Kindergarten

Kindergarten-level projects do not qualify for placement awards but will receive a participation ribbon and science fair certificate. Oral presentations to judges are highly encouraged as a way to build verbal skills but are not required.

Participating kindergarten student’s science fair boards and projects should highlight observations, processes, and simple questions.

Kindergarten Project Board and Display should include:

• Title of science project that includes simple guiding questions that encourage curiosity.
• Notes, photos, or drawings as a form of scientific observation.
• Display of experiment and/or collected items.
  

Kindergarten Science Projects:

• Natural science collections: Encourages observation and sorting skills that present natural items such shells, rocks, feathers, and plant parts such as leaves, twigs, and seeds. (No live plants or food may be displayed physically in the museum.)
• Simple visual and sensory experiments: Experiments can demonstrate simple science concepts. Examples include but are not limited to density, physical or chemical reactions, magnetism, and life cycles.
• Focus on process over outcome: The goal is exploration and curiosity. Experiments should be guided by “what if” questions that include drawings or photos that replace scientific hypothesis, charts, and graphs.

1st Grade – 12th Grade

Below is the breakdown of points for the four criteria you will be scored on.

1. Use of scientific method/ inquiry: 25 points
   Participant’s science fair board and project include a research
   question, hypothesis, list of materials and sources, thorough
   procedure, data, results, and conclusion. A scientific project should
   include at least one variable and one control
2. Completion of project by the student: 10 points
   Participant will be asked about their direct involvement completing
   the science fair project. Adult supervision during experiments is encouraged for safety. Participant should be prepared to answer questions about project choice, timeline, completion, and observations.
   
3. Creativity: 10 points
   Participant’s project board is visually appealing. Participant’s project uses materials and sources in interesting and creative ways.
4. Presentation: 5 points
   Participant exhibits strong verbal communication, confident body language, and engagement skills. They effectively communicate
   processes and scientific method use.