Dear Parents:
This year, the JA Science Fair theme is "Science Is Everywhere!" This is an excellent opportunity for students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades to look around them and notice the science in their everyday life. To enrich and apply their learning, we hope your child will use the scientific method to conduct an experiment about a phenomenon he or she sees and wonders about. The question can be ANYTHING your child wonders about - from how does the television work to how snow forms to why we use toothpaste!
This year's kickoff assembly was held on Monday, February 9. During the assembly, we talked about the physics of the Olympics. Below is a 5-minute video we watched about this. We also did an experiment with balloon rockets; seeing which elements made the fast rocket. There are many other videos by the same reporter about the science of the Olympics if you're interested!
During the assembly, we also talked about how hypotheses are often wrong and how outcomes can be very different than expected. This is all science. Please do not feel pressure to create a project that "works." The only goals are to foster your child's curiosity and introduce them to scientific thinking.
Below, please also find a flier detailing the dates and rules! This flier came home with your student and will be in the Friday ParentSquare newsletter, too. You can also view last year's assembly and materials below.
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The science fair will be held in person at JA cafeteria and gym on Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 6:00-7:00pm. Projects should be brought to the fair to be set-up at 5:30pm. Upon arrival, you'll pick up a blue, green, or red raffle ticket and proceed to set up your project at any available table.
When we announce it, red ticket holders will rotate through projects first - for about 20 minutes; blue ticket holders will rotate through projects second - for about 20 minutes; and last but not least, green ticket holders will rotate for the last 20 minutes.
If your child chooses, they can complete the raffle ticket prompt: "Something I l learned is..." and enter the ticket in the box by the entrance. The raffle winner will win 2 tickets to Seabreeze for the 2026 season (to study physics, obviously...). The winner will be announced the following week. Everyone will receive a JA Scientist sweatband for participating. Projects will be taken home immediately afterward.
If you need help or have any questions about the science fair, please contact Lillian Riley at riley.lillian@gmail.com. (If you don't hear back from me by the next day, I missed it, so please send me another message!)
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Jefferson Avenue PTA
Lillian Riley
Science Fair Chairperson
