Full STEAM ahead!
Projects must be student driven.
Project ideas should come from the students, and the project should be driven by them. Parents should use their best judgment in deciding when to get involved, such as when an experiment could be unsafe. For especially young kids, parents may provide some guidance, but it is important that the kids be able to call the project their own. The Science Fair rules outline the specifics and expectations of each science project. Acknowledgements should be displayed on the board outlining which portions of the project received help from an adult. Additional optional details can be found in the full guidebook here.
One or two students per project.
You may work on your project independently, or you may pair up with one partner who is also a student at Valentine; for example, a classmate or a sibling. When partners are in different grades, the project will be judged with the oldest grade. Maximum of 2 students per project.
Where do I start?
When it comes to choosing a topic, the sky is the limit! There are lots of books in the Crowell Public Library or online with ideas for projects. Choose a WHY question, and then do some research on that topic. Please look at the judging criteria for the elements required by the project. You will need ask a specific question, then follow the Scientific Method. Attached are some helpful tips to get you started.
Judging and awards.
The science fair projects will be scored by objective judges on the afternoon of January 24th. The award categories are: Best in Show, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place (per grade). The winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m on January 24th. The Student's Choice Award will be chosen by the Valentine students during the classroom viewing on 1/25. Each student will receive one sticker and, when viewing the projects during school with their class, will place their sticker on a sheet in front of one project. The project with the most tickets will win this coveted award. Every science fair participant will be rewarded with a ribbon and a certificate. Only projects following each step of the scientific method will receive maximum points during judging. The judging criteria assures that the scientific method was followed step-by-step during the science project's execution.
Submit your photos!
We want to show off how much work our little scientists put into these projects! Submitted pictures of kids executing their projects will be posted on the website and shared as a slide show during the Fair! So parents -- while your young scientist is busy conducting that wild experiment, sneak out your digital camera and capture some shots. Then upload them here by January 20, so we can include them in the slide show.
Volunteers needed!
A big event like the Science Fair would not be possible without the help of numerous volunteers. We need help with setup, cleanup, and judging! If you can spare your time, please contact Daphne Stewart, daphstewart@yahoo.com, to sign up.
Important Dates
All scientists wishing to display a project at the Science Fair must register in advance through this online form.
The final registration deadline is January 17, 2018. Display boards are due in the Valentine Little Theater on January 24, 2018 by 8:30 a.m.
Family viewing will be at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Award Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Classroom viewing will take place the next day, January 25th. We ask that all projects be retrieved by the end of the day.
Who Wins the Science Fair?
Students presenting creative projects of their own execution that follow each step of the scientific method (click on the tab above to learn about this) will receive the highest scores. Projects are scored for each of the required components (see Scientific Method). Students must do their own work (Kindergarten handwriting encouraged), and will hopefully have lots of fun (if you had fun, you won!) Now, get experimenting! We can't wait to see your results!
Remember, results, even those indicating a failed experiment are a success. Bring your board no matter the outcome.
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