Science Fair

It is empowering to know what to expect from the Judges. Each school has their own criteria for judging, but here are some factors that judges most often look for when evaluating your project. So ....

Shhh... don't tell anyone.
Here is the inside scoop from Detective ThinkMore!...

Science Projects,

Hidden CLUE No. 7A
The Judges - What Do They Think?
Time to complete this clue - 5 minutes
Line "C" on your timeline.

#14.

1. Are you physically and mentally prepared?
Let's pretend that it is the day before the science fair. You are reading over the following questions to make sure that you are prepared to answer the judges question. Why? Because then you will be all prepared in advance for your science fair.

I don't know about physically, but mentally you are ready! After all, you know your project from beginning to end because you did it. Every detail is stored in the computer of your brain. And you certainly must be proud of all your efforts.

• Be sure to get enough sleep the night before.
• Eat a good breakfast.
  Stay away from sugar because it will cause a dip in energy and memory about 10 AM.

• Plan your wardrobe. Dress neatly and conservatively.

3. What do you do to ACE the interview?
Judges walk from display to display, stopping at each one. Some briefly talk to every student and others take the time to do an indepth interview. Don't panic, it only takes a couple of minutes.

• Now is your opportunity to "show your stuff". You can use your display board as a prop, but the judge wants to hear from you. Don't read from the display board. Use it to highlight your presentation by pointing to the charts, graphs and photos.
• If English is a second language, then take your time in expressing yourself.
• Whatever your native language, talk in an easy, slow pace.
• Here are more hints for doing high school, college or middle school science fair projects presentations.

4. The day of your cool science fair projects fair. Read this page.

5. Does your high school, middle school or elementary science fair projects display grab the judges attention from 3 feet away?

• The first thing the judges see is your display. It does not have to be flashy, but well organized and makes the most of their time.
• When the judge opens your notebook will it be well organized?

  Does it have all the basic elements:

  science fair project abstract(s)

  kids science fair projects research paper with bibliography hypothesis, procedures, results ~ tables, figures and graphs ~ (on the

  science experiments for kids page) and conclusions?

6. Were you creative when doing your science fair project?

• Does your Big Question (on the high school science fair projects page) show creativity and originality?



• Did you go about solving the problem in an original way? Did you give an analysis of the data for your science fair experiment? an interpretation of the data?



• How about the type of equipment you used? Did you construct or design new equipment?

7. Did you follow all 6-steps of the scientific method that proved or disproved your science fair projects ideas for your science fair project?

• Did you clearly state your problem?
• Did you use scientific literature or only popular literature (newspapers, magazines, etc.), when doing your initial research?
• Did you clearly state your variable?


• Did you use controls? And if so, did you recognize their need
   and were they correctly used?
• Does your data support your conclusions?
• Do you recognize the limitations of the data / experiment?

And did you state them in your conclusions?
• Did you make suggestions as to what further research is warranted?

• Did you carefully think out your science fair project, go about it systematically for simple science fair projects with well thought-out research following the scientific method for kids outline and observations?
• Did you complete all parts of your research experiment?
• Did you keep a Science Projects Log?
• Did you keep detailed and accurate notes in your Science Log?
  

• Did you have the required equipment to obtain your data?
• Was the project performed at home, school, university laboratory?
• Where did the equipment come from? Did you build it? Did you loan it from somewhere? Did you work in a professional laboratory?
• Did you do the project yourself or did you receive help? If you received help the judges are looking for you to give credit to those individuals.

This is where you will find abstracts can be of help to you. Look it over and become familiar with the information.

If a Judge asks what would happen if you changed a variable in your experiment, don't panic...you have plenty of knowledge in that computer brain of yours! On the spot, just create another hypothesis or idea about what you think will happen.

• Are you familiar enough with the material to answer questions? Judges are not interested in memorized speeches or trivial details. They want to know what you learned.
  
• Can you explain the purpose, procedure, and conclusions of your science project?

• Does your written material, including your abstract, tables, charts and graphs, show that you understand your research project?
  
• Is your material presented in an orderly manner?
  
• Is the data of your project clearly stated?
  
• Are the results of your project clearly stated?
  
• Does your project display explain your science project?
  

11. What are some questions that you may be asked?

First, here are some Helpful Hints:
• What is most important when answering the judge's questions is to be honest. If you don't know the answer, then to truthful.
• Judges like spontaneous answers. Don't try to memorize answers. Know your stuff cold like you know 1 + 1 = 2. And you do, because you did the work! (Remember that computer brain of yours?)
• Know the formulas, terms and acronyms that you used for your science fair project. They may ask you to define some of the scientific jargon that you used.
• Science Fair Judges want you to succeed. They want you to shine. They are not trying to stump you or get you flustered.

• Either during your presentation or afterwards, the judge will take notes. Don't panic! Many have to fill out a form for each project that they see. On that form are 5 areas (creativity, scientific thought or engineering ability, thoroughness, skill and clarity).

Here are a few questions that have been asked at the San Diego Science and Engineering Science Fair.
• How did you decide to do this particular project?
• Is this project an expansion of one you did before? If so, what did you add or change?
• How does this science fair project apply to real life?
• Where did you do this project? (At home, at a school, hospital or university lab)
• Did you receive help from others? If so, who?

• How did you determine your sample size?

• Did you choose any statistical test? If so, how did you determine which one to use?

• Will you explain your graph / chart / photos me to?

• Please explain your procedure.

• What do your results mean? How can they apply to every day life?

• How many times did you repeat your experiment? Test your device or program?

• How is this project different from others that you researched?
• What was the most interesting background reading that you did?
• Where did you get your science supplies (bacteria, plants, animals....)
• What new skills, if any, did you learn by doing this science fair project?
• What is the most important thing you learned by doing this project?
• What changes would you make if you continued this project?

#14

The Super Science Fair Projects eBook gives you an edge because of its detailed easy how-to step-by-step format. Instantly downloadable! The index makes everything at your "fingertips"! My private resources on the net! Parents resource guide.

Free Projects
Free - Projects in the areas of biology, electricity, physics, earth, chemistry, and environmental sciences.

Free e-Book
A .pdf science fair e-book that takes you step-by-step through a project.
If you need a free .pdf reader, go to Adobe's web site. Save on your desk top.
Then right click on icon and open in Acrobat Reader.


Please stay in touch, and subscribe to my free monthly Science Fair Enthusiasts e-zine, where you will find more tips.

Be patient. The next step is important... How to keep a science log...

Share this site on: