What is a science fair?

A science fair is a competitive event in which students take part in a scientific investigation, and present their findings. Some events require students to present in the form of a display board or slideshow presentation, others require an oral presentation as well. GSA students are invited to take part in the following competitions: the GSA Middle/High School Science Fair, the GSA district fair, the St. Louis Regional Science Fair, and Concept Schools Science and Engineering Fair (CONSEF).

Will the project be counted as a grade?

Yes. For sixth grade, the Unit 2 project has been set aside so that we can focus on the Science Fair project this quarter. The science fair project will make up their unit project.

Will any of the project be done in class?

Yes. During 2nd quarter, the all-virtual day (Wednesdays) will be dedicated to discussing the project and checking in on student progress. However, as these classes are shorter than typical classes, families should plan to do the majority of the research, experiment work, and design during the afternoon and evening hours.

Do the projects need to be about any particular topic or branch of science?

No! Students are free to pick a topic that interests them. If you're stuck thinking of a good idea, I recommend visiting www.sciencebuddies.org and clicking on 'Science Fair Projects'. They offer a 'Topic Selection Wizard' that can help narrow down some choices based on your students' preferences and interests.

Do we need any special equipment to create a project?

Not necessarily. Many projects can be created using common household materials. If you do need something special that you cannot obtain any other way, e-mail me at jhartley@gsastl.org and we will do our best to help!

Are any projects NOT allowed?

Each fair has its own set of requirements and guidelines, which can be referenced in the manuals above. However, some guidelines that are worth keeping in mind include:

• No aspect of the experiment or project should cause harm to any human or animal (including invertebrates like insects and worms).

• Any humans involved in behavioral or survey projects should be aware they are taking part in a project and provide permission in writing. (In most cases, specific forms must be completed for this.) Experiments may not explore the effects of bullying, depression, anxiety, or other aspects of mental health.

• Projects should not involve the following: bacteria, mold, viruses, hazardous substances, controlled substances, open flames, or explosives.

Does the project need to involve an experiment?

No! Students can do a research review if they prefer. Students who are passionate about topics like drug abuse, bullying, infectious agents (such as COVID-19), etc. are encouraged to consider a research paper, as these topics are prohibited for experiments. Specific guidelines for research review papers that can be found in the CONSEF manual and on the Academy of Science St. Louis website listed above. (Please note, though, that as most students do complete experiments, the class time will be spent focused on experiment design. )

What about a model or demonstration?

Models (like baking soda volcanoes) or demonstrations (one-time phenomena, like a Mentos+Diet Coke fountain) are not permitted. However, students CAN create these if they are using them to compare different conditions. (For example: a student could create Volcanoes of different designs to observe how the baking soda 'lava' flows under different circumstances, or see if Mentos react similarly with different brands of diet cola.)

How about an invention?

Yes! Inventions are encouraged. However, be aware that:

• The invention should be designed to solve/help with a real-world problem, and

• Tests should be performed in an Experiment format to determine its effectiveness.

When are the science fair events?

The school and district fairs are currently being scheduled, but they will most likely be held in January or February of 2021. The St. Louis Regional fair and CONSEF will be held in late April.

Are students required to participate in all four fairs?

No. Students ARE required to complete a project. Entering any - or all - of the science fairs available is optional. Some students who receive awards at the school and district level will be encouraged to enter into the regional fair or CONSEF, but this is still optional.

Will we need to make a display board this year?

No. This year all fairs will be "Virtual". In lieu of a display board, students will create a digital slideshow in Google Slides or Powerpoint to showcase their research, experiment, data and conclusions. This slideshow will be uploaded with their registration and judged digitally.

Will students be expected to give oral presentations this year?

Currently, our understanding is that due to COVID-19, the fair judging will only involve the submitted slideshow.

Will a separate project need to be created for each fair?

No. They can create one project and enter it in all four fairs.