Project Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

The Science Fair Committee is dedicated to providing a worthwhile, fun, and educational experience for everyone at the Science Fair. Plan your time so you can develop your project effectively and also have time to present it in a manner that clearly displays the results and the talent and energy that went into it.

What is a science fair project?

Outstanding science projects have one thing in common, and that is the creative thought and preparation that went into them. Scientific research is carried out following an established procedure known as the Scientific Method.

A science fair project follows the Scientific Method. A science fair project is different than a science experiment or engineering.

A science project has a hypothesis and variables. It will test multiple times to prove or disprove your hypothesis.

An experiment is conducted just to see what happens.

Engineers use the engineering design process to create solutions to problems.

Choosing and developing your science project

Choose to do your project on an aspect of science that really interests you. Select your project from one of these categories. Then narrow the subject down to a manageable topic for your research. Don't try to do too much. You should be able to state the purpose of your research as a simple question.

There are many places you can go for ideas:

• talk to your parents, teachers, or friends

• go to the library and browse through the many books about science and science fairs there

• do research on the Internet

Presenting your science project at the fair

The value of scientific investigation would be lost if it were not reported to others. At the Science Fair, you will report your project in the following way:

• by displaying an exhibit of your project and materials, and

• by telling the judges and visitors about your project.

The Science Fair judges will want to know all about your project and will be judging it on the basis of the Judging Criteria. The judges will take into account your age and experience and the resources available to you in their judgment.

Remember that you will be given table space of 36" wide and 30" deep. Your project must fit within this space.

Preparing Your Exhibit

Your display should be interesting and eye-catching. Use pictures and diagrams to illustrate your work on a poster display. Present your title prominently. Be sure to include the purpose of your project, your hypothesis, and the procedures followed as well as your results and conclusions. Take the time to develop an exhibit that is indicative of the effort you put into your research.

Samples, demonstrations, models, experimental equipment, etc. should also be exhibited where possible. These can be displayed on the table in front of your presentation board.

You will be allocated table space of 36 inches wide and 30 inches deep. You must ensure that your display will fit within this area and that it is properly secured.

The Science Fair will not provide any electronics such as TV's, computers, or fans. Participants are welcome to use their own equipment as part of their allotted display space. Please be sure to request access to AC power outlets in advance if needed.

Talking to the Judges

The judging of your exhibit will be informal and will provide you with the opportunity to speak with people who have special expertise and interest in your subject area. The judges are nice people, and talking to them about your exhibit can be fun. The judges may be able to share some of their ideas with you for use in future projects.

One or two judges will come and talk with you about your project at the designated time. Be sure to review Judging Criteria to review what information the judges are seeking. The most important considerations are:

• the depth of knowledge and understanding demonstrated by you in the subject matter of your project, and

• the use of the scientific method to conduct your project.

The scoresheets used by the judges for grades 5-8 place more weight on the comprehension of scientific method and overall knowledge of the project. Less weight will be placed on the basic mechanics of the project.

While your parents are welcome to watch the judging process, we do ask that they stand back and not participate in the process. The judges are interested in your knowledge of your experiment.

Projects by K-2 students are not subjected to the comprehensive evaluation and scoring procedure of higher grades. They are generally not judged in competition, the emphasis being on the learning experience.

Teamwork

You may develop your project on your own or in a team. Projects from Dickerson School (grades K-2) can have a maximum of three students, comprised of grade K-2 students. Projects from Bragg School (grades 3-5) can have a maximum of three students, comprised of grade 3-5 students. If team members are in different grades, the project will be judged at the highest grade level represented on the team. Projects from Black River Middle School (grades 6-8) can have a maximum of two students from the same grade.

In addition to working as a team, a degree of external guidance from teachers, parents, or other resource experts is appropriate and encouraged. Such guidance should be appropriately identified. Scores for student exhibits will not be downgraded as a result of external guidance. Rather, all projects will be evaluated based on the depth of knowledge and understanding demonstrated by the students and displayed by their exhibits during the judges' review.

Awards

All participants will receive a Science Fair ribbon in recognition of their hard work in carrying out and presenting their own science project.

All participants from grades K-2 will receive a participation award for starting out their scientific work so well at a young age.

Read our Awards Policy for more specific information.

Special Awards

Check here Special Awards for the most up-to-date list of Special Awards.

Day of the Fair

You must arrive at the Science Fair between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. This will assure that you have sufficient time to set up your project prior to judging.

Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or they will not be permitted to attend the Fair.

Your project will be given a table location and a judging time, and you must be at your exhibit at that time. All projects must be in place for judging and public exhibition at 10 am.

If your project is eligible for a Special Award you will be given notice of when that judging will take place. We try to schedule the Special Award judging as close to the regular Fair judging as possible.

Get started

If you have any questions about the Science Fair or your participation in it, your Science Fair representatives will be happy to help you.