Four Tools for Science Fair Success

Four Ideas

• Topic Selection Wizard
• Science Project Timeline
• Black Box of Project Improvement
• After-School Project Clinic

Topic Selection Wizard



key objective:
help students find topics of their own interest.

Topic Selection Wizard

• Through observations it has been found that when students chose a topic
• they are interested in, they become more committed to the project
• Science Interest Survey - 10 minutes; 36 fun questions 
• Leads students to project questions that are inquiry-based
• Two main results: 85% and 15% 

Science Project Timeline

key objective:
Require work over the long term and assess project progress and key checkpoints along the way.

Science Project Timeline

• Assess projects at key checkpoints
• 2 months - 10 weeks
• Reduced two Major problems 
• Long- term projects become
• manageable

The Black Box of Project Improvement

key objective:
Develop a system that encourages students to continually improve and revise their projects according to provided rules

Black Box

• timeline with a twist 
• revise time -- 1- 2 days 
• two key phases 
• three groups 
• black box proved to judges that students did their own work

After-School Project Clinic

key objective:
Level the playing field for children who do not have access to knowledgeable mentors.

After School

• Step 1- find volunteers 
• Step 2 - find students who need additional support
• Step 3 - provide structure