Science Fair Information
If you are planning to do a science fair project, need some forms for your project, want some ideas for your project, need to know important science fair dates or need some tips on preparing your project, this is the place to be. See below.
Here are some links to important science fair information:
Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair Website
New CASEF Website for Registering Projects
Science Fair Central (a resource for everything science fair)
CASEF 2016
Pia Alderman represents Trinity High School at the International Science and Engineering Fair!
2016 CASEF Awards Summary
* Award includes the opportunity to compete for further awards.
Pia Alderman, CASEF Grand Champion, accepts her award trophy
Kim Dudding, Grand Champion Nominee, poses with her project display at CASEF
2017 CASEF Awards Summary
Check out my son, Victor, measuring the speed of sound using a tuning fork and a resonance tube. He was looking at how temperature affects the speed of sound.
Now, let me try to answer your questions about the science fair:
1. Why should I do a science fair project?
Doing a science fair project gives you experience with scientific inquiry, technical writing and data analysis. Presenting your project for the regional science fair allows you to explain and defend your research. You also have the opportunity to win category and special awards. Competing at the regional level of the science fair is an excellent addition to your resume and to college applications. Also, the science fair meets project requirements for your science class and there may be additional benefits, depending on your science teacher.
For any of my students who volunteer to prepare a science fair project:
You will not need to prepare an end of year project or report for chemistry class.
The grade you receive on the science fair project will be used for your project grade for the year.
As a thank you for participating in the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, you will have the added benefit of being able to drop your low test grades in the third and fourth marking periods.
2. How do I go about doing a science fair project?
Begin by choosing a topic to investigate.
Discuss it with me or with your science teacher to help in developing a research plan. I will assign you a sponsor to assist with the science for your project. Your sponsor must approve your research plan before you begin!!
Keep a data journal of your research, ideas and all of your data. The data journal is required.
Find out what kind of paperwork is needed to get your project approved.
Plan the details of how and where you will do your experiment. Include what data you plan to take and how you plan to analyze that data.
Discuss safety and procurement of any needed supplies with your sponsor.
Do the experiment. Leave plenty of time for this. It usually takes longer than you think it will.
Once you have performed your experiment, prepare a project report according to the guidelines and examples below.
Then, prepare a project display board to highlight your work. There are several photos of previous boards below.
Finally, bring your report, display board and data journal to school on the day of the science fair. All three are required.
These links can help you in planning your project:
Nine Steps to a Successful Science Fair Project
Guidelines for Writing a Science Fair Report
Tips for Keeping a Project Data Journal
3. How well do Trinity students do at CASEF?
Each year about 12 to 16 students get to present their projects at the regional science fair. Trinity students have competed in a variety of categories at CASEF and have won numerous category and special awards. Seniors who participate receive scholarships for their years of participation. In 2016 we also had a grand champion. The results for the last five years are presented in the links below.
Trinity Projects on Display at CASEF 2012
4. Do you have any project ideas or examples I could see?
Here are some project Idea websites:
Education.com - High School Science Projects
About.com - High School Science Fair Projects
Here are some examples of student reports that all received first place awards at CASEF:
A Random Walk Through the Stock Market
Significant Factors in the Dye Absorption Process
Is Your Water Eating Your Pipes?
The Chemical Kinetics of Bleaching Dyes
Also, there are years of CASEF award ceremony programs that list all student projects by title.
5. How are judging projects and grading projects different?
Your project may be both judged and graded. These are different things.
The judging happens on the day of the science fair when two different science professionals assess your project according to the 100 point judging sheet shown below. The 100 points are divided among scientific inquiry (40 pts), creativity (10 pts), the data journal (15 pts), the presentation board (20 pts) and skill/effort (15 pts). Judges scores are averaged and used to assign placement for the project (1st, 2nd, 3rd, HM) in the science fair.
The grading of your project is done by your science teacher and is used to assign a grade for your science project for the year. The grading rubric below is often used for this purpose. It is also a 100-point scale that assigns 20 points to the project display board and the other 80 points to the typed project report.
Your project grade has nothing to do with your judging placement and both are assigned by different people. It is entirely possible to have a project score poorly with judges and still receive a grade of "A" by your science teacher who knows what work you did in preparing the project.
It is a good idea to look at both rubrics to see how your project will be assessed:
