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About the Fair
About the
Egg-Drop Contest
Fair Rules
Registration
Types of
Projects
Collections
Demonstrations
Models
Observations
Experiments
Research 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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Choose a Type
of Project
Many types of
projects can be entered in the Academic Fair,
including collections, demonstrations, models, observations, experiments, and
research projects. Students may not know what type of
project they want to do until after they choose a
topic and research question.
Just
to get your family thinking, here
are examples of possible Academic Fair projects:
-
Collections of objects or old photos can show how students answered
questions like, "What kind of rocks are in my neighborhood?"
or "How was my great grandmother's life similar to and different
from my own?"
More about collections
-
Demonstrations can show how students answered questions like, “How do airplane wings
work?" "How do crystals grow?" or "How does a colorblind person see patterns?”
More about demonstrations
-
Models can answer questions about how things work or how they are
put together. A working
model might show, "How does a car engine work?"
A diorama might show, "What did a Native American village
look like 200 years ago?” More about
models
-
Observations
can answer questions about how the natural world works, such as,
"How does a spider build its web?" or "What birds
migrate through my neighborhood in early May?" Children
can observe, describe, record data, sketch, photograph, and then
analyze the results. More about
observations
-
Experiments can test a proposed answer to a question, such as “How
does temperature affect the growth of mold?” Experiments can be done
at the fair or completed in advance and documented with photographs
and notes. More
about experiments
-
Research
projects
can use interviews, books, and Web searches to answer questions like,
"Where did the Underground Railroad run in this area?" or
“How is global warming affecting our weather?” Students can
document their research with a display at the fair.
More about research projects
Now that
you've thought about what types of projects are possible, your child needs to choose a topic they are interested in.
Go here to learn more about choosing a topic.
Here are some references we consulted as we developed this list of
project types:
Balas,
A. K. (1998). Science fairs in elementary school. ERIC Digest.
Columbus, OH: ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and
Environmental Education.
McNay,
M. (1985). The need to explore: Nonexperimental science fair projects.
Science and Children, 23 (2), 17-19.
Romjue,
M. K., & Clementson, J. J. (1992). An alternative science fair. Science
and Children, 30 (2), 22-24.
Watson,
R., Goldsworthy, A., & Wood-Robinson, V. (1999). What is not fair
with investigations? School Science Review, 80 (292), 101-106.
Go
here to see a more complete bibliography.
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