NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has just released a video series designed to take teachers, students and parents through the sometimes mystifying process of crafting a science fair project. This six-part video series features JPL scientist Serina Diniega, engineer Arby Argueta and educator Ota Lutz, who team up to take viewers step by step through the project design process, from generating an idea to communicating the final results in an attractive display. Visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/sciencefair/ to watch the series, download related resources and to find notes for teachers and parents.
Remember... It's
never to early to begin thinking about and working on your science
fair project ideas! The following resources, tips, and ideas have
been gathered to help you along your way. Let's start with the
purposefor doing a science fair project…
First things
First....
What is the purpose
of the AAE Festival of Science or
the Regional and State Science Fairs?
Student
Science Project Guidelines and a helpful guideline for conducting
a Science Investigation and writing a Science Project
or Research Report
Having
a hard time picking a topic for your Science Fair Entry? Try visiting...
Here is a link to the current (1/2017) SIM SEF 'Display and Safety Regulations'. You might want to build these guidelines into your project at the beginning so you won't have to change anything in the end!
'Common' Guidelines
for using a Notebook
for documenting your science project experience.
Template
for laying out the Title
Page for your science project.
'Common' Guidelines
for writing your Science project
report.
'Common' Guidelines
for writing a Bibliography
or reference list for your science project. documenting your science
project experience.
'Common' Guidelines
for writing an acceptable Abstract
for your science project. Here is an example and here is another example.
Cut
out, fill out and attach this Label
to the back of your science project display board.
Use
this 'common' "Project
Rubric" to self-assess your project before putting on
the "final touches" and turning it in. Here is a copy of the form we use to assess student science projects (we are in the process of developing forms for technology, engineering and math projects [1/2016]).
Here are some templates for laying out a project display board: Example 1 (a handout from a SoCal school district), example 2 (3 NGSS CCSS based samples)
Suggested
Timeline
for planning the AAE Science Festival
AAE Community Science Festival: What, How, When, Where, Then What?...
AAE Community STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Festival: What, How, When, Where, Then What?...
WHAT: The AAE school community hosts only one K-12 'STEM Festival' each year.
HOW: Each grade level can 'elevate' up to 8 'quality' student projects for consideration and display at the annual 'AAE Community STEM Festival'. By late January each year, each grade level will select a team to identify, by the first week of February, the students and their projects that will represent their grade level by being 'elevated' for display at the 'AAE Community STEM Festival' in early to mid-February. Here is a copy of the rubric that we use to assess the qualifications and quality of student work for a 'science project'. Rubrics for technology, engineering and math based projects will be created soon by using a PLC K-12 science team approach (1/2016).
WHEN:The 'AAE Community STEM Festival' will be held during the third week of February each year on the Mojave River Campus [generally mid-week on a Wednesday].
WHERE: The 'AAE Community STEM Festival' will be held on the Mojave River Campus [location TBD each year]. Projects will be available for display from 5:30-6:00 pm on the evening following their judging. Awards will be given out in the C Building @ 6:00pm.
THEN WHAT?: Generally, the AAE annually receives an opportunity to 'elevate' six of the best 4th through 12th grade students and their projects, to display their work together with other student representatives from San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono counties at the annual 'SIMS Science and Engineering Fair' (SIM SEF). This event is generally held during the 1st week of April (which falls during the 2nd week of the AAE's 'Spring Break'). Student and their projects that are 'elevated' to this honor, will need to complete a written and online application (along with their parent's and teacher's assistance) by the 5:00 pm Friday of 2nd week of March [this deadline varies from year to year and need to be verified by early February each year before the application period opens [generally on a Tuesday during the 2nd week of February]. Current SIM ISEF materials can be found at one of these websites (please note that they are updated annually with new materials by late Fall each year): SBCSS1
Historically, the AAE (for grades 4-12) is given only 6 project 'slots' or opportunities to enter 6 worthy project to the SIM SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR (SIM SEF).
The 'common' SIM SEF project categories for each grade band are as follows:
grades 4-5 , grades grades 6-8 and grades 9-12(descriptions). Please encourage students to view these lists and the following descriptions before picking project.
Categories that have the fewest entries
have a greater chance of winning higher recognition.
At the SIM SEF, student projects will be judged using the criteria described in this document.
This document describes what students can expect during when they are interviewed by SIM SEF judges.
The current SIM SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR' materials can be found at one of this website (please note that they are updated annually with new materials and sometime the url changes as well): SBCSS ,
Resources to be looking for include the most current:
Regulations and Information
Packet (generally a '.pdf' file) which can be found here. Here is a copy of the SIM SEF 2017 Handbook.
Here is a link to a 'practice' copy (Google.doc) of the 'old' online 'RIMS' Science Fair Student Project Application. Feel free to make a copy and modify it for your use if you would like.
SIM SEF offers online student registration. WE DO NOT OFFER PAPER REGISTRATION. For the 2016-2017 school year online registration is
open December 1, 2016 thru March 2, 2017 (closes 9:00 a.m.). Students may obtain the website address from Mrs. Johnston, our new AAE K-12 School Site Fair Coordinator or go to http://tinyurl.com/SIMWebpage. All information must be completed accurately and all applicable forms and
certifications to your project must be turned into your District/Affiliate Fair Coordinator. In addition to turning in certifications and
related forms to your District/Affiliate Fair Coordinator you must also submit your Signature Card by 9:00 a.m. on March 2, 2017.
Signature Cardsare to be signed and given to our School Site/Affiliate Fair Coordinators with all certifications and related forms. The School Site/Affiliate Fair Coordinator will then also sign the Signature Card certifying that they have possession of all necessary
documents for that given project to participate in the SIM SEF.
At the present time, the SIM SEF coordinators have not compiled a "Students' Guide to Participation, (generally a '.pdf' file)for the SIM SEF. Note, this is a 2013-14 version for the old 'RIMS Inland Science and Engineering Fair'.
A StudentSchedule and Map for the Event Day (link to be added at a later date) will be made available closer to the day of the event for the upcoming SIM Science & Engineering Fair.
SIM SEF 'Key Dates' outline for the upcoming event in San Bernardino can be found here. Here is a direct link to the document for the 2016-12 SIM SEF event.
SIMS Annual Science & Engineering Fair
The Annual SIM SEF for students representing schools in San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono counties will now be held at the Auto Club Speedway, 9300 Cherry Avenue Fontana, CA 92335, during the first week of April each year . For the timing of this year's event go here for the most updated information (generally in the 'Key Events' document (a .pdf). The 4-12h grade awards presentation will now beheld (as of 1/2017) on the National Orange Show, in the Valencia Room, on
689 S. E Street San Bernardino, CA 92408. For the timing of this year's event go here.
For the latest information regarding this year's ANNUAL SIM SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR the current materials can be found at one of these websites (please note that they are updated annually with new materials): SBCSS1 and SBCSS2.
Required SIM SEF Forms...
Any SIM Science and Engineering Fair project application will need the following Certification
FORMS IF your project...
Used Human Subjects... Guidelines of
Compliance of Research Involving Human Subjects,
Form: Certification of Compliance of Research Involving Human Subjects
Used Living Organisms...Guidelines of
Humane Treatment of Live Vertebrate Animals,
Guidelines
Form Name: Certification of Humane Treatment of Live Vertebrate Animals
Used Living Tissues... Guidelines of
Tissue Sample Source
Used 'Professional Research Support Form'... This form
is required of all projects completed partially or entirely within the
facilities of a professional research organization,
whether academic, industrial, or government. Include this form and any attachments with your application. Complete the top two
lines before delivering the form to your research advisor.
NOTE: The forms provided above are copies of ones used for past science fair events. For the current forms find and download the current versions of the 'SIM SEF 2016-2017 Handbook' from the SBCSS website.
Online Registration for SIM SEF & State Science Fair Information
Online
Registration...
Generally opens
during the 1st week of December (as of 12/2016) and closes during the 1st week of March @ 9:00 am.
PLEASE NOTE: Generally this link is NOT/Open available until December each year.
The signup fee (not entry) for
the 'elevated' students and their projects has been $40/student payable to SBCSS.
All students
in grades 4th thru 12th can register
on-line at this link
(Note: this link is only activated and up-to-date during the open registration period). The 'Instruction for Application/Registration' that students, parents and/or teachers will need to have on hand when filling out the online registration form can be found here.
Note: 'Hard copies' of the online Application are no longer needed. The 'division' breakdowns are:
Elementary
Division (grade 4-5th grade)
Junior
Division (grade 6-8th grade)
Senior
Division (grade 9-12th grades
Abstracts
are require for online registration. Here
are some examples to help guide you in writing yours.
Find us on Facebook
