The Middle School Science Fair for grades 5 & 6 will be February 19th after school. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.
Purpose/Objective - Design and develop an independent research project or engineering project which is presented to judges for rating and awards.
Description
A brief overview of what the club/activity entails. What do members typically do? What are the main activities or events? Members submit a research question to the advisor for approval. Once approved, the student conducts independent research at home and/or at school, collects data, draws conclusions, writes a scientific report about their project, and presents their findings to a panel of judges at the local science fair. Projects receiving a Superior Rating may then be entered into the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair, the Mohican District Science Fair, the State Science Day, and/or the BEST Medicine Engineering Fair for additional opportunities. International Science Fair entry may also be possible..
Meeting Times & Location for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year Meeting times are arranged as needed.
The High School Local Science Fair (which may include grades 7-8) is held in January. Science fair participation begins at the beginning of the school year with projects completed and presented (judged) by the second week in January. Participants from the local science fair are currently entered in the Northeastern Ohio Science & Engineering Fair which will be held in March and/or are submitting entries to the Mohican District Science Fair, also held in March. Students that receive a Superior Rating at Mohican are automatically entered in the State Science Day, which is a virtual event this year. Students may also enter the BEST Medicine Engineering Fair held in April, if their project fits the criteria for entry. Students may be able to participate in additional fairs after these, depending on judging scores.
Membership Requirements Interest in science and willingness to do research (hypothesis based or engineering). Students work at their own pace to complete their project for judging at the Local Science Fair in January.
Benefits of Joining
Highlight the benefits of joining. What will students gain from participating? Skills Development? Networking? Social connections?
Why should a student participate? High School students that participate receive ½ credit towards graduation credits for each year of science fair participation, if they receive an Excellent or Superior Rating. (Total of 2 credits for 4 years of participation.)
Outstanding Senior Science Fair Award - $250 award to student that meets the criteria.
Students learn how to develop and carry out a research project (hypothesis based or engineering), analyze data, draw valid conclusions, write a scientific report, write a scientific abstract, develop a presentation, learn communication skills, develop interview techniques, and learn time management skills.
Students may also work with mentors in their area of interest, promoting networking opportunities.
Participation in upper level science fairs promotes further development of communication skills, networking with other students and peers, and the possibility of receiving awards in the form of scholarships, cash, and prizes. Science fair participation has resulted in students receiving internships, college scholarships, admittance into graduate programs, and jobs.
Science fair participation can be the one thing that sets a student apart from the rest of an application pool.
Teachers may choose to give extra credit for participation.
Science fair participation has helped students receive jobs as mechanical engineers at NASA, Toyota, Honda,& Ford, as forensic scientists, veterinarians, doctors, nurses, chemical & electrical engineers, as well as professors, teachers and other professions.
Past Achievements or Highlights
Awards, projects completed, memorable events
Students have received awards in the form of money, scholarships, plaques, prizes. Columbia High School has received school awards from the District Science Fair. CHS received the elusive Harold C.Shaw Memorial Award in 2007 - the highest award given to Ohio schools from the Ohio Academy of Science.
One student received an invitation to the I-SWEEEP Science Fair, an International Science Fair held in Texas, receiving a 3rd place award.
One student was a semi-finalist in the 2008 Regeneron Science Talent Search, an international science competition, the largest & most prestigious in the world.
One student competed in the Google Science Fair
Students have become Melvin Scholars with The Ohio Academy of Science, allowing them to travel to Junior Academy of Science meetings representing Ohio.
Students have presented posters and given presentations at the Ohio Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and received awards.
3 students received a 1st place award at NEOSEF. - Only 18 first place awards are chosen from over 600 participants each year.
Many students have received cash prizes and scholarships.
Advisor Contact Information Mrs. B. Karl , [email protected]
How to get involved
Explain how interested students can get involved. Informational meetings, signing up online, or contacting an advisor directly
Interested students may contact Mrs. Karl directly at [email protected]
Class teachers may also field questions and direct students to contact Mrs. Karl
Social Media information - There is a Science Fair webpage under Student Activities on the CHS website.
Information about science fairs & science fair participation, both local and upper level, is published in the Rural Urban Record and placed on the school announcements.