Early in your science fair project, it can be helpful to think about if you are pursuing answering a question using the scientific method, or if you are problem solving with engineering design. The answer will influence your project from your research plan to your final judging. https://youtu.be/3t26b59bjcQ
Author: chrissyomalley
Pandemic-proof plans
The 2020-2021 school year is setting up to be just as challenging as the spring of 2020. Can teachers ever hope to plan for their students? Of course we can! We know class will happen, and we know what our objectives will be. That's really all we need to lay out a plan for the … Continue reading Pandemic-proof plans
What is Science Fair Friday?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSIekuOZt00&feature=youtu.be Science Fair Friday as a YouTube series is long past-due! Here we go - for teachers, students, and parents - a weekly series about science fair. I have big plans for this over the next year. I also want it to be useful for you! If you have questions, suggestions, or have information you … Continue reading What is Science Fair Friday?
How to Make a Good Science Fair Project Idea into a Great Idea!
How can you develop your own unique, prize winning idea? How can you make it better? Watch here!
Science Fair: Student Peer Review
My students participate in a Writing Workshop and Peer Review Session before their last submission of their introduction. The purpose of this activity is to actively engage students in supporting each other by giving meaningful feedback. This activity is meant to model the peer-review process used by professional scientists. At this point in the class, … Continue reading Science Fair: Student Peer Review
Science Fair: Timeline
One challenge for many teachers is how to distribute work through the year so that students can complete their work on-time and with minimal stress. I tell parents my goal is that students will not be spending a full weekend with no sleep just before the fair. I expect students to work through the year … Continue reading Science Fair: Timeline
What is up with K-12 Paleontology Education?
Kids LOVE Paleontology! This isn't my writing (I found it someplace online), but in 3rd grade I wrote to my teacher, Mrs. Greene, that when I grew up I wanted to be a paleontologist and study fossils in Utah. I did grow up to earn a PhD in paleontology, and did study some fossils in … Continue reading What is up with K-12 Paleontology Education?
Science Fair: Topic Ideas
Generating new ideas is hard. Students can choose from a seemingly unlimited number of topics - as long as they apply the scientific method or engineering principles. Giving students the most freedom possible is a good thing. I require students to stay away from projects that are a demonstration of a known idea or product … Continue reading Science Fair: Topic Ideas
Teaching High School Science after a PhD
More and more people are earning advanced degrees and then abandoning a pursuit of a tenure track professorship. When I completed my PhD, I gave myself a time limit: I could pursue a "Tenure Track" job for my final year plus one, then I was going to jump ship and pursue an alt-ac (alternative academic) … Continue reading Teaching High School Science after a PhD
Science Fair: stating your question
Student: "I'm thinking about doing ___________ for my project next year. Is that acceptable?" Firstly, there are some really easy followup questions to this. I always ask a couple of these before saying "yes" or "no" to a student's ideas. That seems like an interesting idea! Can you tell me more about it? Why does … Continue reading Science Fair: stating your question
