Challenger Elementary Science Fair
How to do a project and live to tell the tale
Challenger Elementary School Science Fair
Guide your child, but let the final project reflect your child’s individual effort and design.
Fifth grade top award winners advance to compete in the Annual North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair. NARSEF requires that projects exemplify the scientific method.
Start with something you're curious about
Do a little research to get your brain started
Now what do you want to find out?
You Can't Rush Science
A successful science fair project does not have to be expensive, time consuming, or complicated. However, it does require some planning and careful thought. Projects become frustrating to students and parents when they are left to the last minute and are overly complex. You can’t rush good science!
Rules
Challenger Elementary Science Fair Rules
1. Students may enter a project individually or as a part of a group (no more than 2 students, 5th grade only).
2. No open flames, dangerous or illegal chemicals, explosives, or live animals permitted.
3. No growing bacteria of any kind.
4. Experiments that harm animals are not permitted.
5. Exhibits must be self-standing and no larger than 36” wide/high x 24” deep.
6. Students are responsible for supplying all items needed for their display—including extension cords, etc. The school supplies tables only. Please provide notice of special needs (electrical outlet, extra space, etc) January 15, 2015. We will do our best to accommodate.
7. Challenger Elementary is following the rules and regulations of the Northeast Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NARSEF). Selected/Winning students (5th graders) from the Challenger Elementary science fair will have the opportunity to participate in the regional fair at UAH. More information about NARSEF is available at http://narsef.uah.edu/ Please note that students competing in the NARSEF will have an additional registration form, which will require the writing of a synopsis of the project and an entry fee of $20. Registration forms will be made available to the “winning” students.
Last Year's Winner
Presenting to Peers
Describing the Research
Categories
Science Fair Categories
Behavioral and Social Sciences (BE):
The science or study of the thought processes and behavior of humans and other animals in their interactions with the environment studied through observational and experimental methods.
Biological Science (BIO):
Study of animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.
The study of the chemical substances and vital processes occurring in living organisms, the processes by which these substances enter into, or are formed in, the organisms and react with each other and the environment.
The study of the structure and formation of cells.
Environmental Science (EV):
The analysis of existing conditions of the environment.
Physical Science (PHS):
Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth.
The Time Line
Science Fair Project Schedule and Checklist
_______ 12/4 Proposal Due – Decide on Topic Develop Question/Solution
_______ 12/11 Final Prediction/Hypothesis Background Research
_______ 12/18 Rough Draft Planning Materials/Procedure Due
Procedure Check (bring in science notebook components,
including data)
_______ 1/8 Preliminary Results
Rough Draft of Data/Observations/Conclusion (graphs/charts) Due
Prepare Project Display
_______ 1/15 Final Copy of Procedure, Results, Data, Conclusions Due
Prepare Oral Presentation
_______ 1/19 All Projects due—All Parts: Question/Problem, Prediction/Hypothesis, Planning Materials/Procedure, Data/Observation, Results/Conclusion, Next Step/New Question