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Rules and Regulations
Please read all rules and requirements before you start your project. Consult with your Science teacher to be sure you understand them. Projects not meeting all rules and regulations will be disqualified.
General Rules
1. Each student may submit only one project in one of three categories (Life, Earth, or
Physical Science).
2. Projects cannot include molds, bacteria, or fungus growing labs. Uses of body tissues or body fluids are also not allowed in elementary projects.
3. The entry must be the work of the student entering the Fair. Projects are to be completed independently; there may be only one student per project.
4. Student Entry Form (pg. 6) must be turned in to the Science teacher by the Entry Form due date. Entry form must include category, title, description of project, and student and parent signatures.
5. Project titles are limited to 5 words or less.
6. The name of the student must NOT appear on the exhibit. Each exhibit will be assigned an identification number.
7. A three-sided backdrop is required as a part of each exhibit. Further information about the three-sided backdrops may be found on page 4.
8. The student is responsible for the set-up of his/her own exhibit. Remember to bring whatever tools are required.
9. The student/exhibitor is responsible for the dismantling of the project. A Project Data Journal must be included with the student project. See attached guidelines on page 5.
Display Rules
1. SIZE: Exhibits that include a backboard and other materials must be freestanding. Exhibit size is limited to a maximum of 18 in. deep, 3 ft. wide and 3 ft. high. Any exhibit exceeding these dimensions will be disqualified. Any materials displayed at the campus level must be able to fit within the exhibit area. Materials, except for journals, will not be allowed at the district level. Display board weight should be kept low as the student must be able to carry the display without assistance.
2. WRITTEN MATERIAL: A summary form about the exhibit may be required by the campus. This should be submitted to your Science teacher by the Summary Form due date. A project journal including research, sources, and observations must be displayed with the project. See attached guidelines (pg. 5) for the journal. Research, computer programs, or other relevant written materials may be displayed with the exhibit at the campus level.
3. ORAL PRESENTATION: The student should be prepared to give a brief oral presentation of his/her project. The oral presentation is extremely important because it reveals the student’s knowledge and understanding of his/her project. See the attached scoring guidelines on page 8. This presentation should not exceed two minutes. The student should be prepared to answer any questions about the project that may be asked during the presentation of the project.
Safety Rules
1. Anything which could be hazardous to public display is prohibited. This includes:
- any flames open or concealed.
- dangerous chemicals including caustics and acids.
- highly combustible solids, liquids, or gases.
- tanks which have contained combustible gases, including butane or propane.
- molds, bacteria, or any type of bio-culture is prohibited
2. Proper attention to safety is expected of all Science Fair Participants, including
compliance with the following requirements for all operating exhibits:
- any exhibit producing temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius must be adequately insulated from its surroundings.
- batteries with open top cells are not permitted.
- electric power should be supplied by dry cell batteries of no more than 12 volts each.
- there will be no power source provided for any projects.
- all wiring must be properly insulated.
3. The following safety requirements apply to projects with live animals.
- Any projects involving vertebrate animals must have prior authorization from a veterinarian for the safety of the animal. Authorization form can be found on page 7 and should be added to the project journal after teacher approval.
- Animals must be enclosed in a LOCKED cage.
- The student must give animal proper care each day.
- The health and safety of the animal will be solely the responsibility of the student.
- Any liability resulting from the animal’s presence at school will be the responsibility of the student and parents.
- Projects involving the maiming or death of vertebrate animals are strictly prohibited.
Advancing to the District Level Competition:
Each Alvin ISD elementary campus with 3rd – 5th grades will send up to 9 students from their campus to the District Elementary Science Fair on February 24th. Students advancing to the district level will be required to make an oral presentation of their project and may only display their project back board and project notebook. All other items will not be allowed to be displayed at this level.
Three-sided Backdrops
Each project entry must have a three-sided backdrop. Failure to have a backdrop will result in disqualification. Below is a sample of how a project might be displayed. Students may choose to use a prefabricated backdrop or build their own. With either choice keep in mind the following points:
1. Construction should be durable, lightweight, and rigid enough to stand solidly. Recommended materials include cardboard and foam board.
2. Make the title large and clear. Labeling should be neat and informative.
3. Make large, clear explanations. An appropriate picture or diagram is worth many words.
4. Make your project tell a story. Make it explain itself. Use pictures to show the experiment – remember, at the district level, the only materials allowed are the backboard and journal.
5. If constructing a backboard, movable parts must be firmly attached and safe. Backdrop wings may use inexpensive hinges or tape.
6. Backdrops should include pictures, charts, and/or graphs that will assist in explaining the project.
Project Data Journal
The project data journal is a required part of the Science Fair project. Each entry should be neatly written with each page numbered. Students may want to include pictures of their experimental set up in their observation/data pages. Pictures of the project set up may be included in the journal to help explain the experimental process. Below is a sample layout of a project data journal.
Turn in to your Science Teacher by December 11, 2015
Student Name ______
Title of Project ______
Category of Project (check one box)
Life Science Earth Science Physical Science
Project includes vertebrate animals (must include signed permission from veterinarian) yes no
Project Hypothesis ______
Description of Project:
We have read all the rules and regulations listed in this packet and understand that they must be followed in fact and intent in all phases of project development and exhibition. We understand that failure to comply with the rules may result in disqualification. We understand that if the project is not dismantled and removed at the proper time that it may be discarded.
Student Signature: ______
Parent Signature: ______
Science Teacher’s Signature: ______
Animal Form
Required for all projects involving vertebrate animals.
Student Name ______
Title of Project ______
Part A. To be completed by student.
1. What animal(s) do you want to use in your project?
2. Describe what you will do in the experiment and how you will care for the animal(s).
3. What will happen to the animal(s) after you complete your project?
Part B. To be completed by the Veterinarian.
¨ I certify that I have reviewed this project and animal care with the student before the start of the project.
¨ I certify that I will provide veterinary medical or nursing care in case of illness or emergency.
Print Name Phone / E-mail
Signature Date of Approval
Science Fair Scoring - Experiment
Students should use the following guidelines when preparing their experiment projects. Judges will be using these guidelines when scoring projects.
Alvin ISD Elementary Science Fair Scoring SheetProject ID Number ______Category ______
Part I – Scientific Processes / 60 Points / Comments
· Purpose/Question – clearly stated. / 1 2 3 4 5
· Research cited with 2 or more sources / 1 2 3 4 5
· Hypothesis is testable and addresses the purpose. / 1 2 3 4 5
· Materials are suitable for experiment and described. / 1 2 3 4 5
· Procedures are outlined in a step-by-step fashion that could be followed by anyone without additional explanation. / 2 4 6 8 10
· Data/Observations / 2 4 6 8 10
· Results / 2 4 6 8 10
· Conclusions / 2 4 6 8 10
Part II - Display / 10 Points / Comments
· Clearly organized / 1 2 3 4
· Attractive and easy to read / 1 2 3
· Creative display of information / 1 2 3
Part III – Oral Presentation / 20 Points / Comments
· Communicates understanding of science behind the project / 1 2 3 4 5
· Describes experiment procedures / 1 2 3 4 5
· Explains how the results relate to the hypothesis / 1 2 3 4 5
· Acknowledges help with project / 1 2 3 4 5
Part IV – Project Data Journal / 10 Points / Comments
· Purpose, research, hypothesis, materials, procedures, bibliography, acknowledgements included / 1 2 3
· Observations, results, and conclusions / 1 2 3 4
· Journal is organized, neat, and easily understood / 1 2 3
Total Points