EVERY SCHOOL. EVERY CLASSROOM. EVERY STUDENT. EVERY DAY.
Elementary
Science Fair
2014-2015
“Taking Flight into Science”
December 3, 2014:
Project Judging
December 4, 2014:
Student Field Day and Award Ceremony
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Science Fair
Parent/Student Guide
Guide
Dear Families,
Newsflash! Your child is about to begin his/her journey with the Duval County 2014-2015 Science Fair! It
should be a fun and exciting learning experience through science for your child. The District Science Fair will
be December 3rd and 4th 2014. However, each school will have its own school based Science Fair prior to the
District Science Fair (See your school for school-based Science fair information). Each participant must
complete the parent consent form below and return it to the teacher by September 12, 2014.
 As a parent, your job is only to assist. This Science Fair experience is an opportunity for your child to
think and act like a scientist during the Science Fair process.
 Assist your child with research and any portion of the project that may pose a safety risk.
 Suppose and assist your child with Internet research and possible visits to the local library.
 It is recommended that you purchase a display board for the Science Fair Project.
 The complete Science Fair Package is located on Duval County Public Schools website,
www.duvalschools.org Elementary Science Fair.
Thank you for your support!
______________________________
Teacher Signature
---------------------------------------------------------------- CUT AND RETURN ---------------------------------------------------------
Student /Parent/Guardian Consent Form
My child and I have read the Science Fair Student/Parent Guidelines in its entirety. We know when each
section is due and that the project requires a display board, science journal and research paper. We also know
that this Consent Form is due by September 12, 2014 (School-Based).
________________________________
_________________________________
Student Signature/Date
Parent/Guardian Signature/Date
Parent/Guardian Contact phone number:
______________________________________________________________________________________
School Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
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Month
August
September-November
September 12th
November 7th
December 3rd
December 4th
December 4th
Information
Information sent to the school sites and posted on the
Elementary Science website: http://www.duvalschools.org
Prepare and organize school based Science Fairs
School Participation Form Due
Project Entry Form Due
Projects delivered to the Prime Osborne Convention Center 8am – 12pm ONLY
School Field Trip Day - 9am – 1:30pm (The Prime Osborne
Convention Center will be open to all administrators, teachers,
and students to view projects on display)
Awards Ceremony - 6pm – 7pm
(Free admission to the public. All winners will be announced
during this time.)
**Projects cannot be stored at the Prime Osborne and must be removed by students or
teachers. All projects left behind will be discarded*
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Name: ______________________________________________________ Grade: _________
Task
Due Date (s)
1.
2.
Parent/Guardian Consent
Science Fair Project Topic selected
August 29, 2014
September 5, 2014
3.
Identify a Problem/Question
4.
Conduct Research on your Topic
5.
State your Hypothesis
6.
7.
Prepare your Project (list materials, write
procedure in numbered steps, identify your
variables)
Create a graph from your data
September 8-October
24, 2014
September 8-October
24, 2014
September 8-October
24, 2014
September 8-October
24, 2014
8.
Analyze Data and write a conclusion
9.
Prepare Display Boards/Projects Due
Completed
(√)
September 8-October
24, 2014
September 8-October
24, 2014
October 27-31, 2014
10. School-based Fairs
November 3-7, 2014
11. District Elementary Science Fair
December 4, 2014
(judging will occur on
12/3/14)
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First and foremost, the parent or teacher supervising should use his or her best judgment to
ensure the safety of the student and any subjects. Also, to ensure the safety of visitors to the
fair, students should include photographs on projects, rather than displaying breakable,
valuable or potentially harmful objects--including chemicals, or any kind of food.
EYE PROTECTION: Safety glasses should be used for any experiments with chemicals or if any
kind of splash may come in contact with your eyes
ALLERGIES: Remember human subjects may be allergic to different substances. Always ask
about allergies.
FIRE: Projects are not allowed that involve fire or burning objects.
HUMANS: No experiments should be done on humans (that includes pets).
BACTERIA: Due to the potential for inhaling or coming in contact with harmful bacteria,
students should avoid projects where they collect bacteria and then grow bacteria cultures.
While this can be done safely, the potential exists for a very harmful pathogen to be inhaled or
come in contact with the student.
OTHER: No experiments should be done using firearms. Experiments cannot include
prescription drugs, illegal drugs or alcohol.
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1. Each project must be related to an area of science. Experiments, investigations, and demonstrations
are fine. Posters alone are not science fair projects.
2. All projects must be approved by your teacher before you begin.
3. Projects submitted must be from one of the categories and classifications:
Category
Life Science
Earth/Space Science
Physical Science
Classification
Kindergarten Class
1st grade Class
2nd grade Class
(No K-2 individual projects will be accepted.)
3rd-5th grade team or individual
(Teams may have up to 3 students per project,
but no more.)
4. Projects should be free standing and not utilize more than 30 inches by 48 inches of space on a table.
Plan a neat and attractive display. It is suggested that you purchase a display board from Staples,
Office Max, Office Depot, etc. All displays must be placed on a display board.
5. Label all exhibits with plain lettered signs identifying each part of the science method and explaining its
relationship to the whole exhibit.
6. Your projects should include a written report or journal entries that provide background information.
For example, what you did, how you did it, when you did it, and the results.
7. The following items are NOT allowed: live animals, controlled substances, bodily fluid samples,
dangerous chemicals, open flames, and/or explosives.
8. Projects will be judges based on the rubric provided in this packet. Judges will judge your project by
the information that is shown on your display board and the oral presentation (if chosen for an
interview).
9. You may ask for help in getting materials and in taking pictures, but they should not build the exhibits
or write the explanations.
10. The decision of the judges is FINAL!!!
11. All projects will be discarded at the end of the awards ceremony.
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The list below includes ideas that students may consider when deciding on a Science Fair
project. The list is suggestions ONLY and students may choose from the list or develop their
own project ideas and question with teacher support if needed.
Grades K-2
Life Science
Senses
Living/Non-Living
Plants
Animals
Grades 3-4
Habitats and Environments
Invertebrates
Life Cycles
Plant Life
Grade 5
Adaptations
Food Chains
Inside Living Things
Earth/Space
Earth’s Surface
Earth, Moon, and Sun
Weather
Clouds, Wind, and Storms
Minerals, Rocks, and Soils
The Solar System
Atmosphere and Climate
Changing Landforms
Outside the Solar System
Physical Science
Energy
Things Move
Properties
Light
Magnets
Heat Energy
Machines
Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Sound
Force and Motion
Electricity and Magnetism
Mixing Matter
Energy Resources
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Duval County Public Schools
Elementary Science Fair
2014-2015
School Participation Form
The District Elementary Science Fair will be held at the Prime Osborne Convention Center,
December 3-4. Please complete this form (one per school). All communication will be made
via email with the coordinator listed on this form.
(Please print)
School Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Science Fair Contact/Coordinator: ______________________________________________________
Contact Person’s Email: ______________________________________________________________
Contact Person’s Phone Number: ______________________________________________________
Principal’s Name: ____________________________________________________________________
School Science Fair Date (if applicable): _________________________________________________
For the District Elementary Science Fair, each school is allowed to submit a maximum of
4 (four) projects per school.
Principal’s Signature: ________________________________________________
Please return this form on or before September 12th by one of the methods below.
1. Scan and email to [email protected] or [email protected]
2. Fax to (904) 390-2614, Attn: Shakeatha Butler or Ruth J. Knight
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LEFT SIDE
CENTER
RIGHT SIDE
PROBLEM STATEMENT
TITLE
HYPOTHESIS
MATERIALS
PROCEDURES
DATA
ABSTRACT
CONCLUSION
Charts, Graphs, photos, or
sketches
Use the project display checklist to ensure that you have thoroughly completed each step.
______ Problem (or question)
______ Background research (with citations)
______ Hypothesis
______ Abstract
______ Procedure, Experiment, or Investigation (use step by step format)
______ Materials
______ Data (charts, graphs, photos, or sketches)
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Duval County Public Schools
Elementary Science Fair
Project Entry Form
Note: An entry form must be completed for all projects.
Project Type(see guidelines):
Place an “x” in the appropriate box below
Individual ______
Group (3 per project max) _______
Class: (grade level) _______
Name(s):
School:
Grade Level:
Teacher(s):
Project Title:
Brief Description of Project:
Please attach this form to the top right on the back of each project.
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Here are some internet sites that may be helpful.
 Science Buddies
www.sciencebuddies.org
 Science Fair Project Resource Guide
http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide
 Science Projects
http://www.scienceprojects.com
You may also Google the following terms for help.
 Science Fair Central
 All Science Fair Projects
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Review the timeline (included)
Sketch a rough layout on a piece of paper before posting up your display.
Photograph each step of your procedure.
Decide on a catchy title for your project.
Include all required categories and content on your display.
Tell the story of your science project in a logical and easy to read manner.
Arrange the items from left to right and from top to bottom.
Space elements evenly across your display board, to achieve a balanced and consistent
look.
9. Use black or dark colors for type in a font that is easy to read.
10. Make your font large enough to read from four feet away.
11. Label all graphs, charts, and tables.
12. Write descriptive captions for your photos.
13. Be sure to proofread your work, before posting on your display board.
14. BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!!!!
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Duval County Public Schools
District Science Fair 2014
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
When will judging occur? Judging of projects will occur on Wednesday, December 3, 2014.
Is judging open to the public? No, the judging process is closed to the public.
What is the set-up process? Set up of projects will begin at 7am and conclude at 12pm on December 3, 2014. Projects
may be delivered by the teacher and/or Science Coordinator at the school or by the parent (s) of the students. There
will NOT be any projects accepted after 12pm.
Who is responsible for setting up projects, and are parents allowed and students allowed to assist with this process?
The teacher and/or Science Coordinator of the school will be responsible for transporting projects to the Prime
Osborne Convention Center (unless arrangements have been made with the parents). We encourage participation
from everyone (teachers, Science Coordinators, parents, and students) to assist with set-up.
What happens to the projects at the end of the Science Fair? All projects must be removed from the premises on
December 4, 2014. Any projects left at the conclusion of the Science Fair event will be discarded.
Should I complete a field trip packet? Yes, a completed field trip packet is required for the event on December 3 – 4,
2014. The field trip package information can be obtained from the bookkeeper at your school.
Are we responsible for transportation? All schools are responsible to arranging for Transportation for their own bus.
Will lunch be served or are the students required to bring a bag lunch? Lunch will not be served; however, students may
bring a bag lunch. High school sponsors will be selling food and beverages through a concession stand. A list of items
for sale will be available on the Science website.
How many students (per school) are teachers allowed to bring to the event? Due to the size of the venue, each
participating school is allowed to bring 30 (thirty) students per school to the event and 3 chaperones (10 students per
chaperone).
What is the number of projects allowed to be submitted per school? Only 4 (four) projects per school may be entered
into the Science Fair (i.e. One K - class project, one 4th grade individual project, and two 5th grade individual projects).
Who attends the Science Fair? The School Field Day (December 4th from 9am-1:30pm) is open to students and
teachers, faculty, and staff of DCPS. The Awards Ceremony of the Science Fair (December 4th from 6pm-7pm) is open
to family and friends.
How long will students be at the venue for the field trip and what do they need to bring? Students will be at the venue
from 9am-1:30 on December 4, 2014 and there are no items needed for the event.
When will awards be presented to the Science Fair Winners? Will winners be notified, prior to the ceremony? Winners
will be determined on December 3rd, once the judging process has been concluded. Science Fair Coordinators will be
notified of students selected for an interview. Judging interviews will be conducted on December 4, 2014.
Will everyone receive awards or just those persons that won? Everyone will receive a certificate of participation (class
projects will receive a certificate for the class).
Can my project involve humans, pets, etc.? NO human or pet subjects may be used in any projects.
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