S.T.E.M. Fair

Collins Elementary 4th and 5th Grades

General Information

• Must be a testable and measureable project• Follow the time line due dates and there is no

panic attack down the road• Avoid the internet listing science fair projects

(many aren’t) and web sites selling science fair project

What your child will receive

• Timeline sheet - they are to hold on to this and teachers will initial upon completion of each section. You can check what’s coming up and what’s done

• A foldable will replace the presentation board for the Collins’ portion of the project

• A data log to record their thoughts, research, questions, results. This is a MUST!

Selecting a Topic

• Something of interest to your child (camping, sports, video games, food, science, etc.)

• Look at the Science Channel, National Geographic and Myth Busters

• What do they wonder about?• It must be something you can test and

measure• Did you like last year’s project?

What S.T.E.M. Fair Isn’t

• Erupting volcano• Can my blindfolded friend tell the difference

between Coke and Pepsi (this is a taste test and there isn’t anything testable)

• Is my dog colorblind? How would you be able to test this?

• How to make something -Testable?• Does rock music or rap cause my plants to grow

better? Please NO

Watch Out!

• No mold projects of any type (fuzzy ones)• Use of animals or people requires forms to be

filled out • No blood• No exploding anything

What can you do to help?

• If they need assistance building, discussing or explaining. ( Rather you use the power saw than an inexperienced child)

• Encourage them• Ask how it’s going?• Are you on schedule?• Have you encountered anything you weren’t

expecting?• Have you recorded this in your data log?

Data Log

• Most important part of the project – it is the project• Like a journal or diary• Needs to be dated• Include any time you are working or thinking about the

project.• Record data, thoughts, frustrations, concerns, what’s

going well• Some entries are long while others are a line or two.• Reminder: All measurements are in metric – meter for

length, gram for mass and liter for liquids

Pictures

• Take pictures during the actual investigation/experiment

• Take several on your digital camera or cell phone

• Will only be used if your child’s project is going to the regional S.T.E.M Fair.

Sequence of Events

• Students work individually at Collins – project is due December 7, 2015. Class winners selected

• Independent judges come and evaluate the class winners (several categories & multiple winners) TBD

• If you child’s project is selected to go downtown for the competition – THEN we will create a presentation board.

• February 9, 2016 regional S.T.E.M. Fair at the Tampa Convention Center

Group Projects

• Classroom grades will come from individual projects.

• If your student would like to work with others for a group project it can be done outside of class.

• Teachers will give guidance and assistance• Greater chance of going downtown for the

regional S.T.E.M. Fair

Categories for District Competition

• Behavioral Science• Earth & Space Science• Life Science• Math/Computers/Engineering• Physical Science Energy• Physical Science Matter