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    Howtohostasciencefair

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    This document outlines the steps for hosting a science fair at a school. It discusses communicating the goals of the science fair to administrators, students, parents and the community. It recommends scheduling the fair by working backwards from regional science fair deadlines. It emphasizes starting projects early to allow sufficient time for planning, research, and safety/ethics review. Rules for projects are outlined around safety and ethics. The document provides tips for recruiting judges and determining award categories and certificates. Recruiting help from others is advised to lighten the workload for directing the science fair.

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    Howtohostasciencefair

    Uploaded by

    api-256307475
    46 views12 pages
    This document outlines the steps for hosting a science fair at a school. It discusses communicating the goals of the science fair to administrators, students, parents and the community. It recommends scheduling the fair by working backwards from regional science fair deadlines. It emphasizes starting projects early to allow sufficient time for planning, research, and safety/ethics review. Rules for projects are outlined around safety and ethics. The document provides tips for recruiting judges and determining award categories and certificates. Recruiting help from others is advised to lighten the workload for directing the science fair.

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    This document outlines the steps for hosting a science fair at a school. It discusses communicating the goals of the science fair to administrators, students, parents and the community. It recommends scheduling the fair by working backwards from regional science fair deadlines. It emphasizes starting projects early to allow sufficient time for planning, research, and safety/ethics review. Rules for projects are outlined around safety and ethics. The document provides tips for recruiting judges and determining award categories and certificates. Recruiting help from others is advised to lighten the workload for directing the science fair.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    46 views12 pages

    Howtohostasciencefair

    Uploaded by

    api-256307475
    This document outlines the steps for hosting a science fair at a school. It discusses communicating the goals of the science fair to administrators, students, parents and the community. It recommends scheduling the fair by working backwards from regional science fair deadlines. It emphasizes starting projects early to allow sufficient time for planning, research, and safety/ethics review. Rules for projects are outlined around safety and ethics. The document provides tips for recruiting judges and determining award categories and certificates. Recruiting help from others is advised to lighten the workload for directing the science fair.

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    You are on page 1of 12

    How to Host a Science Fair at Your

    School
    (Or
    Confessions of a Science Fair Director)
    Randal S. Schwindt, Ph.D., P.E.
    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Where Were Going

    Warm fuzzies: Communication


    Important, boring stuff: Scheduling
    The fun stuff: Projects
    More important, boring stuff: Rules & SRC/IRB
    Calling all volunteers: Judges
    More warm fuzzies: Awards

    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Warm Fuzzies:
    Communication
    Getting the big picture
    Science education objectives

    Scientific method
    Research Techniques
    Variables
    Data collection and analysis
    Engineering design methodology
    Specific scientific content

    Analytical thinking and data analysis


    Organizational skills
    Communication skills
    Character development (e.g. curiosity, joy of learning, work ethic,
    intellectual integrity)
    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Warm Fuzzies:
    Communication
    Getting the word out
    Vertically

    Flyers

    Administrators
    Students
    Parents, families

    TV news
    Press Release

    Horizontally

    Mailings

    Other teachers
    (Potential) fair judges
    News media
    Local businesses

    Email
    Website

    Radio Newspaper
    Social Media

     Communicate early and often!


    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Important, Boring Stuff:


    Scheduling
    Good projects take time (weeks to months)
    When to hold your fair: back up from WTRSEF, March 10, 2011;
    entries due Feb. 15, 2011
    Time to recruit SRC/IRB: WTRSEF due date Nov. 5, 2010
     Latest time to hold your school fair: ~end of January, 2011
    Time to train teachers, as appropriate
    Time to recruit judges
    Reserve space for projects (e.g. gymnasium)
    Reserve space for judges, as appropriate
    Reserve space for award ceremony,
    as appropriate
    Workshop 8/27/2010

    The Fun Stuff: Projects


    Again, plan and communicate early
    Choice and planning of projects
    Creative vs. tried-and-true
    Clear definition of question to be answered
    (science) or problem to be solved (engineering)
    Develop a written plan -- EARLY, prior to implementation
    For science projects, a research plan, the plan for the experiment,
    to answer the question
    For engineering projects, a plan for design, build, test, iterate
    Consider safety and ethics from the beginning, allowing time for
    your SRC/IRB to review the plan prior to carrying it out.

    See hand-outs, courtesy of Ms. Tina Coleman, Martin


    Middle School
    Workshop 8/27/2010

    More Important, Boring


    Stuff: Rules & SRC/IRB
    The rulebook: more like the tax code than the Bible
    Overarching themes: safety and ethics
    Common issues

    Microorganism projects at home


    Vertebrate animal projects without proper supervision
    Human subject projects without informed consent forms
    Lack of documented SRC/IRB review
    Project displays with photos of student researcher
    Project displays with chemicals (even water), living or dead
    material (e.g. insects, banana peels)

    Scientific Review Committee/Institutional Review Board


    See WTRSEF form for details
    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Calling All Volunteers:


    Judges
    See Dr. David Wards excellent presentation today
    Early recruitment of/from

    Science teachers, professors


    Doctors, nurses, dentists
    Veterinarians
    Psychologists, counselors
    Social workers
    Engineers & computer scientists
    The armed forces
    Agricultural extension service, 4H
    Other science folk

    Care, feeding, and thanks


    Workshop 8/27/2010

    More Warm Fuzzies:


    Awards
    Categories

    No categories
    Bio vs. physical, a la WTRSEF
    By age
    Individual vs. team

    Participation certificates for all


    Top finishers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, )

    Certificates
    Plaques
    Prizes
    As your budget allows

    Support from local businesses, organizations


    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Recruit help and delegate as much


    as possible!

    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Web Resources

    www.uu.edu/events/wtrsef
    www.societyforscience.org
    www.sciencebuddies.org
    Google science fair

    Workshop 8/27/2010

    Questions?
    Thank you!

    Workshop 8/27/2010

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