Science Fair Packet AB Combs Elementary 2017 Page 5 of 5
Entry Form for AB Combs Science & Engineering Fair
Form Due: January 5, 2017
SAVE PAPER-SAVE TIME! APPLY ONLINE: http://combses.wcpss.net/
Student Name: ______
Grade: ______Teacher: ______
Project Type (Check your category-see packet for explanations)
[ ] Biological Sciences
[ ] Environmental Sciences / Ecology
[ ] Physical Sciences
[ ] Earth Sciences
[ ] Behavioral / Social / Health Sciences
Project Title: ______
Brief Description: ______
______
______
______
______
Name of your school partner (K – 2 only): ______
Parent Statement:
I have reviewed the plans for my child’s Science / Engineering Fair project. I agree to offer support in the form of encouragement, guidance, and help with potentially hazardous items or construction work rather than through actual work on the project or display. I also agree to keep the cost of the materials and equipment at a maximum of $20.
Parent Signature: ______
Please return to Mrs. L'Heureux by January 5, 2017
All changes to Title or Project Type must be submitted by January 9, 2017
2017 Science / Engineering Fair – Key Dates
· December 2, 2016 (Friday): Information packets and entry forms sent home / online for students.
· December 1, 2016 – January 6, 2017: Project display boards available for $4.00 from Mrs. L’Heureux
· December 2, 2016 – January 12, 2017: Students work on their projects at home with parental guidance.
· December 1, 2016 (Thursday) 6:00 PM: Parent Information Night. Display boards available.
· January 3 – 6, 2017: Student should consult with teachers about their project to ensure they are entered in the correct category and have covered all parts of the engineering design process / scientific method.
· January 5, 2017 (Thursday): All Science Fair entry forms due online or to Mrs. L’Heureux.
· January 9, 2017 (Monday): Project Type or Title Changes should be submitted to Mrs. L’Heureux.
· January 11, 2017 (Wednesday) 6:00 – 7:00 PM: Pre-registration for ALL students - Media Center Lobby.
· January 12, 2017 (Thursday): AB Combs Science Fair
o 7:15 - 8:45 AM: Students check-in projects not checked-in Monday evening.
Grades K – 2 in the Cafeteria;
Grades 3 – 5 in the lobby outside the Media Center
o 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM: Classes view projects with their teachers at scheduled times.
o 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Judges interview top projects in media center
o 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Parents, students, and guests view projects.
o 7:00 PM: Parents may take projects with them at the end of the viewing period.
· January 13 & 16, 2017 (Friday & Monday): The top 6 projects are presented to students on the morning announcements (3 on Friday morning and 3 on Monday morning).
· January 17, 2017 (Tuesday) 9:00 AM: Student Awards ceremony at school assembly 3rd, 4th & 5th in gym. Ceremony will be telecast for K – 2 and in the Media Center. Invitations will be sent to all parents of students with top projects.
· January 19, 2017 (Thursday): Make-up day for Combs Science Fair - only if needed.
· February 11, 2017: NC Central Regional Science Fair, Hillside High School (registration deadline January 27, 2017)
· March 24 & 25, 2017: North Carolina State Science & Engineering Fair, Meredith College, Raleigh
· March 18, 2017: Central Regional Math Fair, North Asheboro Middle School, Asheboro (registration deadline February 25, 2017)
· April 28, 2017: NC State Math Fair, North Carolina School of Science and Math, Durham
Important Reminder
4th and 5th grade students are required to enter a science project. Each student should work independently. (No partners). 4th and 5th graders are also required to do a written report about their project to be turned into and graded by their classroom teacher.
Why have a Science Fair?
The process of choosing a problem, planning a project, gathering and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions is an incredible learning experience for anyone, but especially for children. Some of the Covey Leadership Principlescorrelate to aspects of thescientific process.Children are ‘Beginning with the End in Mind’ when theyformulate a hypothesis to predict a result. They are ‘Being Proactive’ by planning the project ahead of time so that they are finished before the due date. When your child works on his or her science project each day before playing with friends, they are ‘Putting First Things First’.
The skills learned through this experience will reinforce your child's understanding of both the scientific method and the Combs' Leadership Model and values. We know you will enjoy the experience of watching and coaching your child through this process.
What is the Scientific Method?The scientific method is a problem-solving approach that can be used as an approach in many areas in life, not just science. Usually applied in a series of steps, the scientific method includes:
1. Ask a Question or identify a Problem
2. Observe what is happening and do background Research
3. Construct a Hypothesis that explains what is happening or Predicts a result
4. Test your Hypothesis by doing an Experiment and recording the data
5. Analyze your data and draw a Conclusion
6. Communicate your Results on a project board using descriptions, graphs and tables / What is the Engineering Design Process?
The engineering design process is the set of steps that a designer takes to go from identifying a problem or need to creating and developing a solution that solves the problem or meets the need. During the engineering design process, designers frequently jump back and forth between steps. Going back to earlier steps is common. This way of working is called iteration.
1. Ask: What's the problem? What have others done? What are the constraints?
2. Imagine: What are some solutions? Brainstorm ideas. Choose the best one.
3. Plan: Draw a diagram. Make a list of materials you'll need.
4. Create: Follow your plan and create it. Test it out!
5. Improve: Make your design even better. Test it out!
Who Enters Projects?
K – 3rd grade students may enter a project alone or with another student.
4th and 5th grade students are required to enter a project. Each student should work independently (No partners). 4th and 5th graders are also required to do a written report along with their project. This written report will be graded as a writing assignment for 4th and 5th graders and should be turned into their teacher, not submitted with the project board.
Entry Forms
Signed and completed entry forms are due online or to Mrs. L'Heureux by Thursday, January 5, 2017.
Project Categories:
Biological Sciences: Includes projects that involve living things or once living things. Examples include: Animal Science, Biochemistry, Biotechnology Techniques, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Genetics & Genomics, Human Biology & Health, Mammalian Biology, Medical Biotechnology, Medicine & Health Science, Microbiology, Plant Biology, Plant Sciences, Zoology
Environmental Sciences/Ecology: Includes projects that involve the environment and the relationships of living things to each other and/or to the environment. Examples include studies of organisms in their habitat, relationships between various organisms, and studies on how people’s actions affect the environment
Physical Sciences: includes projects involving non-living things, math, computer, and engineering. Aerodynamics, Hydrodynamics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Crystal Growth, Cooking, Evaporation, Music, Photography, Digital Photography & Video, Physics, Sports Science, Civil Engineering, Electricity & Electrical Circuits, Energy & Power, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Solar Power, Computer Science, Probability and Computer Games.
Earth Sciences: Includes projects involving the earth and physical phenomena. Examples include Geology, Astronomy, Ocean Sciences, Weather & Atmosphere
Behavioral/Social/Health Sciences: Includes projects related to health, psychology, or consumer/product testing. Examples include perception studies, aptitude and attitude surveys, product comparisons, and various exercise studies.
Note: Students should not do projects with dangerous substances or that may harm animals or people.
Note: Those projects which best utilize the scientific method or engineering design process have the greatest chance for advancement to regional competition in the science fair. Projects which use math applied through the context of science have the greatest chance of advancement to regional competition in the math fair.
Changes to Type & Title of Project
Many students find that their original project evolves over the course of a month. To accommodate this we ask that changes in Title or Project type be submitted online via the school website or to Mrs. L’Heureux no later than 3 PM on Monday, January 9, 2017.
Schedule of Events
The Science Fair will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2017.
ALL students MAY bring in and register their project EARLY on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 between 6:00 & 7:00 PM to decrease traffic on Thursday morning. Early Check in will be in the Media Center Lobby.
Day of registration is 7:15 - 8:30 AM Thursday, January 12, 2017.
Students in grades K – 2 should check in their projects in the Cafeteria.
Students in grades 3 – 5 should check in their projects in the lobby outside the Media Center.
Note: Students should NOT put their name on their poster. Students will be given (3) stick-on labels at check in. The label with their name, project title, etc. should be affixed to the BACK of their poster in the TOP, RIGHT HAND corner. The 2 labels with ONLY their project number (No Name), should be affixed to the FRONT of their poster, in the TOP, RIGHT HAND corner and to the top of the judging sheet to ensure fair judging.
Viewing and Pick-Up
Projects may be viewed from 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM and from 3:30 - 7:00 PM on the day of the fair. Anyone wishing to view the projects during the day should check in at the office first.
Awards will be presented during an assembly Tuesday, January 17, 2017 in the morning.
All projects (except those chosen as Best of Show) should be picked up after the viewing (7 PM) on the evening of the fair or before school the next morning. Best of Show winners (those with a large ribbon on the project) will be presented on the morning news and should remain at school for the awards ceremony.
Awards
A variety of awards are presented for the science fair projects. Every student receives a participation ribbon and certificate. 3rd through 5th grade projects are evaluated and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards are presented in each category for each grade. So there will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for 3rd grade Biological Sciences; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for 4th grade Biological Sciences; etc. Honorable mentions are also considered in each category for each grade. Up to 25 (3rd – 5th grade) projects are interviewed and considered for the top five “Best of Show alternates” and one “Best of Show Award”. The Best of Show project and alternates are selected to continue on to the Regional Science Fair.
Special awards were presented during previous years from outside organizations such as BASF, Progress Energy, Wake County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the local chapter of the American Nuclear Society. We hope to have similar awards, perhaps from these organizations and others, this year as well. Please contact the Science Fair Chairs if you have contacts that may be interested in donating new awards.
Note that K – 2 and 3 – 5 are also eligible for the Regional Math Fair. Those projects that include a significant math component beyond the standard course of study may be eligible to enter the Regional Math Fair.
Questions and More Information
If you have any questions or concerns, please call or leave a message for:
· Chelsea L'Heureux at
· Theo Kingsberry at
· Jon McDunn at
· John Rankin at
Internet Resources
See the AB Combs Website for science fair internet resources.
Parents’ Role
Encourage your child to do a project. Parents can offer suggestions, discuss the scientific method with their children, help cut out project parts, and provide materials. Help your child set up a schedule and offer reminders. Attend parent night information sessions to gather more information. Do not buy kits to be put together. Ideas and work should be the child’s own. Keep it simple.
http://www.ncsciencefair.org/index.php/students-a-parents/rules
Parent Do’s for the Science Fair
· DO READ the entire Science Fair Packet
· DO encourage your child throughout the process of doing a project
· DO supply any needed materials
· DO remind your child to turn in their entry form by January 5, 2017.
· DO provide opportunities for your child to visit a library for research
· DO purchase a display board from Mrs. L’Heureux ($4.00)
· DO attend the Parent Information night on December 1, 2016 at 6pm.
· DO suggest that your child start early.
· DO remind your 4th and 5th graders to turn in a written report to their teacher.
· DO make sure the project is primarily the work of your child.
· DO show enthusiasm for your child’s project and for the Science Fair.
· DO notify Mrs. L’Heureux by January 9, 2017 of any Project Title or Category Change.
· DO consider early check-in 6:00 - 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 11, 2017
· DO volunteer to help Judge or check-in on Thursday, January 12, 2017
· DO attend the Science Fair on Thursday, January 12, 2017 between 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM.
Parent Don’ts for the Science Fair
· DON’T allow your child to wait until the last minute.
· DON’T let your child turn the entry form in late after January 5, 2017.
· DON’T let your 3rd – 5th grader put his or her name or photo of their face on the front of the display board.