Winchell Elementary PTO

 

What is the Winchell Science Fair?

The science fair is a great opportunity for kids to explore science, learn the experimental process and get experience making a display. It is purely voluntary and all grades are welcome to participate. Students have the option to do partner projects with one other student. Please see project guidelines (click on link below) for what is expected at each grade level. Students are asked to bring in their projects the night before. (We will accept projects the morning of as well, but we encourage them to be brought the night before to ease set-up.) The projects are set-up in the gymnasium and school cafeteria on tables sorted by grade level. 

 

On the day of the science fair we have a group of scientists who volunteer their time to speak to each entrant. A scientist will review each project and then the student is called out of class for a short interview with the scientist. The interviewer will ask the student age appropriate questions about their project and also allow time for the student to ask the scientist questions. After the interview, the scientist will fill out a judging form and each entrant will receive a ribbon and a certificate for participation. 

 

We also have a competition aspect. The judging scientists will pick what they believe to be the best overall project for each grade 2nd through 5th. To include as many winners as possible, we will also have a "Most Creative" and "Best Presentation" category as well this year for each grade. The "Most Creative" category will be based on the uniqueness of the project. The "Best Presentation" category will be based both on the display and on how well the child understands the science behind the project and can discuss their project with the judges. Due to the nature of the projects, Kindergarten and 1st grade will not be part of the competition as judged by the scientists. All students get the chance to see the projects when their teachers take them to the gymnasium at a set time during the day. Students will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite project in their own grade. We will have a peer competition winner for each grade, including Kindergarten and 1st grade. (Note: For partner projects that have partners in different grades, the project will be placed in the higher grade for both competitions.)

 

We host an evening reception so that students can display their projects to their family and friends. We hope students will stand by their project to answer questions other students or adults may have. But we also want to make sure students have the chance to mingle and see the other projects as well. Winners for both competitions will be announced near the end of the reception. Each winner will receive a small trophy.

 

 

About the Competition

We hope the competition helps both encourage students to do their best work and hopefully encourage more entries with the excitement that they may be a winner! We do hope parents and teachers make sure to congratulate all students that enter. Just taking the extra time to be involved and submit a project is a HUGE accomplishment that needs to be recognized! It is noted that many of our scientist judges are parents of students at Winchell. We will make every effort to ensure fairness and try to make sure that judges review projects that are not in their own child’s grade level. Judges will use the judging sheets to help them pick the best overall project. Please review the judging sheets by clicking the links below, to help your child meet all the criteria.

 

 

How should parents be involved?

Parents may definitely be involved and we encourage it! Just like homework, students will need to be encouraged to work on their projects and not wait until last minute to do everything! However, we hope parents will also help their children with brainstorming ideas, understanding the experimental procedure (click on the sciencebuddies.org link below to find a helpful explanation of the experimental procedure), showing them how to take notes during experimentation, helping them review the judging sheets to ensure they include everything necessary in their experiments and display. They also need to ensure children are safe. For neatness, we encourage the use of computers for older grades to make their displays. However, neat handwriting is also acceptable and may be better for younger children who may have little computer knowledge and can’t type!

Parents please remember that you are there to encourage and help, not complete the project yourself. Your child will feel most accomplished when they feel they have done the work themself!

 

 

 

Click button for Project Guidelines

 

 

 

 

Click buttons for links to Judging Sheets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click button for a link to a site full of ideas