Download Science Fair Parent Letter

_______________ ELEMENTARY Presents:
__________day ____ __th, 20__ from ___:00 – __:00 p.m.
Please encourage your 1st – 5th grade child to participate.
Dates to Remember.
_________________ - Pick your Topic!
Week of _____________– Return your Participation Form!
__________th – ____th – Work on your projects AT HOME.
_____ th – Bring your Prject to School.
___________th – FAIR Day!
Trophies will be awarded for the top 3 projects in each class!
REVIEW ATTACHED INFORMATION
And RETURN YOUR FORMS BY ___________!!!
Science Fair
Dear Parents,
We are about to begin a long-term VOLUNTEER at home assignment, a science fair project! If your
child desires to participate please sign the attached Participation Form and return to school before
_________________________________.
Parents are asked NOT to do the project for the student. DO encourage your student to participate in the
science fair. DO offer to help your student acquire materials needed for the project. DO LISTEN and GIVE
ADVICE to your student if he/she needs to talk through ideas and give honest feedback. DO have your student
take necessary safety precautions and don’t let them do anything dangerous. DO NOT do your student’s
project for them. The judges will have an idea of what your student’s abilities are based on their grade level and
age. DO NOT make the focus of the project a competition – it’s nice to get a ribbon, but the purpose of this fair is
for the student to exercise thinking skills and expand his/her knowledge of a topic. Every student who
participates in science fair is a winner!
Participating students will be completing a project based on the scientific method. The objective is to
have the student use all parts of the scientific method to conduct an experiment, to create a display board of
information, and to verbally explain his/her project in a presentation to the judges on ________________ from
__________________. This is an opportunity for students to be as creative as they wish, but there is no need to
create the project from scratch. For those students who need extra assistance, volunteer parents and teachers will
be providing opportunities such as afterschool workshops and lunchtime sessions during the weeks leading up to
the science fair (please see attached flier for dates). Additionally, scholarship assistance for materials can be
applied for – see your student’s teacher for further information, if this is needed. Tri-fold boards will be provided
for $1 per board. Please spend no more than $10 on materials for the display and experiments. Sample projects
will be on display in the science lab after spring break.
Attached you will find several items – one is the judging criteria as well as a sample display board.
Another is a sample time line to help those that need it broken down into parts. Each participating student must
present a science fair display board that identifies a problem, states a hypothesis, explains the experiment
(materials and procedures), shows the data and observations that were collected, states the conclusion, and any
further questions.
Also attached is a list of potential questions your student may desire to use for his/her project. Additional
resources maybe found online; www.sciencebuddies.org is a great resource. You may discuss these with your
child or find one on your own. Topics are due no later than _________________ to your student’s teacher(s).
When your Participation Form is returned to school, your student will bring home a packet with further
information, including sample projects – from start to finish. Your student may choose a project from these
samples.
All projects need to be at school no later than ________________ and can be brought directly to their
classroom. Volunteers will be setting up the project displays ___________________after school. The science
fair will be held in _____________________, from _______________. On science fair day please include a
snack for your child for after school. Judging will be held from ________________, and your student is
required to be there to provide information to the judges. Any parents interested in being a judge please contact
_____________________. Parents are welcome to view projects between ____________. Judges will present
ribbons to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each grade level at _________. ___________________:30-4pm. All projects
can go home at the conclusion of the fair at __________, or will be sent home _______________. More
information on this will follow as we approach the final due date.
Sample Board:
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Hypothesis
Background
Info
Materials
&
Procedures
Results
& Data
Conclusion
SCIENCE FAIR CRITERA
Problem
Grades K-2
Is the investigation guided by a
question?
Information
Data connecting the research to the
problem is present
Hypothesis
Hypothesis is brief and complete,
testable and shows a connection to
the research
Experiments
Is there evidence that an experiment
was conducted? Was proper
equipment used (such as rulers,
scales, thermometers used to help
collect data)
Results
Are the data described and/or
summarized?
Conclusions
Is there an attempt to relate the
results to the problem/question?
Visual Quality of Display
Is the project presented in a manner
that makes the purpose, procedure
and results clear?
Grades 3-5
States problem as a question,
provides evidence that it comes from
the students personal interests or
experiences, and represents a
genuine learning opportunity for
student
Cites 2 or more different sources.
Student clearly connects the research
to their problem in their own words
Hypothesis is brief and complete,
testable and clearly addresses the
stated problem. Students show a
direct connection to the research
Experimental design is well
constructed test of stated hypothesis.
Procedures are outlined in a step-bystep fashion that could be followed
by anyone without additional
explanations. All materials are
listed.
Performed experiment several times.
Summarizes the data in a way that
describes what was discovered using
graphs and charts with no errors or
omissions. Discusses connections
between variables or points out
patterns.
Conclusion completely answers all
aspects of the problem, states if the
hypothesis was supported or rejected
and clearly cites evidence to explain
why.
Project is appealing and neat, and is
readable. It is well organized and
clear. Use of language and spelling
is correct.
Sample timeline for completing your science fair project by _________________
(about 1 hour of work per week)
Date –


Read questions provided in attachment, or from online resources
Chose a topic for a project


Turn in participation forms and topic information to student’s teacher
Type Problem Statement, Hypothesis, Background Information



Collect materials
Perform experiment – take pictures if appropriate
Record data


Continue experiments
Create charts and graphs



Assemble board
Practice presentation
Check criteria for all parts
Date –
Date –
Date –
Date -
SCIENCE FAIR PARTICIPATION FORM
Please complete, read, sign, and return by ___________________.
On a science fair display board, my child will demonstrate his/her understanding of the scientific
method. It is not necessary for my child to repeat the home experiment in class. However, he/she may
bring in the experiment as part of the presentation. My child does understand that he/she will be
required to explain the display board and be ready to answer questions regarding the project.
_____I am aware that my child’s science project needs to be to school by _______________
_____I am aware that my child is REQUIRED to be at school on ______________________
_____I would like to purchase a display board from school and have enclosed my $1 OR
_____I will provide my own display tri-fold board
I have decided on the following project:__________________________________________________
Problem Statement
(How does ____ affect ____?, What is the effect of ____ on ___?, Which___ is ___?)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis (If….then….because….):
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Child’s Name:________________________________________________________
Child’s Teacher/Grade:________________________________________________
Parent Signature:_____________________________________________________