangler Science. Lots of ideas and materials reside within the walls of where I find employment.

I have the time. Oh wait, I have less than two months to get the students moving and get to planning. Yikes.

I may be finding the learning in my own experiences. I plan to chronicle my experiences about the science fair on my blog. Check back and check on my sanity.

This year, learn how to do it and hope it doesn’t go to crap. Next year, bigger and better. Starting earlier. Doing the job right.

Next year. Bigger sucker. I think I just did it to myself.