The 51st Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held March 20-25 at the Tucson Convention Center. The 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth will be celebrated.
Once again, SARSEF has been approved to take up to six high school projects to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Grants and awards (worth more than $15,000) are being awarded to this year's high school and middle school participants.
School just resumed after the winter break, and students are already overwhelmed with assignments. There are so many tasks needing to be done: AIMS assignments, projects for Science Olympiad, Invention Convention and the Science Fair.
Some schools opt to participate in one program a year, rotating programs year to year. Many schools leave the decision to the student. How do you decide which to participate in, especially with classroom assignments, too?
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The Science Fair project, an application of the scientific method to a unique problem, can be just an extension of these other assignments. Schools mastering Arizona's standards in science may ask students to participate in a "Contraption Invention Fair," like one recently held for fifth-graders at Tanque Verde Elementary School.
Students used commonly found items to build a contraption that would use simple machines, gravity, friction and pressure to produce a particular size squirt of toothpaste without a hand touching the tube. They had to build their contraption, prove it worked and complete paperwork describing the science behind it. They also had to prove they worked together as a team to develop it.
That sounds a lot like a Team Science Fair project. The only things missing were a journal of the process they used developing their contraptions and a final display of their work. With only a bit more effort, students preparing a project like this for their classes can actually participate in the Science Fair, too. Imagine not having to stress over the multiple demands for time while still learning and getting to participate in something fun and interesting.
Parents and teachers can appreciate combining efforts to accomplish several goals. At Tanque Verde Elementary, teachers commented on how invested students were while thinking, testing and trying different possibilities for their contraptions.
For parents, there was relief that students were mastering science skills while having fun on one project. For teachers, state science standards were being met.
If the students decide to use their contraption for the Science Fair, they will apply their writing, math and presentation skill standards, too. That would be a great way to wrap a lot of learning and opportunity into one project.
How do you go about merging a required assignment with a Science Fair project? That depends on the requirements of both programs.
For the Science Fair, students need to follow the scientific method to prepare a test, analyze it and then display their work for judging. Some other programs may already require students to keep a journal of their work and research. Some may require a written research paper or abstract (summary of the project).
Display requirements might differ on whether models may be displayed, size, space allowed and materials used. But all activities that perform a test answering a question through the scientific method can be adapted to enter as a Science Fair project.
Time is an important consideration in preparing both your school assignments and your Science Fair project. To develop a project that meets the requirements for both is one way to save time while making your work interesting, successful and fun.
Another way is to not wait until the last minute to do your project. The weekend before the Science Fair is not the time to start your project. Start your project now. It is not too late!
Finding ways to combine and enjoy your school assignments and other programs like the Science Fair makes them more worth your time and your parents' and teachers' time, too.
According to Garvin Larson, fifth-grade teacher at Tanque Verde Elementary and the contraption program coordinator, "Judging from the number of parents with cameras and the amount of giggles and laughter (while students demonstrated their contraptions), I'll try the Contraption Invention Fair again next year, too."
2006 SARSEF notes
● New at SARSEF: Student photos will be available after SARSEF via www.sarsef.org online. Parents must sign and return the "Approval for Image Use" for student photos to be offered.
● 2006 Project Registration will open soon. Deadline: March 6.
● SARSEF 2006 at Tucson Convention Center: March 20-25.
● Raytheon Math, Science and Technology FunFest: March 22-24.
