ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS AND

SCIENCE FAIR COORDINATORS MEETING

Plan now for 2014 District FairPlan now for 2014 District Fair1. Plan ahead and schedule your School Science Fair

before March 14, 20142. Read the 2014 Handbook and Regulations carefully3. Complete your “Intent to Participate” online to register

for District competition by December 20, 20134. IT’s BEST to hold your School Fair before Spring Break

(March 17-21, 2014)5. Use the same Score Criteria for your School Fair that are

used at the District Fair. 6. Secure your winning project boards by April.7. Tentative District Fair dates are May 12-14, 2014

SCHOOL FAIR

SUCCESSA A Five Step Guide Five Step Guide To MakingTo Making

Elementary Math, Science, and Engineering Fair Elementary Math, Science, and Engineering Fair An Enjoyable ExperienceAn Enjoyable Experience

For Teachers, Students, and FamiliesFor Teachers, Students, and Families

1. MODEL THE PROCESS

Present the Scientific Method and Engineering Design Process as the pathways to Elementary Math, Science, and Engineering Fair investigation.

Focus on the steps involved in completing a math science, or engineering project board.

Give students and parents a sample of what a completed School Fair project should look like.

Unite all participants in the same learning situations with the same expectations.

2. INVOLVE THE PARENTS

Explain the purpose, expectations, and student’s accountability to the parents.

Give families a calendar with assignments, due dates, and a schedule of Fair events.

Outline the limits of parental involvement.Provide parents with a Guide Book and

information to help their child.Give families the judging criteria and

explain how projects qualify for the District Fair competition.

3. HELP YOUR STUDENTSTake time to complete Inquiry Think

Sheets after math & science activities.Help the students select a “testable”

question and discuss project topics.Have students write a draft of their project

procedure.Check all procedures for safety.Teach students the processes and skills

they need to complete their projects.Provide materials to students and monitor

their progress.

STEM AWARDS1. Flight Engineering sponsored by Flight Safety

International. Grade 2-5, individual math or science projects about Flight and/or Aviation Safety Engineering.

2. Waste Recycling, sponsored by the P.B.C. Science Educators’ Association. Grade 2-5, individual math or science projects about reducing, reusing, or recycling waste materials.

3. Mechanical Engineering, sponsored by Up-N-Running Machinery, Inc. 2-5 individual projects involving building, designing, and improving machine technologies.

4. FP&L Energy Conservation, sponsored by Florida Power & Light. 2-5 individual projects about saving and/or conserving our electrical energy resources. .

4. KEEP IT SCIENTIFICWrite your hypothesis before experimenting Identify the variables and controlsApprove procedures must before startingUse metric tools, make precise measurementsRecord accurate qualitative observationsUse a notebook to record your dataRepeat experiments 3 times for validityGraph your data to compare and contrast trends.Use Claims and Evidence T-tables to match

causes and effects .Only paper and pictures can be on the District

Projects boards.

5. CELEBRATEo Have a School Fair.o Use judges from your community.o Use the 2014 Handbook Scoring Forms.o Award projects with 1st & 2nd Place

Ribbons.o Honorable Mention ribbonso Certificates of Participation for all.o Register school winners in the District Fair.o Plan a field trip to the District Science Fair.o Sponsor an Activity Table at the Fair.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Science Fair Handbook by Anthony D. Fredericks and Isaac Asimov. Old Year Books, Glenview, IL. ISBN 0-673-38800-X

Science Fair Handbook by Stephen C. Blume. Merrill Publishing, Columbus, OH. ISBN 0-675-035211-X

Science Fair Workshop by Marcia J. Daab. Fearon Teachers Aids, Simon & Schuster Supplemental Education Group. ISBN 0-8224-6374-1

Science Fairs Plus an NSTA Press Journals Collection. NSTA Press, Arlington, VAISBN 0-87355-219-9

thomas.medcalf@palmbeachschools .org

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