Moore Public Schools Science Fair Training
Heather Grive
MPS Science Coordinator
New Categories

The District Science Fair will be open for
competitions in four areas for the SY 16/17
 Robotics
Competition
 Invention
 Science
Projects
Projects
 Engineering
Competition
What is a Robotics Team?

Robotics enhances students STEM learning throughout the entire process of
development, engineering, testing and exploratory science. Students will utilize
numerous skills to work as teams to solve problems and develop solutions. Students
compete showing how the robot will complete a task and work as a team to solve
any problems that may arise during the competition.

Vex Robotics is looking to offer grants to schools willing to develop a Robotics Team

Competing at Vex IQ Competitions are primarily designed for students, ages 8-13


Teams are typically 5-10 members, but there is no limit
Competing at VEX EDR Competitions are primarily designed for Middle & High School
Students

Teams are typically 4-7 members, but can be as small as one student and one adult
sponsor

I am currently looking to start Robotics teams through the MPS SEARCH Program and
already established teams. There is a large time commitment to this competition

How to start a team, competition and other information available at the Vex
website, please see me if you are interested in Robotics
What is an Invention Project?

An invention project is when a student develops a new
idea or creative way to do something and then presents
this idea with a report, display board and model.

Students K-12 can compete in this category

Students K-12 can advance to the Invention Convention
held at Rose State College

Further advancement possible after Rose State College

This is a great way to introduce 4th grade students to
creating project displays, using science in a meaningful
way and having the potential to win cash prizes
What is a Science Project?

A science project affords students the opportunity to investigate and
discover perplexing scientific questions. The competition is where
students present their science project results in the form of a report,
display board, and models that they have created.

Students K-12 can compete in this competition

Students 6-12 can advance and compete at Regional Science Fair held
at UCO

Students 7-12 can advance to OSSEF (Oklahoma State Science and
Engineering Fair)

Students 9-12 can advance to ISEF (International Science &
Engineering Fair)

Please Review changes to category competition for science fair
projects on upcoming slides
What is an Engineering Competition?

The engineering design process is a series of steps that engineers
follow to come up with a solution to a problem. Many times the
solution involves designing a product (like a machine or computer
code) that meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a certain task.
The engineering competition is conducted by the students as judges
judge their performance

Students are given approximately 5-7 engineering designs to choose
from to compete in. (Predetermined by the district)

Requires Teacher Coach (Approval to compete) generally reserved for
5th – High School Students.

Middle School Students can advance to the Oklahoma Engineering Fair
held at the Science Museum
Category Updates Science Projects
Human Participation Studies

Exempt Studies (Do Not Require IRB Preapproval or Human Participants Paperwork) Some
studies involving humans are exempt from IRB preapproval or additional human participant
forms. Exempt projects for the Intel ISEF and affiliated fairs are:

Testing of a student-designed invention or prototype is done only by the student researcher and where the
testing does not pose a health or safety hazard. It is recommended that a Risk Assessment Form (3) be completed.
(The use of other human participants for this testing is not exempt from IRB review and approval.)

Data/record review studies (e.g., baseball statistics, crime statistics) in which the data are taken from preexisting
data sets that are publicly available and/or published and do not involve any interaction with humans or the
collection of any data from a human participant for the purpose of the student’s research project.

Behavioral observations of unrestricted, public settings (e.g., shopping mall, public park) in which all of the
following apply:


the researcher has no interaction with the individuals being observed

the researcher does not manipulate the environment in any way and

the researcher does not record any personally identifiable data.
Projects in which the student receives pre-existing/ retrospective data in a de-identified/anonymous format which
complies with both of the following conditions:

the professional providing the data certifies in writing that the data have been appropriately de-identified before being given
to the student researcher and are in compliance with all privacy and HIPAA laws, and

the affiliated fair SRC ensures that the data were appropriately de-identified by review of the written documentation provided
by the supervising adult(s).
Category Updates Science Projects
Invertebrate & Vertebrate Animal Studies

Invertebrate (Animals with no backbone, i.e roach) Studies are allowable and do not require SRC
approval

Rules for ALL Vertebrate (animals with a backbone)Animal Studies



The use of vertebrate animals in science projects is allowable under the conditions and rules in the following
sections. Vertebrate animals, as covered by these rules, are defined as: Live, nonhuman vertebrate mammalian
embryos or fetuses

Tadpoles

Bird and reptile eggs within three days (72 hours) of hatching

All other nonhuman vertebrates (including fish) at hatching or birth.

Exception: Because of their delayed cognitive neural development, zebrafish embryos are not considered vertebrate animals
until 7 days (168 hours) post- fertilization.
Alternatives to the use of vertebrate animals for research must be explored and discussed in the research plan.
The guiding principles for the use of animals in research include the following “Four Rs”:

Replace vertebrate animals with invertebrates, lower life forms, tissue/cell cultures and/or computer simulations where
possible.

Reduce the number of animals without compromising statistical validity.

Refine the experimental protocol to minimize pain or distress to the animals.

Respect animals and their contribution to research.
All vertebrate animal studies must be reviewed and approved before experimentation begins
Category Updates Science Projects
Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (PHBA)
Rules for ALL Studies with Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (PHBA)



The following types of studies are exempt from prior SRC review and require no additional forms:

Studies involving baker’s yeast and brewer’s yeast, except in rDNA studies.

Studies involving Lactobacillus, Bacillus thurgensis, nitrogen-fixing, oil-eating bacteria, and algae-eating bacteria
introduced into their natural environment. (Not exempt if cultured in a petri dish environment.)

Studies involving water or soil not concentrated in media conducive to their growth (please review all rules below to
ensure that there are not more specific rules that may apply).

Studies of mold growth on food items if the experiment is terminated at the first evidence of mold.

Studies of mushrooms and slime molds.

Studies involving E. coli k–12 which are done at school and are not recombinant DNA studies.
The following types of studies are exempt from prior SRC review, but require a Risk Assessment Form 3:

Studies involving protists, archaea and similar microorganisms.

Research using manure for composting, fuel production, or other non-culturing experiments.

Commercially-available color change coliform water test kits. These kits must remain sealed and must be properly
disposed.

Studies involving decomposition of vertebrate organisms (such as in forensic projects).

Studies with microbial fuel cells.
Prior review and approval is required for the use of potentially hazardous microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, viroids, prions,
rickettsia, fungi, and parasites), recombinant DNA (rDNA) technologies or human or animal fresh/frozen tissues, blood, or body fluids:
Changes to the Calendar

Current Science Fair Timeline

Students work on projects

16/17 School Year Science Fair Timeline

Sept.- mid Nov.
Students work on projects
Sept. – 1st week of Dec.

Site Fairs held by Nov. 30

Site Fairs held by Dec. 13

District Registration due by Dec. 4

District Registration due by Dec. 15

District Science Fair held 2nd week
of January

District Science Fair held 3rd week of January

Awards Night held 3rd week
(Thursday) in January

Awards Night held 3rd week (Thursday) in January

This would give sites an additional 3 weeks for student projects
Fair Participation

Current Participation

16/17 SY Participation

Project Boards dropped off
Tuesday

Project Boards dropped off/Check In
still available Tuesday

Judges arrive and judge
Wednesday (HS students only
present projects) (No ownership)

Students arrive Wednesday morning to
compete in Engineering or Robotics.

Students are given the option of being
present to present their board, for
science and invention projects, to the
Judges Wednesday during the school
day

Project Viewing/Pickup Wednesday
when students leave or by 7:00pm

Teacher notification of winners
Wednesday Evening

Awards ceremony next day Thursday
Evening (Instant gratification)

Project Viewing/Pickup Thursday
Evening

Teacher notification of winners
Friday

One week later awards
ceremony (Delayed gratification)
Costs

Science Projects:
 Cost
is funded by the student.
 Requiring
minimal supplies (simple good strong science
concepts) for projects helps alleviate large costs.
 Competing

in teams of 2-3 will minimize cost.
Invention Projects:
 Cost
of invention funded by the student.
Costs


Engineering Projects:

Cost of supplies is funded by the student.

Allowing students 5-7 choices of project ideas helps students with cost. Some engineering
projects are very inexpensive to make.

Many of these are team projects so costs are minimal.
Robotics Teams:

Grants are the idea to starting a Robotics Team

Funding without grants or sponsorship can cost approximately between $450-850

Team Registration $100 first team, $50 for additional teams

Event Registration $25-50 per team

Vex IQ Robot Kits: Super Kit $299.99 Competition Add-On Kit (Expansion Bundle) $99.99

Game and Field Elements: Full portable 4’x8’ game field $199.98, Game Elements $12.9999.99
Management of Students at the Fair

Students will receive a packet with the following contents:

Participation Certificate

Schedule printed on an index card: Location of board/competition,
Time of Judging, Time for Lunch Break, Time to Tour the Fair

Information about awards night and means of notification for
awards

Each group of students participating in Science and Invention projects
will be assigned a volunteer to stay with them when at lunch and
touring the fair

Engineering and Robotics teams will be monitored by their Teacher
Coach
Student Timeline for Wednesday
Attendance (Elementary)

Elem:
 9:00-10:00
Check In Projects and Set-Up
 10:00-10:30
 10:30-1:30
 30
Rule Explanation on Judging
Elem. Judging, lunch, tour the fair,
minutes for lunch
 One
hour for Judging
 One
and a half hours for touring fair
 1:30
Elem students are dismissed
Student Timeline for Wednesday
Attendance (Junior High School)

JHS:
 8:00-9:00
Check In and Set-up
 9:00-1:30
JHS Competing, Judging Projects, Lunch
Break, Touring Students
 1:30
JHS heads back to school for dismissal
Student Timeline for Wednesday
Attendance (High School)

HS:
 Tuesday,
HS board Set-up
 8:30-9:00
Arrival
 9:00-2:00
Judging Junior High and Elementary projects,
lunch time, Project Presentation to Judges, touring
groups of students
 2:00
Board Take down
 2:30
HS is dismissed
Managing Site Level Competitions

Require Teams to minimize grading/conferencing of projects

Allow Class Time (1day per week to work on project in class)

Predetermine eligible projects for teams to compete in

Work with other grade/subject level teachers to organize paperwork, host fair, implement teaching

Utilize available forms, packets and information from the District

Set-Up Calendar of Events before school starts


Solicit Volunteers for Judging 1-2 months in advance

PTA, Parents, School Employees

Minimize Judging (Use of simple judging form, maximum 15 projects for judging)
Predetermine Grade level competition

4th Grade Invention Fair

5th Grade Engineering Fair

6th Grade Science Fair

SEARCH Robotics
What will the District Provide

Judges rubrics used at District Level Competition

Journals for Science and Invention Projects

Editable Parent Letters to send home for students

All Required Forms online at Science website for ease of printing

Simplified Registration for K-5 participants

Full Timeline of Suggested Project Due Dates in Editable format

Professional Development Gallery Walk of new Competitions for
Teachers

And as always my patience and understanding on whatever avenue
decide to take for your students.