• Science Fair Questions and Answers


    QUESTION: How do I sign up to for the Science Fair?

    ANSWER: Electronically on the Science Fair web page, on the Glenridge web site.



    QUESTION: When should I start working on my study?

    ANSWER: Soon enough so you don’t have to rush to finish it! For example, if you want to study how plants grow, you will need more time than if you want to study something that takes only a few hours.

    You should expect to spend 3⁄4 of your Science Fair time planning the study and the remaining 1⁄4 of the time doing it and making the display board.


    QUESTION: How long should we spend every day on the study?

    ANSWER: That depends on the student. Younger students should limit their time to 15-20 minutes a day. Older students can concentrate longer on their work.


    QUESTION: When can I get my display board?

    ANSWER: Display boards will be available in February


    QUESTION: What should I do first?

    ANSWER: Get a logbook. That way you can write stuff down while you are thinking about what you want to study. Write all your science thoughts in the logbook – just like it was a journal... a science journal.


    QUESTION: What should my logbook look like?

    ANSWER: Your logbook can be a school composition book, a loose-leaf notebook, or almost anything else you can find to keep track of all the information you will want to collect. You can read more about logbooks in the Family Guide.


    QUESTION: Where can I find help getting started?

    ANSWER: Drop by Mr. Gender's office!  Your teachers and the assistants in the library are all willing to help. There are also evening help sessions for students and parents at Glenridge. You can bring your study ideas and we will talk about them and how to turn your ideas into scientific studies.

    You can also download and read the Family Guide on this web site. The Family Guide has lots of information in it, plus the answers to lots more questions.


    QUESTION: Where can I find an adult that is an expert in the area I am studying?

    ANSWER: Ask Mr. Gender!  Your teacher can also help you find an adult expert. Or you can ask one of the librarians. There are lots of adults in St. Louis that enjoy helping students understand science, so finding an adult expert won’t be difficult.


    QUESTION: Can I find out how my study will be evaluated?

    ANSWER: Yes. The Interview Sheets are posted on the Science Fair web site, and you can download them and read them any time. That will be helpful in understanding the process.


    QUESTION: What are the different study types, and what are do all the scientific words mean, like variables, controls, and trials?

    ANSWER: You can find all of these answers, and more, in the Family Guide.


    QUESTION: What kind of study should I do if I really want to go to the Greater St. Louis Science Fair (GSLSF) at Queeny Park?

    ANSWER: Only the highest scoring studies that are Models, Observations, Experiments, or Inventions will be considered for the GSLSF at Queeny Park. So use your imagination and creativity and your study might be selected in the 10-12 that represent Glenridge at the GSLSF.
    Explorations and Collections are not eligible.


    QUESTION: What do I do if my hypothesis is wrong?

    ANSWER: That’s OK – in fact, scientists often find they didn’t really understand their subject well before they started studying it, and that means their hypotheses can also be wrong. The important goal is to discover what IS the correct relationship among the things you are studying.


    QUESTION: Can my parents help me? What part of the study is it OK for a parent or adult to do for the student?

    ANSWER: It is perfectly OK for an adult to do the writing in the logbook, or type on the computer, for the student. The adult simply asks the student to “dictate” exactly what the adult should write or type. This will save lots of time – after all, this is a science project, and not a writing project.


    QUESTION: What should I put on my display board?

    ANSWER: Anything you want that makes it easier for someone to understand what you did and what you learned during your study. Making the display board is fun, if you have enough time to do it without rushing.


    QUESTION: Is there a cost for me to enter the Science Fair?

    ANSWER: The only cost is for the display board, which is about $6.


    QUESTION: What are the dates and times of the Science Fair?

    ANSWER: The Science Fair is Friday and Saturday March 6th and 7th, 2009. Students should plan to deliver their studies to school on Friday morning between 7:30am and 9:00am.

    When you check in at school on Friday morning, you will get a reminder sheet and schedule that will tell you when you arrive at school on Saturday for your interview. Please do not arrive early on either day.


    QUESTION: What is the web site for the Greater St. Louis Science Fair at Queeny Park?

    ANSWER: The web address is http://www.sciencefairstl.org/.

Last Modified on January 12, 2009