A Science Fair 'How-To'

• Teacher announces the assignment and sets limits for projects: area of science (any area, or one of: life sciences, physical science computer science, engineering etc.); type of project (any type, or original experiments, innovations/inventions, or studies); work alone or with a partner; does this count as part of a science mark?
  
  
• Students start a logbook (handwritten day by day account of what they do, including rough notes of plans and data - not typed) with a section set aside for notes on background information, with references.
  
  
• Students identify their personal interests (I love skateboarding, horses, etc.), or describe a burning question (I have always wondered why/how...).
  
  
• Students brainstorm an assortment of possible projects related to their topic; teacher guides final selection of most promising question.
  
  
• Student does some background reading to see what is already known and well explained; that forms the basis for an original question.
  
  
• Student plans project.
  
  
• Student works on the project, doing ongoing background reading to fill in knowledge base as needed, to become “an expert” in the field; this might include contacting professional in the community who work in the area of interest.
  
  
• Student analyzes the results &/or data, including plotting graphs to display the results.
  
  
• Student puts together the presentation: 1) organises logbook 2) creates the backboard 3) prepares a 5 minute oral presentation.
  
  
• Students present projects in front of the class, and answer questions from peers.
  
  
• Teacher organises a classroom or school science fair during which all students stand by their work and show it proudly to other students in the school, families, staff.
  
  
• Teacher marks all projects and creates a “short list” of the best projects to be judged by outside, impartial judges (recommendation: no more than twice the allocated number, from which 8 (elementary), 14 (middle school) 14 (high school) projects are chosen to go to the district /regional fair).
  
  
• Judges interview the short-listed presenters, and select finalists to represent the school at the Fraser Valley Regional Science Fair.
  
  
• Teacher coaches these finalists, hands out information letters about setup etc.
  
  
• Teacher helps students set up projects on Tuesday afternoon.
  
  
• Teacher supervises taking down of displays on Thursday evening.
  
  
• School principal hands out ribbons at a school assembly, and announces in school newsletter.