Science Projects… What’s Your SOP?!

I was just wondering as most schools are coming up on the time of the year that we begin the 2 month long process of science projects and really focusing on the scientific method as a guide for the students, how the rest of us educators handle this large daunting task?!

Do you let the students pick their own project topics? make them pick from a list?

How involved are the parents in this project with the teacher?

Overall do you think the students glean a better understanding for the scientific process after this project?

Anything that stands out concerning this topic… let me hear what you have to say =).