T. J. Austin Science Fair

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T. J. Austin Science Fair

• What is a science fair?
• How can I help my child at home?

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What is a science fair?

• Science fair is an opportunity for students
  to apply the scientific method to conduct
  independent research. The results of each
  student's research is presented in our school
  wide science fair- where the student's efforts
  are displayed. Students are judged to see how
  well they used the scientific method properly and
  who have demonstrated thoroughness in their
  studies. Student efforts are awarded prizes and
  some projects are advanced to compete at the East
  Texas State Fair Academic Rodeo the following
  year.

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How can I help my child at home?

• Preparation for a science fair should begin early
  in the fall semester with the selection of a
  topic which will lead to a problem that the
  student will wish to research. Help your child to
  explore various sources of information in order
  to gain a thorough understanding of the topic
  that he or she should choose. Besides traditional
  sources such as library books, the student should
  research current magazines, journals, go on the
  internet and talk to their teachers. Your child
  should learn at school or even at home what
  research has already been done and what has been
  concluded regarding the student's question and
  also something about the procedures and rules of
  evidence in the student's particular field
  (Manning-Schwartz, 1997). In other words, a
  complete study of the topic so that the student
  can design an intelligent and meaningful
  experiment. The research--or literature
  review--should account for at least half of the
  student's effort on the project incomplete
  research on the selected topic is the most common
  reason for science fair judges to rate a project
  low.

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Ideas for Science Fair Projects
Visit websites on the computer Type in
keywords like science fair projects, simple
science experiments, science fair ideas,
science experiments or elementary science
experiments http//school.discovery.com/sciencef
aircentral/scifairstudio/parents.html Check
out books from the public library Ask your
childs teacher or other school support
personnel