North Beach Elementary School had its science fair on Friday, March 14 and almost a hundred students participated.

Actual scientists in the community, including a physicist, a chemistry teacher and the medical examiner of Snohomish County, judged the third- through fifth-grade projects.

The science fair is a big deal in our house.

For a couple of years, I chaired the science fair at North Beach. My twin sons, Kirby and Patrick, have participated in each of their years at North Beach - making a baking-soda-and-vinegar volcano in the first grade, blowing up effervescent tablets in the fourth grade.

They are in the fifth grade this year, and last Friday they won first place in their grade with a project demonstrating differing forces with ropes and pulleys.

Watching and helping my children prepare and present their science fair project made me reminisce about doing science fairs when I was a kid.

I was a science fair geek. I loved dreaming up an original project, gathering materials, doing the experiment, designing and making the display board, practicing my presentation and competing before the judges on the Big Night.

In the 12th grade, I won my category and got to go to the county science fair. My friend Jeanne did too.

I was more of a physics and math person. She was more of an animal science and biology type. My project was called "Toy Boat, Toy Boat, It Sails Upwind." Hers involved training rats to do something.

The Prince Georges County Science Fair was held at Cole Field House on the campus of the University of Maryland. Jeanne and I soaked it up, circling the projects, watching other kids present and perform. We stood by our own projects and gave our presentations again and again to fellow students, parents, the judges and other visitors.

At the awards ceremony, we held our breath. I won second place in my category. Jeanne did well enough to go to the state and then the national science fair!

The girl who won the grand prize did a project where she trained slugs. As a kid who lived in the D.C. area, I had never even seen a slug. She had to order them especially for her project.

Now that I live in Seattle, I see slugs all the time. Every time I see one, I think of that girl who won the grand prize in the science fair when I was in high school.

I won at science fairs not just on the strength of my science, but also because I was a good presenter. I loved finding the right way to describe my project, tossing in a joke every now and then, adding that bit of show biz to the science.

Doing a science fair is part scientist, part carnival barker.

Thinking back on these events, I realized this is what I do for a living now. I'm a TV meteorologist. I research and forecast the weather, build graphics and then do an oral presentation on camera for our viewers. I am a professional science fair presenter! Who knew that all my science fair experience would lead to this?

Best wishes to all kids doing science fair projects this year!

A quick note to grown-ups - A review of the Washington State Science Standards is currently being conducted by the Washington State Board of Education. To learn more, go to the State Board of Education website: www.sbe.wa.gov.

M.J. McDermott is the mother of two North Beach Elementary students and meteorologist for Q13 FOX News This Morning and can be reached via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com.