Science Fair Expectations and Resources
It is time for the science fair. Who is more nervous, the teacher, the parent, or the child?
We will tell you it is not the child. They are ready to get started.
Chances are their ideas will be to erupt or blow up something. That is great, and we like to do that too, but is it realistic? Can we find something unique to them? We want the parents and child to have a great time exploring together.
Realistic Science Fair Expectations
Completing a science fair project as a kid can be a wonderful experience. It also is known for being overwhelming to parents. It doesn't have to be if we make sensible expectations.
We need to look at where the student is at. A kindergarten science fair project is very different from a fifth-grade project. The science fair should be an experience for students to learn the scientific process.
The expectations should slowly increase as the child progresses through the grade levels.
We divide our science expectations into 3 levels.
- Kindergarten and First Grade
- Second and Third Grade
- Fourth and Fifth Grade
Students should have the same expectations for two years and then progress to the new standards. That will give the students one year to become familiar with the process and the second year to be more independent. They should be very comfortable with the process when they reach fifth grade. The parents and teachers will also notice their role decreases each year.
Click each link below to see the specific expectations for each grade level series. We included a video explaining the standards too. Providing the correct expectations increases student participation and the likelihood they will participate in the following years.
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