Register from January 14, 2008 – May 2, 2008 by calling
205-714-8414 – Please make sure the students’ name is included in the registration.

General Guidelines:

1. This fair is open to all home school students.
2. Each student may enter only one project.
3. Team projects may be entered, however if the project places only one award will be given.
4. Students must be with their projects during judging (11:00 am-12:00 pm).
5. McWane Science Center retains the right to reject any unsafe or inappropriate project.

We have several age categories:

• Grades 1-2 (experimental or non-experimental projects allowed)
• Grades 3-4 (experimental or non-experimental projects allowed)
• Grades 5-6 (experimental or non-experimental projects allowed)
• Grades 7-8 (only experimental projects allowed)
• Grades 9-12 (only experimental projects allowed)

Students in grades 6 and under may choose to do an experimental or non-experimental project. Students in grade 7 and above may only enter an experimental project.

A NON-EXPERIMENTAL project is defined as a descriptive project which explores scientific concepts.

An EXPERIMENTAL project is defined as a project where a student explores his own ideas or verifies others through some sort of testing.

Registration:
Registration will begin on January 14, 2008, and will close on May 2, 2008. There is a $15 registration fee which includes admission to Adventure Halls for the student and one adult and parking for one vehicle.  Admission to Adventure Halls is not required to view student projects; however if any family members or friends wish to visit McWane Science Center’s Adventure Halls, tickets must be purchased at ticketing on the day of the event. The registration fee is waived if the student is enrolled in the Fall 2007 or Spring 2008 Home School Laboratories at McWane Science Center.  Registration can be made through McWane’s reservation department at 205-714-8414.

Fair date and time:
May 13, 2008
Set up is from 8:00 am – 10:00 am.  At 10:00 am students and guests must leave the project area for preliminary judging.  Students will return to their projects at 11:00 am to give the participants a chance to answer questions from the judges. There will be an awards ceremony at 2:00. Exhibits will stay on display until 3:30 pm. Exhibits can be taken down beginning at 3:30 pm and must be down no later than 5:00 pm.  Exhibits not removed by 5:00 pm will become property of McWane Science Center.

Exhibit Guidelines:
1. The exhibit display may not exceed 30 inches deep, 48 inches wide and 72 inches high (from the top of the table).
2. The display board should be made out of sturdy material such as plywood, masonite, pegboard, wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or cardboard. Backboard sections should be joined together securely to make a rigid support for the display. Items should be securely attached to the backboard. Projects must be free-standing for the table display. Select appropriate colors for presentation/background materials.
3. Electrical outlets are LIMITED so try to avoid the need for them. Use battery power if possible and needed.
4. Students should be prepared to discuss their projects from a technical standpoint with the judges and to explain their projects in simplified terms to the general public.
5. For experimental projects the display should include the title, abstract, experimental design, background information including the problem and hypothesis, results including graphs and tables of data, conclusions, technical report, log book, equipment, samples and other items that help tell the story.
6. Please place a copy of your written report with your project for judges’ review.

How do you tell if your project is experimental or non-experimental?

Your project is experimental if:
1. A hypothesis is posed.
2. Student experiment was conducted using the scientific method.
3. Data/records were collected and analyzed.
4. The solution to a problem was sought. A model and demonstrations may be included in the experimental project. Grade level will be considered when looking at level of detail involved.

Your project is non-experimental if it is:
1. A model – the entry would show how various parts work together to accomplish the purpose for which they were designed. It includes projects which explain how a manufactured item such as a computer works and how a natural item such as the leaf of a plant functions.
2. Collection – the entry which classifies and displays items gathered from nature. It includes fossils, flowers, rocks, etc.
3. Demonstration – the entry that explains a principle or law found in the physical or mathematical world, such as why objects appear to lose weight when under water.

Items must be correctly identified, using the procedures and names established by the science involved. Projects must include a display board including a title, and any other information (pictures, etc.) needed to help tell the story.  Students should have a working knowledge of the project and be prepared to explain it to the judges.  A short report (a few sentences to a few paragraphs), typed or handwritten, is required for 1st through 4th grade.  A typed report is required for 5th grade and up. 

Judging Criteria (Grades 1 – 6)
1. Visual Display – Is the display board neat and attractive? Does it have a clear title? Does it include pictures, articles, drawings, etc., to help tell the story of the project? Display items should be identified by name.
2. Knowledge – Does the student understand the principle behind the project? Is the basic who/what/where/when/why/how information explained, as it relates to the project? Does the student have a working knowledge of the topic?
3. Verbal Expression – Can the student explain the project in knowledgeable terms? Depending on the grade level, the student should be able to explain parts, etc., in layman’s terms or simple scientific terms. Students will be given the opportunity to talk about their project, and may be asked questions by the judges as prompting.
4. Written Report – The student’s written report should be neat and as complete as can be expected at a given grade level, ranging from a few simple sentences for younger students to a 200 – 250 word typed report for grades 5 and 6.

Judging Criteria (Grades 7 – 12) – Experimental Projects Only
  
1. Effective Use of the Scientific Method – Projects for students in Grades 7-12 MUST show effective use of the scientific method. - Has the problem been defined and hypothesis stated? Is there evidence of study and literature and experimental research? Has the student been thorough with experiments? Has the student analyzed the observations, stated results, and drawn valid conclusions? Has the project been thoroughly documented through a log book or other method, as well as by a written report (including a bibliography)?
2. Originality and Creativity – Does the student have a unique or original problem or approach to the solution of the problem? Is there evidence of initiative? Is there an ingenious use of equipment? Is the display attractive, eye-catching? Is it neatly done? Is it well constructed and within the maximum dimensions?
3. Knowledge Achieved – Has there been a correct use of scientific terms? Does the student understand those terms? Is there evidence of acquired knowledge through the research, rather than just memorized the information? Does the student show evidence of knowing the underlying principle(s)?
4. Clarity of Expression – Can the student orally explain the project concisely and answer questions well? Discount the student with the memorized speech with little understanding of the principles. Is the written material the obvious work of the student, in agreement with the verbal knowledge of the topic, or is it merely copied and not comprehended? Has the student expressed the problem well on the display through the title, abstract, any additional writings, and the use of pictures, graphs, etc.? Written report should be a minimum of 700 words and should be typed.

Scientific Method
One of the major goals of any successful science fair is to practice and instill the use of the scientific method in the student’s research and study. The steps of the scientific method are:
1. Statement of problem
2. Research of literature on the topic
3. Forming a hypothesis which is a tentative assumption made for the purpose of testing
4. Procedures used
5. Observations – record data in a journal, log book, etc., which is a chronological record of the project’s development. It should include the who/what/where/when/why/how of each day’s work. The log book must be part of the display in some way.
6. Results, statistical analysis
7. Possible sources of error
8. Conclusions – the conclusion should be a statement as to whether the hypothesis was verified or nullified.
9. Possibilities for future research/study
10. Acknowledgments

Parental Notes and Safety
Parents, as the teachers, are responsible for proper supervision of the student’s project. Students should not perform unnecessary or indiscriminate experiments on live animals. No live animals will be allowed at the exhibit; however, your project may include a topic that involved live animals. You can show photos, statistics, research, conclusions, etc., at your exhibit about the animals; however, you may not have the animals present. Projects involving safety hazards including but not limited to high temperatures, rockets, explosives, high voltage and drugs, should be avoided. Students may seek help from an adult or another student with typing, backboard construction and critique of methods. Students must do at least 90% of the total work on the project at all grade levels.  All help received must be acknowledged in writing as part of the report.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact: