4-H Science and Engineering Fair
Chris Caveny-Cox
NC State University Extension Agent
4-H Youth Development
Chris_Caveny-Cox@ncsu.edu
2007 Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Defined Need
• Connecting academics to the real world
• Cross curriculum opportunities
• Fostering in students an interest in science
and engineering
• Development of critical thinking life skills
• Applied experiential learning
• Newly implemented state science testing requirements
• Research backed emphasis on experiential and inquiry based
instructional models
• Workforce development and STEM related Pathways exposure
• Support of North Carolina and National Standard Course of Study
across educational disciplines
• Lack of Scientists a National Concern
So What’s all the Concern
2005 in North Carolina…
64% of 4th and 56% of 8th grade students received science
assessment scores above basic
24% of 4th and 27% of 8th grade students received science
assessment scores above proficient (source: National
Assessment of Educational Process).
2% of 4th and 3% of 8th grade students received science
assessment scores above advanced
2009 in North Carolina…
Official Results to be released this Summer. Preliminary panel
results suggest a decline in performance.
Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
21st Century Skills
• Learning & Thinking Skills
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Creativity & Innovation Skills
• Collaboration Skills
• Information Skills
• Information & Media Literacy
Skills
• Contextual Leaning Skills
I should do a project, why?
- District, Region, State, National, and
International Competition opportunities
- Scholarships
- Opportunity to network
- Learn something new
- Experiment with possible occupations
- Travel
- Money
- Portfolio building opportunity
- Expand on current work
- An opportunity to DO science
What’s It Look Like Anyway
The Science Fair
Alaska Science Fair
Church Hill Middle School Science Fair
Putting it Together
The Competitive Experience
Competitive Connections
Project Record
Presentations
4-H District
Science and
Engineering Fair
Regional
Student
Academy of
Science
(4HSEF)
School Grade
NC Region
Science and
Engineering
Fair
Junior Science
and Humanities
Symposia
(HSHS)
NC
Student
Academy of
Science
International
Science and
Engineering
Fair (ISEF)
NC State
Science and
Engineering
Fair
(NCSEF)
National
Middle
School SSP
Science Fair
International
Sustainable
World (Energy,
Engineering and
Environment)
Project
Olympiad (ISWEEEP)
Dotting Your “i’s” and Crossing Your “t’s”
1. Display
2. Log Book
3. Report w/ Bibliography
High School
Middle School
Competitive Categories and Age Groups
1
LIFE SCIENCE
2
EARTH SCIENCE
3
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
4
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
Junior – Late Elementary and Middle School (ages 9 to 13)
Senior – High School (ages 14 to 19)
Awards
$$$ 1st Place Each Age Group Each Category
$$$ 2nd Place Each Age Group Each Category
$$ 3rd Place Each Age Group Each Category
$$$ Overall Fair Champion
$$ Overall Honorable Mention
$$ Overall Honorable Mention
Affiliated with the North
Carolina Science and
Engineering Fair system
Teams can be made up of no more than three individuals. Team
winners must split awards equally amongst the members. Teams
compete in the oldest member’s age category.
Dotting Your “i’s” and Crossing Your “t’s”
- Continued Getting Entered…
Elementary and Middle School (Ages 9 – 13)
Elementary and Middle School Form
You must have an Adult
Sponsor to oversee your
project!!!
High School (Ages 14 – 19)
$5 Entry Fee
1 – Checklist for Adult Sponsor / Safety Assessment
1A – Student Checklist / Research Plan
4-H
1B – Approval
Membership
1C – Regulated Research Institutional / Industrial Setting
Forms
2 – Qualified Scientist
3 – Risk Assessment
4 – Human Subjects and Informed Consent
ISEF Forms
5 – Vertebrate Animal
6A – Potentially hazardous Biological Agents
ISEF Rules Wizard
6B – Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue
7 – Continuation Projects
Projects
- Learn by Doing 1. Break up into teams of two to three.
2. Choose one of five experiments sheets
3. Collect Supplies as per experiment sheet
4. Perform the experiment
5. Collect the data
6. Analyze the data
7. Present your results
Discussion
Example Presentation (A Study)
Example Presentation (An Innovation)
Example Presentation (An Experiment)
Support / Resources
Cyber Fair: Steps to Prepare a Science Fair Project (http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html)
Discovery Channel School: Science Fair Central (http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/)
Experimental Science Projects: An Introductory Level Guide (http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/SciProjIntro.html)
Gateway to Educational Materials: Science Fair projects (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~macinnis/scifun/projects.htm)
Science Buddies (http://www.sciencebuddies.com/)
Science Fair Primer (http://users.rcn.com/tedrowan/primer.html)
Science Fair Project on the Web:Step by step instructions
(http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/observation.htm)
The Ultimate Science Fair Resource (http://www.scifair.org/)
NSTA Science Resources for Teachers (http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/200606/news_stories_high.htm)
Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/)
Virtual Library – Science Fairs (http://physics.usc.edu/~gould/ScienceFairs/)
Super Science Fair Projects (http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/)
Support / Resources
- Continued Daab, Marcia. Science Fair Workshop – A Step by Step Guide for Preparing a Scienc Fair Project. Fearon Teacher
Aids – Simon and Shuster Supplementary Education Group.
Fredericks, Anthony and Asimov, Isaac. The Complete Science Fair Handbook (Grades 4 – 8). A Good Year Book,
Department of GYB, 1900 East Lake Avenue, Glenview IL 60025.
Funk, James. Learning and Assessing Science Process Skills. (Available from the NSTA Publications Catalog (800)
830-3232 or www.NSTA.org <http://www.nsta.org/> )
Ostlund, Karen. Science Process Skills, Assessing Hands-on Student Performance. Addison-Wesley Publishing
Company, California, 1992. (Available from the NSTA Publications Catalog (800) 830-3232 or www.NSTA.org
<http://www.nsta.org/> )
Ramig, Joyce, M.Ed., Bailer, Jill, M.Ed., Ramsey, John, Ph.D. Teaching Science Process Skills. Good Apple Science
Resource Book (Grades 6 – 8), 1995. (Available from the NSTA Publications Catalog (800) 830-3232 or
www.NSTA.org <http://www.nsta.org/> )
Rezba, Richard. Learning and Assessing Science Process Skills. Constance Sprague, Ronald Fiel, and James Funk,
Kendall Hunt Publishers.
Van Deman, Barry, and MocDonald, Edward, Nuts and Bolts – A Matter of Fact Guide to STEM fair projects. The
Science Man Press – A division of TSM Marketing, Inc., 4738 N. Harlem Ave. Harwood Heights, IL 60656.
Vriesenga, Daryl. Science Fair projects – a Practical Guide for Developing Science Projects. (Grades 4 –
6). Instructional Fair Inc., USA, 1990.
Support / Resources
- Continued • Mentors / Local Professionals in the discipline of the
project
• Parents
• Teachers
• Local Colleges and Universities
• County 4-H Agents (can help you make resource
connections to support your project)
4-H Science and Engineering Fair
Leadership Committee
Erin Graves – Education Coordinator, Catawba Science Center
Linda Yoder - Science Instructional Specialist, Lincoln County Schools
?? - Science Instructional Specialist, Catawba County Schools
Donna Mull - Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Catawba County
April Dillon – Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Lincoln County
Fran Senters – Extension Program Assistant, 4-H Youth Development, Lincoln County
Ashley Lee – Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Cleveland County
Cynthia Robins – Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Rutherford County
Chris Caveny-Cox – Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Gaston County
Craig Wyant – President and CEO, A Fine Line Design
Judy West - Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Wilkes County
Teri Baltzegar– Regional Homeschool Liaison
Mark Your Calendar…
21 June 2010 – Science Fair Clinic – Lincoln County Cooperative
Extension Offices
17 August 2010 – Science Fair Clinic – Catawba Science Center
9 September 2010 – Student / Educator Clinic – Schiele Museum
15 September 2010 – Competitive Applications Due Postmarked
to Gaston County 4-H
23 September 2010 – Student / Educator Clinic – Schiele Museum
21 October 2010 – Student / Educator Clinic – Schiele Museum
6 November 2010 – 4-H Science and Engineering Fair – Catawba
Science Center
9 December 2010 – Student / Educator Clinic – Schiele Museum
13 January 2010 – Student / Educator Clinic – Schiele Museum
Adjourn