1. Presented by the Sacramento Regional STEM Fair Foundation
Why STEM?
Presented by the Sacramento Regional STEM Fair Foundation

2. STEM is…
Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics

3. Why STEM? STEM is all around you!
From your iPhone (Technology) to your allergy medicine (Science) that you take to get to school - Sacramento’s Tower Bridge (Engineering) to your parents budgeting for groceries for dinner (Math), STEM is a part of everyday life!

4. What is a STEM project?
A STEM project is starts with a question or a problem to solve.
The question or problem can concern any topic area – buildings, energy, environment, animal health, coding, etc…
You want to be sure to choose something YOU are interested in – it makes projects more fun!

5. Traditional steps to complete your project
Ask a Question
Do Background Research
Construct a Hypothesis
Test with an Experiment
Analyze Data
Communicate Results

6. Example of the development of a STEM project
A student lives in a house with a whole house fan.
Simple definition: “A whole-house fan is a type of fan designed to circulate air. It pulls air out of a home and forces it into the attic space.”
The student is in charge of taking the temperature readings from outside the house and from inside the house at different points in time to see when the best time would be to turn on the fan.
The student turns on the fan and opens the windows to the home when the temperature outside is lower than that inside the home.
The whole-house fan cools the home by pulling the hot air from the home into the attic and allowing the cooler outside air in.

7. Example of the development of a STEM project
Problem: The student in question is tired of having to check the temperatures, open all the windows and turn on the fan.
Solution: The student designs a model house with a whole-house fan & programs an Arduino redboard to automate the whole-house fan.
And there you have it! An Engineering Project!

8. Explanation of student’s STEM project
The student in the story took a “simple” problem that they faced during the summer – they didn’t want to have to run around opening and closing windows!
STEM project development can be that easy!
What can you think of in your life that would work as a great project?

9. WHERE TO DO A RESEARCH PROJECT?
Home
School
College or University
Public or Private Labs
Industrial Center
Medical Center
Field Study

10. STEM project Resources
Sacramento Regional STEM Fair
Science Buddies
Science Fair Project Resource
Topic Selection Wizard
Steps of the Scientific Method
Ask an Expert
Non-profit

11. Sacramento Regional STEM Fair
Please check the website:
We hope that you will enter your STEM project into the regional competition.

12. WHO CAN ENTER You! Any student in grades 6 through 12
Students can enter in teams of 3 in 17+ STEM categories!

13. SUGGESTED PROJECT TIMELINE
December: Brainstorm and refine your project idea.
Right before Winter Break: Finalize the project topic.
Winter Break: Complete research portion, finalize procedures, complete Synopsys Sacramento Regional STEM Fair online registration.

14. SUGGESTED PROJECT TIMELINE
January: Begin experimentation, collect data and record in data book.
February – March: Complete experimentation, record data, write conclusions, design graphs, revamp abstract, and design board.

15. SUGGESTED PROJECT TIMELINE
March/April (Friday before Fair): Set up your project for preview night.
March/April (Date of Fair): Student Orientation at 8AM, judging to follow. Attend workshops, College and Career Hands on Event, and panel events throughout the day. Enter the raffle for prizes!
March/April (Date of Fair): Award Ceremony begins in the evening.

16. Teacher / Student Guidelines
Start with an open-ended question or demonstration
Gather responses and subsequent questions from students with little comment or direction
Require students to collaborate on designing experiments or methods of inquiry
Student teams conduct experiments or gather data

17. Teacher / Student Guidelines
If time allows, re-evaluate question based on new data and re-experiment or collect new data based on revised question
Students present findings as an oral presentation, a poster presentation or an evaluative write-up

18. OTHER STEM COMPETITIONS
Intel International Science & Engineering Fair
Intel-Science Talent Search (STS)
Society for Science and the Public Middle School Program
Junior Science & Humanities Symposium
Discovery Education / 3M Young Scientist Challenge
More information can be found on our website at:

19. Contact Us! Questions or Comments: By Phone: (916) 441-3150By