1. Helping Your Child Prepare for Science Fair

2. WHY HAVE A SCIENCE FAIR?
The purpose of science fair is to give students an opportunity to “think like a scientist” and to put together all of the scientific process and inquiry skills they’ve been working on in the classroom.
Science Fair also helps students with time management and completion of a task.

3. Who May Enter?
Students in grades 4-5 MUST create a science fair project; students in K-3 will conduct a class project but may also be a participant in the Science Fair if they choose to conduct their own Group projects will compete with individual projects and will not be judged separately. Siblings or friends may work on a group project together, but the project must be entered in the grade level of the oldest sibling or group member.

4. Know the Deadline Dates
4th- 5th grade-Projects due Feb 28th to teachers
Projects will be judged March 2nd-3rd for Science Fair
Science Fair will be held on March 7 along with Open House

5. HOW PARENTS MAY HELP The key is to start with a good question.
Choosing a topic is perhaps the most important step in a science project. Together, you and your child(ren) can think, imagine, dream and wonder about the world around you.
Write down several topics to think about for the next few days. Discuss with your child the difficulty of the project, whether it requires a technical knowledge or equipment that he/she can’t acquire and the expense of necessary equipment and materials, but please let the choice be his or hers.
Help him/her write the precise question to be answered and how he/she intends to find the answer.

6. HOW PARENTS MAY HELP
Maintain your enthusiasm. Your excitement about the project is contagious and will keep your child going. Let him/her know that you think the project has value.
Help locate materials and resources. You don’t need to spend a lot of money for your child’s science fair project to be spectacular.
One idea sparks another. Gently remind him/her to stick with the exact question under investigation.
REMEMBER: This is your child’s project, so let them take control.

7. Science Fair Categories
Earth Science
Life Science
Physical Science
Engineering
Where do your child’s interest lie?

8. FOLLOW THE SAFETY RULES
Projects not following the Safety Rules will be eliminated from any competition, but still graded in the classroom.
No projects testing mold or bacterial growth
No projects harming any organism
No projects with toxic chemicals

9. Finishing Touches
Once the investigation has been completed, parents can help by working with your child to change data from pencil/paper to an electronic format such as a table or graph.
Neatness counts. Check spelling, punctuation, placement on the board, neat attachments, etc.
You can also help with the organization of the display board.

10. FINALLY… Be sure to follow the DISPLAY RULES
No pictures of faces or identifying elements
No names on board or in notebook
No liquids including water, Earth materials, food or food wrappers on the board
Take lots of pictures - if possible, do not display your model or leave any items other than the lab journal

19. Questions?
Comments?
Concerns?