Science Fair Success A Five Step Guide To Making Science Fair An Enjoyable Experience Science Fair An Enjoyable Experience For Teachers, Students, and Families For Teachers, Students, and Families

Purpose of Science Fair Problem Solving Student use the scientific method to make predictions, then experiment to collect and record qualitative and quantitative data observations. Critical Thinking Student compare, contrast and analyze their data citing the evidence that justifies their claims, explanations and conclusions.

Math and Science Fair 3-5 Benchmarks SC.3-5.N.1.1 SC.3-5.N.1.3 SC.3-5.N.1-5 SC.3-4.N.1.7 SC.3-5.N.1.2 SC.3.5.N.1.4 SC.3-5.N.1.6 SC.4.N.1.8

Five Steps to Science Fair Success

1. Model The Process  Present the scientific method of inquiry as the process for elementary math or science fair investigation.  Focus on the steps involved in completing a math or science fair project board.  Give students and parents a sample of what a completed science fair project should look like.  Unite all participants in the same situations with the same expectations.

Sink or Float School Model

3-5 Surf and Sand TE

3-5 Surf and Sand PE

3-5 Surf and Sand

3-5 Surf and Sand TE

K-2 Surf and Sand

2. Parent Involvement Explain the purpose, expectations, and student’s responsibilities in the school fair. Give families a calendar with assignments, due dates, and a schedule of fair events. Outline the limits of family involvement. Provide families with instruction and guidelines to help their children. Give families the project board criteria and explain how students qualify for the District fair.

3. Help Your Students 1) Take time to complete Inquiry Think Sheets after every class investigation. 2) Help the students select a “testable” project ideas and discuss project topics. 3) Have students write a draft of their procedure. 4) Check project procedures for safety. 5) Teach students the process and critical thinking skills they need to complete their projects. 6) Provide instructional and material support to students as needed and monitor their progress.

Special Awards 1. Aviation sponsored by Flight Safety International. Grade 3-5, individual math or science projects about Flight or Flight Safety. 2. Green Projects, sponsored by the P.B.C. Science Educators’ Association. Grade 3-5, individual math or science projects about reducing, reusing, or recycling waste materials. 3. Physical Science Engineering, sponsored by Up-N- Running Machinery, Inc. K-5 individual projects involving original designs or engineering. 4. Energy Award, sponsored by Florida Power & Light. K-5 individual projects about energy or energy conservation.

Use Words Properly Effect (noun) – describes a result, as in “the cause and the effect in an investigation or experiment. Affect (verb) – describes an influence on or action, such as “How greenhouse gases affects global warming.” Investigation - a procedure carried out to gather data about and object or event. Experiment – a procedure carried out under controlled conditions to test a hypothesis. variable – any factor that changes condition in an experiment (like size -large or small, or temperature, hot or cold) control – a factor stays the same or is keep the same throughout all the experimental trials.

4. K eep It S afe, S imple 1.Predict what you think will happen (hypothesis). 2.Identify the experimental variables and controls. 3.Get your procedure approved before starting. 4.Use science tools, take measurements, make careful qualitative and quantitative observations. 5.Use your notebook to record all data. 6.Repeat your entire experiment 3 times. 7.Graph any data to compare and contrast results. 8.Use claims and evidence to write your conclusions. 9.Write your project up on a presentation board.

5. Celebrate Your Success!  Hold a school fair.  Invite judges from the community.  Use the handbook judging form.  Reward the best projects with ribbons.  Acknowledge all participants with certificates.  Register school winners in the District Fair.  Plan a field trip to the District Science Fair.  Sponsor an Activity Table at the Fair.

DON’T FORGET!  Plan ahead and schedule your School Science Fair before April 5, 2013, so your winning students can participate in the District Fair.  Read the 2013 Handbook and Regulations carefully and use the same judging criteria in your School Fair that is used in the District Fair.  Complete your “Intent to Participate” online survey to register your school by February 1, host an Activity Table, or plan a Field Trip to the District Fair.

The Palm Beach County School District’s Elementary Mathematics and Science Fair

Talk About The Fair HISTORY  The first Elementary Math Fair in Palm Beach County began in November, 1988 at the Old Wellington Commons Mall. 7 Elementary schools participated from the western area schools. Every year the number of participating schools increased.  In 1997, the Fair out grew the Wellington Mall and moved to the South Florida Fairgrounds and became the District Mathematics Fair.  In 2001, both the math and the science curriculum program planners united to include science in the District Elementary Fair Competition.

Bibliography Science Fair Handbook by Anthony D. Fredericks and Isaac Asimov. Old Year Books, Glenview, IL. ISBN X Science Fair Handbook by Stephen C. Blume. Merrill Publishing, Columbus, OH. ISBN X Science Fair Workshop by Marcia J. Daab. Fearon Teachers Aids, Simon & Schuster Supplemental Education Group. ISBN Science Fairs Plus an NSTA Press Journals Collection. NSTA Press, Arlington, VAISBN Researched and Complied by Tom Medcalf, K-5 Science Resource Teacher Curriculum Development and School Improvement, of the Palm Beach County School District. West Palm Beach, FL.

SC.(3, 4 & 5).N.1.1 Raise questions, conduct individual inquiry through systematic investigations, and then generate appropriate explanations based on the investigations.

SC.(3.4.5).N.1.2 Using the five senses, make careful observations and describe objects in terms of their qualities and quantities (i.e., shape, size, weight, color, texture and motion). [Moderate]

SC.(3, 4 & 5).N.1.3 Keep written records, charts and graphs of investigations you conduct.

SC.(3, 4 & 5).N.1.4 Recognize the importance of communication among scientists, identifying variable and control groups, and provide reasonable answers by citing evidence as support.

SC.(3, 4 & 5).N.1.5 Recognize that scientists question, discuss and check each others evidence and explanations.

SC.(3, 4 & 5).N.1.6 Distinguish the difference between observations and inferences, and personal opinions and verified evidence.

SC.(3 and 4).N.1.7 Explain that empirical evidence is based on observation and measurement and is used to validate experimental conclusions.

SC.4.N.1.8 Recognize that science involves creativity in design and experiments.