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About the Fair
About the
Egg-Drop Contest
Fair Rules
Registration
Types of
Projects
Choose a Topic
Develop a
Question
Answer the Question
Present
at the Fair
Schedule
for Day of Fair
Frequently Asked
Questions
Links
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How
to Answer Your Question
Finding an answer to most Academic Fair
questions will begin with research at the library
and on the Web. Some questions can also be investigated
though interviews with knowledgeable
adults. For many questions, children may pursue their own
hands-on
investigations. Many questions will combine two or more
of types of research, often starting at the library or on the Web and
then moving to other forms of investigation.
Here are ways to answer research
questions using the six types of
projects discussed elsewhere on this website:
-
Collections: Some questions can be
answered by making a collection or by studying the objects in an
existing collection. Other questions may be answered by
doing library, Web or interview research about the objects in a
collection. More about collections.
-
Demonstrations: Questions
that lead to demonstrations usually begin with research in the library or on the
Web -- but they don't stop there. Through their initial
research, children get ideas for demonstrations that can help them better understand the
process they are investigating. More
about demonstrations.
-
Models: Children can build models to illustrate their
investigations at the
library or on the Web. Building a model turns research into a
hands-on experience and helps children focus their research. More
about models.
-
Observations: Observations start in
the natural world as children watch; write, sketch, and record
data in their notebooks; and analyze their findings.
Children may also do research in the library and on the Web
to help them understand what they've observed. More
about observations.
-
Experiments: Experimental projects begin with
potential answers to a question and continue by testing
those answers. That's why experimental projects also start
in the library or on the Web. More
about experiments.
- Research projects: Some projects may
start
and end at the library or on the Web, because some questions are
too big or too difficult for children to answer through their
own investigations. However, interviews, original documents,
and demonstrations can help children create more interesting
research projects. More about
research projects.
Once children
have answered their research questions, they need to develop a presentation for the fair.
Go
here to learn more about developing a presentation.
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