OUSD Science & Engineering Fair (OSEF)
OSEF Planning Resources
A great place to start when planning your Science Fair is to go through the prompts on the 2022 OUSD Science Fair Guidelines.
OSEF coordinators, here is the 2022 OSEF Coordinator Checklist.
Check out these Planning Resources curated by OUSD Teachers that include scientific inquiry lessons, lists of Science Fair questions, Rubrics to assess and judge projects, templates and tips for designing Science Fair posters and displays and more!
Have a great Science Fair resource to share? Fill out the Science Fair Resource Share Form and your work will be uploaded into the resource folder.
Don't hesitate to reach out to the Science Team for support - contact Sarah at raquel.jones@ousd.org.
Additional Resources:
Examples of Winning Science Fair Projects:
Sources for Materials
Synopsys Outreach Foundation - provides free Science Project Packets!
The 2021 Virtual OSEF was a blast!
390 Projects were submitted!
Over 600 students participated!
56 scientists/engineers judged projects!
2020 Virtual OSEF
107 Projects!
166 students!
55 scientists/engineers !
View last years projects using the spreadsheet below!
2019 OUSD K-12 Science Fair
The 2019 OUSD K-12 Science Fair took place on May 6-8 at the Chabot Space & Science Center.
Event Pictures by Rattana Yeang
Poster designed by Caleb Cheung and local artist and OUSD parent Stephanie Law. Check out more of Stephanie Law's art work on her website: shadowscapes.com
Participating Schools
Bella Vista Elementary • Bridges Academy • Brookfield Elementary • Chabot Elementary • Coliseum College Prep Academy • Crocker Highlands Elementary • Edna Brewer Middle School • Franklin Elementary School • Glenview Elementary • Global Family School • Greenleaf Elementary • Hillcrest Elementary • Hoover Elementary • Howard Elementary • International Community Elementary • Joaquin Miller Elementary • Kaiser Elementary • Life Academy • Manzanita Community School • Montclair Elementary • Piedmont Avenue Elementary • Prescott Elementary • Sequoia Elementary School • Think College Now • Thornhill Elementary • Westlake Middle School
Supporting Organizations
Chabot Space & Science Center • Alameda County Public Health, Nutrition Services • Community Resources for Science • KIDS for the BAY • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • Shark Stewards • Strategic Energy Innovations
Please note that the District Science Fair features top projects from school site fairs. The District event is not judged. All participating projects will receive a custom certificate, medal, and ribbon.
2018 OUSD K-12 Science Fair
The 2018 OUSD K-12 Science Fair took place on May 21-23 at the Chabot Space & Science Center.
Event Pictures by Caleb Cheung
Poster by Caleb Cheung
Participating Schools
Allendale Elementary • Bella Vista Elementary • Bret Harte Middle School • Bridges @ Melrose • Brookfield Elementary • Bunche Academy • Chabot Elementary • Coliseum College Prep Academy • Crocker Highlands Elementary • Edna Brewer Middle School • Esperanza Elementary • Franklin Elementary • Fruitvale Elementary • Glenview Elementary • Global Family Elementary • Hillcrest Elementary • Hoover Elementary • Howard Elementary • International Community School • Joaquin Miller Elementary • Kaiser Elementary • Laurel Elementary • Madison Park Business & Art Academy • Manzanita Community School • Markham Elementary • Melrose Leadership Academy • Montclair Elementary • New Highland Elementary • Piedmont Elementary • PLACE @ Prescott • Redwood Heights Elementary • RISE Community School • Sequoia Elementary • Think College Now • Thornhill Elementary • United for Success • Westlake Middle School
Supporting Organizations
Chabot Space & Science Center • Community Resources for Science • East Bay Regional Park •Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • Oakland Zoo
Please note that the District Science Fair features top projects from school site fairs. The District event is not judged. All participating projects will receive a custom certificate, medal, and ribbon.
2017 OUSD K-12 Science Fair
The 2017 OUSD K-12 Science Fair took place on May 15-17 at the Chabot Space & Science Center. 33 schools participated and submitted 190 projects. The evening celebration featured activities from 11 partner organizations.
Event Pictures by Caleb Cheung
Poster by Caleb Cheung
Participating Schools
Bella Vista, Bridges Academy, Brookfield Elementary, Burckhalter Elementary, Carl Munck Elementary, Chabot Elementary, Coliseum College Prep Academy , Crocker Highlands Elementary, Edna Brewer Middle School, EnCompass Academy, Franklin Elementary, Futures Elementary, Glenview Elementary, Global Family Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Howard Elementary, International Community School, Joaquin Miller Elementary, Kaiser Elementary, Laurel Elementary, Manzanita Community School, Markham Elementary, Montclair Elementary, Parker Elementary, Piedmont Avenue Elementary, PLACE at Prescott, Redwood Heights Elementary, RISE Community School, Sankofa Academy, Sequoia Elementary, Think College Now, Thornhill Elementary, Westlake Middle School
Supporting Organizations
Berkeley Lab, Chabot Space & Science Center, Community Resources for Science, East Bay Agency for Children , East Bay Regional Park, KIDS for the BAY, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Zoo, OUSD Nutrition Services, Shark Stewards, UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
Please note that the District Science Fair features top projects from school site fairs. The District event is not judged. All participating projects will receive a custom certificate, medal, and ribbon.
Alameda County Science & Engineering Fair
Students and teachers who are interested in entering higher level regional competition can sign up for the Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair every March. Please note that this event is independent of participation in the OUSD Science Fair.