Last modified: December 13, 2023
STEM
STEM FAIR FEBRUARY 2nd 2024
What exactly is the STEM Fair?
The purpose of the Amelia Earhart STEM Fair is to provide students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in class to real-world problems and/or needs and to share their knowledge with their peers and the community.
One of the most difficult aspects of a STEM fair is finding a problem or question for students to work on, but this need not be the case. We all have small problems every day that need to be solved in order for us to get through the day. These problems can be simple things from remembering to return homework each day to bigger issues that have a wide impact for many people. Students are encouraged to look at their own experiences and identify ways that they might be able to improve their lives or the lives of others. Finding a solution to these problems and helping to improve lives generates work that can be presented in many different categories at the STEM fair.
Another approach is to explore topics that interest the student. These topics do not need to be science, math, or engineering based. Encourage the student to ask questions related to these topics of interest and identify any questions that they do not know the answers to. Then determine if the answers to these questions could be found by experimentation. If so, then ask students to apply the process of experimentation to answer a question. The work they will generate can then be presented at the STEM fair.
STEM fair projects need not be complicated and expensive. Rather, they need to be relevant and meaningful to the student. The basic steps of a STEM fair project are:
- Keeping a notebook or journal of the entire project (a spiral bound notebook or composition book)
- Identifying a problem or question to work on (Use the list of 200 ideas to help you get an idea)
- Researching background information relating to the chosen topic (use Sparticl and Google Science)
- Designing an experiment to investigate the question or a solution to the problem (Watch the NASA videos below to help you)
- Carefully following the experimental design (scientific method) or proposed solution (Watch the NASA videos below to help you)
- Collecting data and information during testing (use your science journal to keep track)
- Analyzing the data that was collected (create a graph of your data to help)
- Drawing conclusions based on the data that was collected (What did find out from your experiment)
- Determining if the question has been definitively answered or if the solution is the best possible one to the problem
- Revisiting the question or problem and determining if a different experimental design or solution would provide better results
- Repeating this process until the best possible answer(s) or solution(s) have been found
- Presenting the information gained in a manner that is understandable and neat (Watch the NASA video below and look at ‘How to design a board’)
- Answering questions from judges and practicing speaking and listening skills (Look at the Judging Rubric on the left)
- Enjoying the process!!!!
The STEM fair is a tremendous opportunity for students to explore the world around them and apply what they have learned. We are excited to see all of the tremendous creativity and ingenuity of the students in our district. We encourage you to work closely with your student’s teachers to help them be successful.
NEED HELP STARTING?
Use the following link to help you brainstorm Ideas and ways to ensure you have an award winning project.
200 Possible Ideas (only for those struggling to find one)
RESOURCES FOR STEM FAIR PROJECTS
S.T.E.M. projects focus on REAL-WORLD problems that students face every day or questions that students have about the world around them.
- The chemistry of cookies – Stephanie Warren
- The Science Behind Baking Your Ideal Chocolate Chip Cookie
STEM Fair vs Science Fair
Why are we doing a STEM Fair and not a Science Fair like we have always done? Well, STEM Fairs offer students more flexibility in the type of projects that are allowed. Students can enter projects in fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. This means that more possibilities for new and creative projects. Also, it provides for 21st century problems to be addressed. With the changes also come changes in format. Students are REQUIRED to START Data notebooks and collect and record their data throughout the entire process.
GREAT VIDEOS FROM @NASA JET PROPULSION LABORATORY TO HELP YOU START
- DIY Space: How to Do a Science Fair Project – Overview
- DIY Space: How to Do a Science Fair Project – Step 1
- DIY Space: How to Do a Science Fair Project – Step 2
- DIY Space: How to Do a Science Fair Project – Step 3
- DIY Space: How to Do a Science Fair Project – Step 4
- DIY Space: How to Do a Science Fair Project – Step 5
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The Scientific Method is more than just for Science class. It’s can be every day problems too. Here are some videos to help guide you through the different steps of the Scientific Method.
HOW TO DESIGN A BOARD
(You can also do a digital presentation for your display CLICK HERE for a Template)
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU START
There are several things you will need before you start your project.
- 5th and 6th Grade need to complete the Central Utah STEM Fair Forms. We are sponsored by these organizations and must adhere to their guidelines. Students in Kindergarten through 4th grade need to fill out the Amelia Earhart Form
- You MUST complete a DATA notebook while conducting your experiment. This means that every time you collect data, students must write it down in their data notebooks. If students do not complete this, your project will not be accepted.
- IF you are completing unique experiments (on animals, people, growing mold, or using dangerous chemicals) you will need to check to see if you need to fill out additional forms for your project. This is ALSO required.
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