Science Fair

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Your son or daughter is beginning a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) project. It is also called a science fair project. The objective of this project is to give every student firsthand knowledge and experience using scientific skills and processes to solve a problem. Please read this information and answer the three homework questions at the end.

An important part of the STEM project includes conducting independent research on a topic to prove or disprove a hypothesis. As a vital member of our school’s learning community, you can help motivate your son or daughter by taking an interest in their project and adhering to the due dates outlined on the following pages.

10/14/24: STEM Fair Parent Form (this homework).

10/28/24: Topic: Student’s name, the date, and selected science fair topic. www.sciencebuddies.org and www.all-science-fair-projects.com are good science project websites.

​11/14/24: Background Research on your general topic emailed to [e-mail]. Rubric: 80% for at least five relevant pages (not including pictures and title page), double spaced, 1-inch margins, and 12-pitch font. 10% for outline notes used to write this report in student’s own words. 10% for references.

​

​Continued on next page

​11/18/24: Student Approval Packet. Only complete Pages 4 – 7. Your teacher will complete Pages 1 – 3. Rubric: 10 points for the Research Plan (1 point for each fill-in part). 3 points for completing the top of the Page 7 Approval Form with your parent.

​Do NOT experiment until your teacher approves your Research Plan.

We must check for safety. We usually prohibit experiments with humans, vertebrate animals, bacteria, and dangerous chemicals.

​

​Continued on next page

​1/6/25: ​Presentation. Rubric: No more than 10 slides (in Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint). Half the grade is for the 10 parts listed below. The other half is for the science knowledge level and the quality of the data and explanation (no elementary school projects). 1 point for each of these 10 parts:

1. Project Title and Picture (with student’s face) identifying student

using the equipment.       2. Problem/Question

3. Hypothesis                  4. Materials

5. Procedure                    6. Independent Variable

7. Dependent Variable    8. Constants

9. Results, including data table, graph, and explanation.

10. Conclusion

​Continued on next page

​1/13/25: ​Display Board. 3 ft high × 4 ft wide. Extra credit only for winners. No staples.​

​

Plagiarized work receives a grade of 0. Instead of copying and pasting, students must take outline notes and draw pictures, and then, write in their own words and cite references.

​

​Continued on next page

You may check your child’s grades and attendance at our Synergy website. To use this website, parents go to www.pgcps.org, and click on ParentVUE.  When using this for the first time, select Request Account Activation at the bottom and follow the directions.

​

To see a STEM Fair Short Guide, click here . Please encourage your son or daughter to take personal responsibility of their learning by understanding and applying the expectations explained in the STEM Fair Short Guide so that he or she may produce a quality project. Thank you in advance for your ​continued involvement in this exciting endeavor!​

​

​continued on next page

Open Ended

Parent or Guardian,

This portion of the Quizizz is homework.

What is your name?

Open Ended

What is your phone number?

Open Ended

What is your email address?