Frequently Asked Questions

1. How old does my child need to be to participate? Children in grades K through 12 are welcome.
2. How much does it cost? The cost is $10 per child, with a $25 maximum per family.
3. How many children will be participating? Due to space constraints, we are limiting this year's event to 60 participants.
4. Can siblings submit a single project? Yes, if 2 or 3 children want to work together on a single project, that is fine.
5. Will there be different age groups? Yes. Depending on the registrants, students will be grouped into 1 or 5 or 6 divisions based on grade level.
6. What constitutes a Science Project? While Science Projects can take a number of forms (demonstrations, collections, research projects, etc.), this event will focus on student projects that exhibit the use of the Scientific Method. The Scientific Method can be described a number of different ways, but essentially…
• The scientific method begins with a question sparked by curiosity or observation. (Can I really use lemon juice to clean stubborn stains?
• Then, after doing some initial research, it might be possible to formulate a hypothesis. A hypothesis is not a “wild guess” as to what will happen, but a reasoned thought about what the answer to the question might be. (I read that lemon juice contains acids that might break up stains. So I think it will do a better job than just plain water.)
• The question is then followed by an experimental plan or procedure. (The student cleans identical samples of stained bathroom tiles with various household substances.) Data is collected in a systematic fashion.
• Claims are made based on the evidence or data. (Lemon juice combined with table salt does as good a job at removing stains as a commercial cleaning product.)
• The results are communicated in a way that someone who is not familiar with the project could understand and repeat what was done. Students are encouraged to use charts, graphs, visual aids, drawings, or other items to help convey their conclusions.
7. My son or daughter is doing an insect collection in science this year. Is that a good project? As stated above, the event is focused on projects that invoke the scientific method. While the organizers will not reject entrants who want to present collections or other types of displays, all projects will be judged based on their use of the scientific method.
8. How will students be judged? A sample judging sheet is provided here. Parents are welcome to take the completed sheets after the competition for use in their student records/portfolios.
9. Will there be prizes? Yes. In each age group there will be three awards: Best Display Board, Best Use of the Scientific Method, and Best Overall
10. Sounds great! How do I sign up my child/children? A link to the registration page will appear in November. Registration will remain open until January 25, 2024 or when the registration limit of 60 participants is reached.