Important Science Fair Information

Our school will be having a Science Fair on April 23rd and 24th!

We hope that, with your enthusiastic encouragement, your child will participate in the fair by preparing a project. This will be an exciting experience for your child!

Although students receive help at school from teachers, parent support and assistance are essential to your child’s success. This is one of those opportunities for families to work with children and brothers and sisters to help each other.

I am confident the following benefits will result from your child’s participation in the Science Fair:

• Reinforcement of grade level science, literacy and math skills 
• Fostering curiosity, awareness, and creativity 
• Increased scientific knowledge 
• Learning research techniques 
• Growth in ability to work independently 
• Having fun with science! 

In addition to the opportunity to work on a project, the Science Fair provides students with an increased awareness of science and an opportunity for them to develop positive attitudes about themselves and their work. The science project allows children to use critical thinking and problem solving skills learned in science and in math.

Please decide who you would like to pair up with based on your geographic location (as much of the work will need to be done at home) and let me know also what your topic will be.

Please find a list of websites below to help you choose a topic:

http://www.education.com/science-fair/second-grade/

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/

http://www.surfnetkids.com/science_fair_ideas.htm

http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

http://www.fatlion.com/science/

http://www.reekoscience.com/

Most of the students already know who they will be working with or if they will be working alone. They may work alone or in groups of 2 or 3. If you haven't already confirmed with me, please let me know by this Friday, March 6th who your child will be working with or if they will work alone.

Above are some examples of appropriate Science Fair projects.

1. Students should first pick a topic that excites and interests them. (Weeks 28-29)
2. They must have a question they want to find an answer to. (Week 29)
3. Follow a procedure to find the answer. They will need to follow the scientific method.* (Weeks 30-31)
4. Write about what they learned. They will need to write everything out and put it on a poster board similar to the one found above. (Weeks 32-34)
5. Practice presenting to their families and peers. (Weeks 34-35)

*The Scientific Method:

1. Ask a Question

2. State Research 

3. Make a Hypothesis

4. Do the Experiment

5. Analyze Data

6. Draw Conclusions

We will work on this in class but a fair amount of it will also need to be done at home. Closer to the date of the fair, students will bring their projects into school and I will help them with the finishing touches and we will practice presenting their findings.