New Covenant School
How to Do a
Science Fair Project
Important Dates!
Between October 14th and November 4th :
 Students email school office to let us know the career they
will use. Students cannot change project titles or project
types after they have emailed their project title & type to us.
Use the school’s email address ( nucovenant@aol.com) AND
please make the subject line SF Topic. This allows us to use
the info to type the program with the kids’ names.
Drop Off with Interviews:
Project Drop-offs & Interviews:
11 a.m. – 2 p.m on Thursday, November 13th
Public viewing and Awards:
 6pm-6:45 pm on Thursday, November 13th
Handouts of Rules are available beside the box folders in the school
office.
Work should be done by student
No glass; nothing that requires power from us (batteries only)
No living plants or creatures
Any essays written should be done on a word processor.
Hand-drawn artwork will receive many more points than computer
generated work. The reason is integrity. We have little ability to check
whether computer-generated artwork is the child's own.
Handmade objects will receive more points than bought objects or
objects acquired from relatives or friends will receive more points than
bought objects or objects acquired from relatives or friends.
Costumes
• Students must wear their costumes to the
drop-off date in order to receive any points for
costumes. Costumes not worn will be treated
as objects and not as costumes for points.
After the Fair
Projects not taken home after the Thursday night
awards ceremony will be disposed of by the
school staff. We can’t keep in in the office.
If you cannot be there due to illness, please
make arrangements for someone else to pick up
your project. We are not responsible for
projects not removed that evening.
Families living outside of Brevard County who
cannot attend the event in person can arrange
for the work to be UPS-ed home.
Project Types
There will be 4 project types:




Experiment
Demonstration
3-D Presentation
Research Presentation
Each type will have its own point scale. In each grade
level, for winners, the project types will be compared by
%-iles of total points possible.
There will be up to a total of 4 winners per grade level.
 They might all be in one project type.
 They might be in different project types.
Experiments
Category
Grades K – 5th
Grades 6th - 12th
Costumes
10%
0%
Information
20%
20%
Interview
15%
20%
Visual Presentation (includes
objects, display, written work)
15%
20%
The Experiment
40%
40%
Experiment Project
Examples:
a) Which of 5 solar ovens produces the higher
temperature?
b) Which of 3 solar chargers charges fastest?
c) Which bicycle produces the most energy?
d) What shape requires the least travel
distances for community development?
e) Can Wind Power a Human Vehicle on Land?
Demonstration
Category
Grades K – 5th
Grades 6th - 12th
Costumes
10%
10%
Information
20%
15%
Interview
20%
25%
The Demonstration (includes
objects, display, written work)
50%
50%
Demonstration
Examples:
How composting works
Solar Oven Cooking
Creating a vehicle from plastic milk jugs
Square Foot Gardening
Xeriscaping in Central Florida
How Landscaping Properly Can Save You Energy
and Money
Conserving Water in the Home
Aquaculture
3D Presentation
Category
Grades K – 5th
Grades 6th - 12th
Costumes
15%
10%
Information
20%
15%
Interview
15%
15%
Visual Presentation (includes
object, display, written work)
50%
60%
3D Projects
Research Presentation
Category
Grades K – 5th
Grades 6th - 12th
Costumes
15%
5%
Interview
30%
20%
Visual Presentation (includes
objects, display, written work)
15%
30%
The Research
40%
45%
Research Presentation
Paper Topic Examples:
Which is the least expensive energy: Wind, Solar, Coal, or
Nuclear Energy?
Which fuel is least expensive, ethanol or gasoline?
Driving Tricks That Save Gasoline
Underground Homes – Advantages & Disadvantages
Can Energy Efficient Glass Save Money?
The Costume
The Information
The Interview
The Visual
Presentation
The Experiment
The Demonstration
The Research
Costumes
Costumes made by the student, even if inferior in
quality, will receive more points than costumes
bought or acquired from someone else.
Students should know why they are wearing the
particular costume.
Costumes
Costume should be one of the following 2 types:
a costume
showing a uniform
for the career
a costume of a product or
item associated with the
demonstration or 3D
presentation
Organic Carrot
Mr. Solar Energy Clean Water
Mr. Light Bulb
Information
Reading a book on the topic will get you extra
points. (on reading contest list)
The student is expected to know lots of
information on the topic he chooses.
 This would include facts, statistics, history, etc.
The student should be able to define any word
on the board.
The Interview
The interview is Thursday night.
Each student can expect to wait by their project
for an interview from their judge.
The wait may be up to 20 minutes.
Out of area families can do their interview via an
online meeting with the judge. Parents of out of
area families should email the school office in
January for an appointment.
Interview Skills
The student should practice good oral presentation skills of:
Eye contact
Easily audible voice level
Introductory handshake; concluding/thank you handshake
Good knowledge of their career
Use of their own visual display
 Don’t turn to the board completely to show things. Face the
judge and point with hands. Don’t turn the back to the judge.
Keeping in character with their costume
 Remember whom their costume represents & BE that person.
Visual Presentation
Must have a free-standing (self-supporting)
display that is vertically oriented.
 Strongly suggest using "Science Fair" boards
• Cover the board with contact paper to allow you to reuse it
for years
• Hint: After the fair, remove items from board before storing.
Old tape is a bear to remove, & colors can fade onto the
board.
Maximum Dimensions
 1. Height 36" above table height
 2. Width 24"
 3. Depth 12"
More – Visual Presentation
No glass, no external power supply, no living
creatures, no living plants, no hazardous items
Does include








Drawings/artwork
Food (must NOT require refrigeration overnight)
Unworn costumes
Tools or items frequently used in the career
Objects made for the display
Photographs from career shadowing
Other objects
For grades 3-12: essays, reports, citations
Organization
Labels
Obvious flow of artwork, objects
 Put food, art objects near relevant info on board
 Put essays near any relevant topic when possible
Good, readable color schemes
Neatness
More – Visual Presentation
Example:
The Problem:
Reduce My
Family’s Energy
Costs
Alternative Energy
To Reduce
Home Energy Costs
Cost of Our Electricity
Compared
July 2010 July 2011
$250
$191
$59 a month !
About 24% !
Favorite Solar Recipes
Solar Tea
Our Solar Oven
Made from oven bag, bucket,
& car windshield shade
Solar Stew
Ways We Saved
Energy
•Turned lights off
during day
•Cooked solar 4
dinners a week
•Unplugged
electronics when not
using
•Bought a clothes line
for drying clothes &
used it!
What Next?
• Aluminum Foil on Windows!
Solar Brownies
Blah, blah
Solar Brownies
Our Clothesline
• We will learn to save water!
Essay on table
More – Visual Presentation
Use good, readable color schemes
Bad example:
Matilda was an excellent kangaroo.
Matilda was an excellent kangaroo.
Good examples:
Matilda was an excellent kangaroo.
Matilda was an excellent kangaroo.
Matilda was an excellent kangaroo.
Matilda was an excellent kangaroo.
More – Visual Presentation
Neatness?
Neatness!
Death in the Long Grass
By Peter Capstick
Visual Presentation Legibility
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Times New Roman)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Broadway)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Calibri)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Castellar)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Kunstier Script)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Mistral)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Verdana)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Engravers MT)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Papyrus)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Vivaldi)
Shakespeare's Hamlet (Kristen ITC)
Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Ariel)
Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Old English Text)
Font Size Examples:
Little House on the Prairie 12
Little House on the Prairie 18
Little House on the Prairie 26
Little House on the Prairie 28
Little House on the Prairie 36
Little House on the Prairie 48
Little House on 72
Little Hous 96
Essays & Written Work
Not appropriate for K-2nd grades
Meets grade level qualifications
Must be done on word processor
 Can use computers in computer center at NCCS
Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : Experiment
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 10 pts
possible
Information –
20 pts possible
The Interview (The
Oral Presentation) 15 pts possible
The Visual
Presentation 15 pts possible
Experiment – 40 pts
possible
1 -2 pts
None
0 pts
No real info
presented
0 pts
None or
doesn't
cooperate &
answer
questions
0 pts
None
0 - Not an
experiment
5 - 6 pts
Made by student
with significant
help
9 - 10 pts
7 - 8 pts
Made by student
Made by student
with no
with moderate help appreciable help
1 - 5 pts
Poor info
6 - 10 pts
Good info
11 - 15 pts
Very good
information
16 - 20 pts
Great amount of
info
1 - 3 pts
Not cooperative,
but answers
questions
4 - 7 pts
Cooperative ;
Good knowledge
of career &
project
8- 11 pts
Stays in character;
some knowledge
12 - 15 pts
Stays in
character; knows
career & project
well
8 - 11 pts
3-5 drawings;
labeled; some
organization
21 – 30 pts
Standard
experiment;
Scaled by
understanding
12 - 15 pts
5+ drawings or
objects; labeled;
well organized
31-40 pts
Complex
experiment;
scaled by
understanding
3 - 4 pts
Bought
1 - 3 pts
1-5 drawings; no
labels
1-10 pts
Simple
experiment;
understands
somewhat
4 - 7 pts
3-5 drawings;
labeled but not
organized
11-20 pts
Simple
experiment;
understands well
Points total
Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grades : Experiment
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 0 pts
possible
Information –
20 pts possible
0 pts
No real info 1 - 5 pts
presented
Poor info
6 - 10 pts
Good info
The Interview (The
Oral Presentation) 20 pts possible
0 pts
None or
doesn't
cooperate &
answer
questions
6 - 10 pts
Cooperative ;
Good knowledge
of career &
project
The Visual
Presentation 20 pts possible
Experiment – 40 pts
possible
0 pts
None
0 - Not an
experiment
1 - 5 pts
Not cooperative,
but answers
questions
1 - 5 pts
1-5 drawings; no
labels
1-10 pts
Simple
experiment;
understands
somewhat
6 - 10 pts
3-5 drawings;
labeled but not
organized
11-20 pts
Simple
experiment;
understands well
11 - 15 pts
Very good
information
16 - 20 pts
Great amount
of info
11- 15 pts
Stays in character;
some knowledge
16 - 20 pts
Stays in
character; knows
career & project
well
11 - 15 pts
3-5 drawings;
labeled; some
organization
21 – 30 pts
Standard
experiment;
Scaled by
understanding
16 - 20 pts
5+ drawings or
objects; labeled;
well organized
31-40 pts
Complex
experiment;
scaled by
understanding
Points total
Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : Demonstration
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 10
pts possible
Information –
20 pts possible
The Interview
(The Oral
Presentation) 20 pts possible
Demonstration–
50 pts possible
1 -2 pts
None
0 pts
No real info
presented
0 pts
None or
doesn't
cooperate &
answer
questions
3 - 4 pts
Bought
1 - 5 pts
Poor info
9 - 10 pts
5 - 6 pts
7 - 8 pts
Made by
Made by
Made by student student with no
student with
with moderate
appreciable
significant help help
help
6 - 10 pts
Good info
6- 10 pts
1 - 5 pts
Cooperative ;
Not
Good
cooperative, but knowledge of
answers
career &
questions
project
1-10 pts
11-23pts
Simple
Simple
demonstration; demonstration;
understands
understands
0 - Not a
well
demonstration somewhat
11 - 15 pts
Very good
information
16 - 20 pts
Great amount
of info
11- 15 pts
Stays in
character; some
knowledge
24 – 36 pts
Standard
demonstration;
Scaled by
understanding
16 - 20 pts
Stays in
character;
knows career
& project well
37-50 pts
Complex
demonstration;
scaled by
understanding
Points total
Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grade : Demonstration
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 10
pts possible
Information –
15 pts possible
The Interview
(The Oral
Presentation) 25 pts possible
Demonstration–
50 pts possible
1 -2 pts
None
0 pts
No real info
presented
0 pts
None or
doesn't
cooperate &
answer
questions
3 - 4 pts
Bought
1 -3 pts
Poor info
9 - 10 pts
5 - 6 pts
7 - 8 pts
Made by
Made by
Made by student student with no
student with
with moderate
appreciable
significant help help
help
4 - 7 pts
Good info
7 - 12 pts
1 - 6 pts
Cooperative ;
Not
Good
cooperative, but knowledge of
answers
career &
questions
project
1-10 pts
11-23pts
Simple
Simple
demonstration; demonstration;
understands
understands
0 - Not a
well
demonstration somewhat
8 - 11 pts
Very good
information
12 - 15 pts
Great amount
of info
13- 18 pts
Stays in
character; some
knowledge
24 – 36 pts
Standard
demonstration;
Scaled by
understanding
19 - 25 pts
Stays in
character;
knows career
& project well
37-50 pts
Complex
demonstration;
scaled by
understanding
Points total
Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : 3-D Presentation
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 15
pts possible
Information –
20 pts possible
The Interview
(The Oral
Presentation) 15pts possible
Visual
Presentation
(includes object,
display, written
work) 50 pts
possible
0 pts
None
0 pts
No real info
presented
0 pts
None or
doesn't
cooperate &
answer
questions
0 - Not a 3D
Display
1 - 3 pts
Bought
12 – 15 pts
4 - 7 pts
8- 11 pts
Made by
Made by
Made by student student with no
student with
with moderate
appreciable
significant help help
help
1 - 5 pts
Poor info
6 - 10 pts
Good info
4- 7 pts
1 - 3 pts
Cooperative ;
Not
Good
cooperative, but knowledge of
answers
career &
questions
project
1-10 pts
Simple 3-D
display;
understands
somewhat
11-23pts
Simple 3-D
Display;
understands
well
11 - 15 pts
Very good
information
16 - 20 pts
Great amount
of info
8- 11 pts
Stays in
character; some
knowledge
12- 15 pts
Stays in
character;
knows career
& project well
24 – 36 pts
Standard 3-D
Display;
Scaled by
understanding
37-50 pts
Complex 3D
Display;
scaled by
understanding
Points total
Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grade : 3-D Presentation
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 10
pts possible
Information –
15 pts possible
The Interview
(The Oral
Presentation) 15 pts possible
Visual
Presentation
(includes object,
display, written
work) 60 pts
possible
0 pts
None
0 pts
No real info
presented
0 pts
None or
doesn't
cooperate &
answer
questions
0 - Not a 3D
Display
1 - 2 pts
Bought
9 – 10 pts
3 - 4 pts
5 - 11 pts
Made by
Made by
Made by student student with no
student with
with moderate
appreciable
significant help help
help
1 - 3 pts
Poor info
4 - 7 pts
Good info
4- 7 pts
1 - 3 pts
Cooperative ;
Not
Good
cooperative, but knowledge of
answers
career &
questions
project
1-15 pts
Simple 3-D
display;
understands
somewhat
16-30 pts
Simple 3-D
Display;
understands
well
8 - 11 pts
Very good
information
12 - 15 pts
Great amount
of info
8- 11 pts
Stays in
character; some
knowledge
12- 15 pts
Stays in
character;
knows career
& project well
31 – 45 pts
Standard 3-D
Display;
Scaled by
understanding
46 - 60 pts
Complex 3D
Display;
scaled by
understanding
Points total
Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : Research Presentation
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 15
pts possible
The Interview
(The Oral
Presentation) 30pts possible
Visual
Presentation
(includes object,
display) 15 pts
possible
The Research written work; 40
pts
12 – 15 pts
4 - 7 pts
8- 11 pts
Made by
Made by
Made by student student with no
0 pts
1 - 3 pts
student with
with moderate
appreciable
None
Bought
significant help help
help
0 pts
8 - 15 pts
None or
1 – 7 pts
Cooperative ;
23- 30 pts
doesn't
Not
Good
16- 22 pts
Stays in
cooperate & cooperative, but knowledge of Stays in
character;
answer
answers
career &
character; some knows career
questions
questions
project
knowledge
& project well
0 - Not a
research
project; no
display; just a
paper
1-3 pts
1-2 drawings or
objects; little
organization &
labeling
4 – 7 pts
3-5 drawings or
objects; good
organization &
labeling
0 - Not a
research
project
1-10 pts
Simple Topic;
understands
somewhat
11-20 pts
Simple topic;
understands well;
200 word report
8 - 11 pts
5+ objects or
drawings;
organization; good
color scheme; neat
21 – 30 pts
Standard Topic;
; 300 word report;
citations;
Scaled by
understanding
12 - 15 pts
5+ drawings &
objects; pictures;
organized; great
color scheme;
very neat; easy to
read
31-40 pts
Complex Topic;
s400 – 500 word
report; citations;
Scaled by
understanding
Points total
Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grade : Research Presentation
Total Received of 100
possible
Category
Costumes - 5 pts
possible
2 pts
Made by student
with significant
help
4 - 5 pts
3 pts
Made by student
Made by student
with no
with moderate help appreciable help
1 pt
Bought
The Interview (The
Oral Presentation) 20pts possible
0 pts
None
0 pts
None or
doesn't
cooperate &
answer
questions
1 – 5 pts
Not cooperative,
but answers
questions
6 - 10 pts
Cooperative ;
11- 15 pts
Good knowledge Stays in character;
of topic & project some knowledge
Visual
Presentation
(includes object,
display) 30 pts
possible
0 pts - Not a
research
project; no
display; just a
paper
1 - 7 pts;
1-2 drawings or
objects; little
organization &
labeling
8 – 15 pts;
3-5 drawings or
objects; good
organization &
labeling
16 - 22 pts;
5+ objects or
drawings;
organization; good
color scheme; neat
12 - 22 pts
Simple Topic;
understands well;
200-400 word
report
23 – 33 pts
Standard Topic;
Well researched;
worthy citations
Scaled by
understanding
The Research written work; 45
pts
0 - Not a
research
project
1 - 11 pts
Simple Topic;
understands
somewhat,100-200
word report
16- 20 pts
Stays in
character; knows
topic & project
well
23 - 30 pts
5+ drawings &
objects; pictures;
organized; great
color scheme;
very neat; easy to
read
34 - 45 pts
Complex Topic;
much research;
500 – 800 word
report; worthy
citations; scaled
by understanding
Points total
Questions?
Just type them into
the question box on
your screen.
I’ll answer the questions in the order received, so be patient.
I will repeat the question aloud, so you will know what is being asked.
Feel free to ask questions about someone else’s question even.