Suggested AAE Time Line for the

Science Festival &

INLAND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

Teachers/Coordinators & Students

Month

Teacher /Coordinators

Student Activities

AUGUST
  • Select grade level representatives (elementary grades 4th-5th, junior grades, 6th-8th,  senior grades, 9th-12th).
  • Make plans to attend the annual San Bernardino County Inland Science and Engineering Fair District Coordinator’s Meeting in September.
  • Have students that will be creating a project to enter into the school’s science fair construct a journal.
  • Describe for students how a scientific journal is used and managed.
  • While carefully observing the world around you, use your interests and curiosity to develop a testable question or problem.
  • Construct and use a science fair journal to record your observations, thoughts and ideas.
  • Be sure to date and time every entry.

 

SEPTEMBER &

OCTOBER
  • District representatives attend Fall.
  • Orientation Meeting; confirm allocated spaces. Schedule date for grade level / school science fair (prior to March 12 if possible).
  • Help students choose a suitable topic.
  • Help students write a project proposal.
  • Help students begin their conduct library & internet research.
  • Help students contact professionals who can give them guidance and background.
  • Reserve space for the school site science festivals (Elementary, Junior and Seniors divisions).
  • Write up a science project proposal including a testable question or problem and get your teachers approval.
  • Once your science project idea is approved, conduct library and internet research on the main topic.

NOVEMBER
  • School/grade level representatives provide workshops for teachers.
  • Orient students to the components of a science fair project.
  • Discuss the nature of experimentation with students.
  • Explain the difference between controlled and uncontrolled experiments.
  • Help students develop a list of materials they need for projects.
  • Based upon the outcome of your library and internet research, develop a working hypothesis.
  • Develop a controlled experiment (to include an controlled and experimental procedures)

DECEMBER
  • Review observing, measuring and data collection.
  • Provide time, space, and guidance for experimentation.
  • Review qualities of a good exhibit (construction, lettering, color,etc.).
  • Get all the materials you need to start collecting data.
  • Use the scientifically controlled experiment that you have created to start collecting data. Remember to take pictures.
  • Make data tables to organize your data.
  • Graph or chart the data you have collected to help you analyze it and drw conclusions about your hypothesis.

JANUARY
  • Make arrangements for regular (weekly) progress reports from students on how their science project is progressing.
  • Check to insure that projects conform to safety rules and proper animal care.
  • Develop judging sheet incorporating your expectations.
  • Determine number of projects and categories expected.
  • Arrange for judges (provide judges with criteria).
  • Review exhibit construction with students.
  • Review again, the qualities of a good exhibit (construction, lettering, color, etc.).
  • Conduct a “Parents’ Night” or compose and send a letter home to publicize Science Fair.
  • Let your teacher know how you are doing on your project on a weekly basis.
  • Ask to see the judging sheet that your instructor will use to "assess" your project.
  • Begin to work out how you will display your finished project.

FEBRUARY
  • Help students develop conclusions and write research papers.
  • Arrange for review of students’ papers by language arts teachers.
  • Publicize your fair to local newspapers, parents, local officials, board of education, administrators, faculty.
  • Plan physical layout of space. Develop a printed program list of projects, maps, etc.).
  • Certificates signed; awards ceremony planned.
  • Draw conclusions and determine if your data supports your hypothesis.
  • Write your project report.
  • Prepare your project notebook "journal" for display.

MID - FEBRUARY
  • Confirm fair(s) time and day with judges. Students develop final copies of research paper.
  • Review with students the criteria for successful oral presentations; let them practice in class.
  • Help students prepare a project abstract.
  • Review room arrangements.
  • Arrange volunteers to usher, distribute programs, and host judges.
  • Write an abstract briefly summarizing what your project is about (the problem, your hypothesis(es), procedure, results and conclusions).

LATE-FEBRUARY 

TO

EARLY-MARCH

School-Site Science Fair Day
  • Set up tables early with project numbers attached.
  • Have public address system ready (if needed).
  • Put name tags for judges on display.
  • Have judging sheets ready.
  • Have coffee and refreshments for judges ready.
  • Review criteria for judges and remind them to adhere to criteria.
  • Remember to thank your judges and volunteers.
  • Make sure you have not used photographs showing "faces" on your exhibit display.

MID-MARCH
  • Make sure students that will be “going to county” have pre-registered on-line. (The school/student registration deadline is March 16th, 2005 )
  • Submit the district application along with a list of students that will be “going to county”.
  • Get students ready to be interviewed by the “county judges”.
  • If your project is selected at the AAE Science Festival, and you are in grades 4-12, make sure have pre-registered on-line. (The school/student registration deadline is March 16th, 2005 )

MID-APRIL
  • Attend Inland Empire Science & Engineering Fair in San Bernardino @ the National Orange Fair (Will be held @ National Orange Show in the Damus Building, 689 South E Street,San Bernardino, California on April 19-20, 2005, the school/student registration deadline is March 19th, 2004 )
  • If your project is selected at the AAE Science Festival, plann on attending the Inland Empire Science & Engineering Fair in San Bernardino @ the National Orange Fair (Will be held @ National Orange Show in the Damus Building, 689 South E Street,San Bernardino, California on April 19-20, 2005, the school/student registration deadline is March 16th, 2005)

May
  • State Science Fair @ the California Science Center in Los Angles (May 23-24-2005)
  • If your projects is selected at the Inland Empiren Engineering and Science Fair, you may be eligable to go on to the State Science Fair.