Kent School District Middle School Science and Engineering Fair
Projects should be student driven.
Project ideas should come from the students, and the project should be driven by them. Parents should use their best judgment in deciding when to get involved, such as when there is a potential safety issue.
Science and Engineering Categories.
With your online registration, there is a field asking for the Project Title. After entering the title of your project, please include one of the ALL CAPS categories listed below. Detailed descriptions of the CATEGORIES and subcategories are available at: http://www.mnsu.edu/sciencefair/school/intel.html
ANIMAL SCIENCES
BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
BIOCHEMISTRY
COMPUTER SCIENCE
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE
ENGINEERING: ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING: MATERIALS OR BIOENGINEERING
ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
MEDICINE & HEALTH SCIENCES
MICROBIOLOGY
PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
PLANT SCIENCES
TEAM PROJECTS:
Research conducted by two or three students in any of previous categories.
Registration Information.
All students must register in advance through this online form. We strongly encourage early registration in order to reserve your space-space is limited. Final registration deadline is Sunday, February 28, 2010. On-site registration is not available.
Awards and Prizes.
The Science and Engineering Fair will award prizes for numerous specialty categories and the top three finishers for 7th and 8th grade.
Science and Engineering Fair Judges will interview students, examine journals, and inspect display boards to determine award winners.
KSD Display Boards, Board Sections, and Potential Safety Concerns.
Science and Engineering Projects will be showcased on display boards ordered through this site-available for $6.00 and in various colors. Students who qualify for free and reduced lunch will be provided with a board. All students however, must complete the Register page.
The 7 Sections of the Science Display Board:
Title of Display Board
Section 1: Question– A question that asks what the scientist wants to find out.
Section 2: Hypothesis – What do you think will happen? Use an “If…(manipulated variable),
then…(responding variable)” type statement. Include a reason for your prediction.
Section 3: Resources-reference materials: web sites, magazines, books or adult expertise utilized for the project.
Section 4: Variables – What is measured and how often? Include the variables below.
1 variable kept the same (controlled) 1 variable changed (manipulated)
1 variable measured (responding)
Section 5: Materials and Procedures – A list of what materials will be used. Use multiple trials (usually a minimum of five). Make a list of the steps that are going to be used to complete the science fair project. Note safety concerns.
Section 6: Data – Record what happened to the measured variable in the science journal. Make charts or graphs to help summarize the data.
Section 7: Conclusion – A conclusion uses data to tell if the hypothesis was accepted or rejected and provides reason(s) to support this data. Other possible elements in a conclusion include explaining why the experiment would be useful and/or predicting what might happen if the investigation lasted longer.
Potential Safety Concerns: If your experiment will include any of the following:
Vertebrate Animals, Human Subjects, Recombinant DNA, Microorganisms,
Human or Animal Tissue, and/or Hazardous Chemicals, then additional paperwork is required. Paperwork will be sent to students through the student's science teacher.
Display Artifacts, Video Clips, and Student Journals.
Science and Engineering Project artifacts are not allowed in the student display space. While not an exhaustive list, the following examples identify restricted artifacts: lasers, open flames, living organisms-including plants, awards, certificates or medals, chemicals, drugs, consumer products, dry ice, taxidermy specimens or parts, pet or human food, and sharp objects. Students who wish to show a video clip can bring a laptop computer into the display space.
VIDEO CLIPS are limited to 90 seconds. Science and Engineering Fair Judges will ask students to turn off video clips after 90 seconds of viewing.
JOURNALS must capture students' handwritten entries and accompany the student display space.
Need help choosing a topic?
What have you wondered about? The best topics come from your own genuine curiosity about how something works, or why something is the way that it is. But if you have trouble thinking of something on your own, the internet is full of resources to help you choose a topic-some examples:
Science Buddies
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/
All Science Fair
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/
Try Science
http://www.tryscience.org/experiments/experiments_home.html
Science Fair Topics
www.accessexcellence.org/RC/scifair.html
School Discovery
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/
The Ultimate Science Fair Resource
http://www.scifair.org
The NEED Organization
http://www.need.org/energyfair.php
Kent Reference Resources
http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/library/referencepages/secondary/science.htm#General_Science
Stay on Track: Science and Engineering Fair Checklist
Working ahead of schedule is encouraged!
1. Project Proposal and Partner Selection-January 22, 2010
2. Online Registration-December 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010
3. Question, Hypothesis and Variables-Friday, January 22, 2010
4. Materials and Procedures-Friday, January 29, 2010
5. Data and Conclusion-Friday, February 19, 2010
6. Display Board-Monday, March 8, 2010
7. Science Fair-Saturday, March 13, 2010
Submit your photos and videos!
During the science fair, on the big screen we will be displaying a slide show of photos and videos taken by you! So parents -- while your young scientist is busy conducting that wild experiment, sneak out your digital camera and capture some shots. Then upload them here by Monday March 1, 2010, so we can include them in the slide show. Note: All submissions may not be included in the show.
Volunteers needed!
A big event like the science fair wouldn't be possible without the help of corporate and business sponsors, community volunteers, and school-based support. Below is a list of needs and different jobs to be done, and if you can contribute, please contact Bruce Kelly at Bruce.Kelly@kent.k12.wa.us
Corporate and Business Sponsors
Day-Of-Fair Volunteers: (number requested)
1. Registration Support (2)
2. Award Certificate Printing (3)
3. Head Judges (10)
4. Judges (30) [High school juniors and up]
5. Awards Photographer
Pre-Fair Volunteers:
1. Venue Activities Coordinator:Demonstrations/Vendors/Activities
2. Logistics Coordinators: signage, name badges, clipboards, judges paperwork
Steering Team-Special Projects Pay for KSD staff:
1. Thursday, February 18, 2010 3:30-5:30PM
2. Thursday, March 4, 2010 3:30-5:30 PM
3. Saturday, March 13, Science and Engineering Fair. 7:30-3:30PM or half day.