UPDATE 3/12/20: Events cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com The USA Science & Engineering Festival, which bills itself as the largest event of its kind in the United States, kicked off in 2010. Ten years later, we've got some updates, and they are of the "good news, bad news" (and yet more good news) kind. First, the good news: the biennial two-day expo happens on the even-numbered years, which Continue Reading...
Get hands-on learning and fun at free K-12 STEM Symposium
If you missed the big USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC, last week, don't fret: another fun, free educational opportunity comes this week, and this time closer to home. WashingtonExec's fifth annual K-12 STEM Symposium is this Saturday, April 14, 2018, at The Nysmith School in Herndon, Virginia. The event, from 9 am to 3 pm, is the largest event dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Continue Reading...
USA Science & Engineering Festival – preview and useful tips
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com It's back! The huge and hugely popular USA Science and Engineering Festival takes place every two years, and it returns soon to the Washington, DC Convention Center. The festival, the largest one celebrating science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the United States, is a major event that features researchers, academics, and celebrities. Best of all, it's fun, it's free, there's much to see, Continue Reading...
Celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day
By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun It's almost here: Read Across America Day is on March 2! This annual celebration began in 1997 when, as the National Education Association explains, "a small reading task force at NEA came up with a big idea: 'Let's create a day to celebrate reading,' the group decided.' We hold pep rallies to get kids excited about football. We assemble to remember that Character Counts. Why don't we do something to get Continue Reading...
Fairfax County hosts free summer meals program for kids
School is out, and while that is cause for celebration for many children, it's also a source of worry for some families: approximately 20 percent of Fairfax County students receive free and reduced price meals during the school year, which means when summer ends, so does a reliable food source. But each year the Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Food and Nutrition Services helps. Its Free Summer Meals for Kids Program helps ensure that Continue Reading...
STEM fun rules at Maker Faire NoVa
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Who didn't love "show and tell" as a kid? If you especially liked presentations that involved something someone conceived and created, you'll love the grown-up version of show-and-tell: the Maker Faire that returns to Northern Virginia later this month. Whether it involves technology or textiles, computers or crafts, if it's something you can think of and something you can make you probably will find it Continue Reading...
20 easy ways to celebrate back to school
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com I know, I know... who wants to think about going back to school, when summer is in full swing? Although Fairfax County Public Schools students won't begin another academic year for a few more weeks, the start of another school year always seems to be a hectic time. Whether it's an exciting, scary, or ordinary time of year for you and your kids, each back-to-school time brings a chance to create new Continue Reading...
How to host a kindergarten graduation
Disclosure: This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Some links here are affiliate links to Amazon and other sites, meaning this site receives a small commission from any purchases you make when using those links. By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com It's June, which for Continue Reading...
Yes, we hosted a kindergarten graduation …here’s why
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com First things first: I am aware that by the title of this post alone, some of you may already be rolling your eyes. If so, this post is for you, to hopefully better help you understand why some parents DO celebrate a kindergarten "graduation." If you already like the idea of such a celebration, this post is of course for you, too. Don't miss our link at the end for ideas for a do-it-yourself kindergarten Continue Reading...
Summer reading programs in Northern Virginia
By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com Teachers often lament how unprepared some children are at the start of a school new year if they have not been keeping up with studying over the summer. But you can help give your child a successful start next fall with the help of summer reading programs. These programs offered by local libraries, bookstores, and businesses in Northern Virginia provide a fun way to keep kids reading during the summer. Continue Reading...
