Science Fair Project slides are due Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Engineering Fair Project slides are due  Thursday, February 8, 2024

5th graders must complete a Scientific Method Project 

6th graders must complete an Engineering Design Project 

7th graders may choose to complete a Scientific Method or Engineering Design Project 

C-STEM Fair Project Steps

1. Choose your project style: Science or Engineering. (For 2024 5th grade will do a Science Project and 6th will do an Engineering Project.  &th grade may choose.)

2. Decide if you will work alone or with a partner.

4. Choose your project focus (see resources or make up your own). 

5. Turn the project idea into an investigable question or problem.

6. Complete your Project Approval Form.

7. Start your project!

Science and Engineering Fair Resources:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-projects

https://sciencefaircentral.com/

https://www.teachengineering.org/populartopics/designprocess

https://sciencebob.com/science-fair-ideas/ideas/

https://www.sefmd.org/Resources/200%20Science%20Fair%20Project%20Ideas.pdf

Judging Rubric 

{as of Dec. 6, 2023}

*Team projects should show twice the work/effort.

Originality:  15 Points 

● Project appears student initiated and driven (5 points)

● Research idea is original, unique to the student (i.e not something you see at every science fair (5 points)

● Research idea is relevant (5 points)

Scientific Method OR Engineering Design: 40 Points 

Scientific Method 

● Hypothesis is clearly stated and researched (5 points)

● Procedure tested hypothesis (5 points)

● All variables were held constant that could be reasonably held constant using metric measurements (5 points)

● Enough trials were performed to be confident of results (10 points) 

● Variables were measured in as objective a way as possible (5 points)

● Procedure was not biased for or against any variable(s) (5 points)

● Conclusion drawn based on results (evidence) from procedure (5 points)

Engineering Design

● Engineering goal or problem is clearly stated (5 points)

● Initial prototype or method is described and based on research (5 points)

● Student performed sufficient rounds of designing, testing, adapting the design, testing again, etc...  (15 points)

● Robust set of tests were used to determine if goal is met or problem solved (10 points)

● Metric measurements were used throughout (5 points)

Communication: 45 Points 

● Display Board - information is grammatically correct,  visually appealing, well organized (10 points) 

● Project  notebook - organized and includes regular, thorough entries throughout project (5 points)

● Presentation - Student can give a good, 2-3 minutes summary of project without reading from display board (15 points) Both partners present in team projects. 

● Questions - Can answer judges questions knowledgeably (10 Points) Both partners present in team projects. 

● Posture - Makes eye contact {doesn't just read board}, maintains good posture, and appears presentable (5 points)

Interview Questions Judges May Ask

Students should be prepared for judges to ask questions such as:

• Can you tell me about your project?

• How did you come up with your project idea?

• What was your favorite part of your project?

• What was the hardest part (or most fun, or most exciting, or most surprising, etc.)?

• Can you explain this chart /picture to me?

• If you were going to do this project again, what might you do differently?

• Who helped you with your project?

• Who might want to know this information?

Past Sacred Heart C-STEM Fair Projects