5 Reasons To Have Judges At Your Science Fair

Science fairs are a tradition in many schools.  It is common to have judges at the fair.  Try to find judges from a variety of scientific fields.  The judges do not have to be science fair experts or even scientists if it is hard to find them.  

Having judges does not mean you are giving out ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  That will depend on your committee and if you need to choose participants to move to the next level (county, state, national).  

Having projects judged will enhance your fair and the student experience.  Here are 5 reasons why you should have judges at your school science fair.

1- It gives the students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture that scientists live in.

• This will make your fair a true STEM experience by allowing students to argue and share results like a true scientist.
• It is necessary for scientists to be able to defend their new idea.  It is a part of the job.

2- Talking to a judge helps develop and improve language skills.

• Explaining and defending their project is great for language learning.
• Presenting their project builds on their understanding of science concepts and language proficiency.  
• It is a great way to use the vocabulary in their own words.

3- Improves presentation skills.

• Students will learn to be persuasive.
• They will practice how to communicate clearly.
• It builds their confidence.
• Constructing explanations verbally is different from writing them down.  This gives them practice.

4- Interviews help to go beyond the flashy science fair board.

• It allows the judges to look at the student's mastery.
• It may not be the most decorative board but during the interview, the student shows they know their stuff.
• Some students shine during the interview because they love their project and are passionate about it.
• It helps the judges know if it is a student lead project or if the parents did most of it.

5- It makes the fair memorable and fun for the participants.

• They worked hard on their projects and the students want to share their project with as many people as possible.
• It makes the night even more special and gives them a reason to dress for success.

We give our students the choice if they want to be judged.  I have never had a student turn it down.  Our fair is for grades K-5.  They have 2 judges visit their project.  One year a girl walked away from her project and only got judged once.  When she realized this happened she cried because she wanted to share her project again.  

It is always a joy to watch the kids dressed up and sharing the project.  They look so proud.  It is their day to shine.

Shop this post to help plan your science fair.