WM Science Fair

West Mercer Science Fair General Information:

Thank you to the 2012 Science Fair Committee, Mr. Mellish, Lynn Lawrence,
the great WM teachers, our fantastic judges, and all of our students who
submitted 142 projects for a record-breaking year!

The winners were as follows:

1st place Rohan Sanda 4th grade, Mrs. Beresford "Meteorites, the Moon, and Me"

2nd place Kai Hidaka 5th grade, Mrs. Bourke "Beyblades and Friction"

3rd place Mithril Hugunin 5th grade, Mrs. Bourke "Plant Clusters: Can Plants Lean on Each Other?"

The fair is a fun and energy-filled event open to all West Mercer students, K-5th grade.
Participating students complete a science project (typically during January to February) and display the results at
the fair. All students will be engaged by a scientist judge for 15 minutes
and receive a ribbon and certificate. Food, entertainment, interactive
activities and raffle prizes keep this evening lively.  In past years, we had over 150 participants! 

For over a thousand excellent science fair project ideas, go to link: http://www.education.com/science-fair

For History of MI elementary science fairs link here: http://misciencefair.org/history.aspx

Examples and explanation link: http://misciencefair.org/examples.aspx

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where do I register? Right here!

Q: Can I only register online?

Yes.  If you have any questions about the online registration form, contact Rebecca Warriner at rebecca@warriner.net for help.

Q: My child’s classroom has a science project/fair, can we use the same project?

Yes!  However, please note that participation in a classroom science fair does not automatically register you for the West Mercer Elementary Science Fair.  You must register using the online form in order to participate.

Q: Why is there a restriction on using animals in a science project?

Having a descriptive project about an animal or a project that includes observing what an animal would naturally do is just fine.  Where we get concerned is when an animal’s normal living conditions are altered.  If you have an idea for an experiment that involves animals, email Rebecca Warriner at rebecca@warriner.net and she will be able to tell you if it will be approved by the Science Fair Committee.

Q: What if my child just wants to present his rock collection or his pet snake?

A: Many students start out by presenting his/her collections. Once they observe other projects and realize that most projects are not perfect, many will be encouraged to try an experiment on their own the following year.

Q: What if my child does not want to participate? Could we just come and visit?

A: Yes! You can just come and enjoy the fair. They will learn something just from visiting their friends' presentations and watching the science shows. There will also be some entertainment and hands-on exhibits they can try. Ultimately, our goal is to teach the kids that science is fun. Just visiting the fair, will convey that message.

Q: Can I do a project with a friend?

A: Yes. Pair entries are regularly accepted at the Science Fair. Make sure that each of you can explain the project and have had a share in the experimental part of the project (for example, not just the assembling of the poster).

Q: Where can I get a project display board for presentation?

A: You can pick up a project board from the West Mercer Science Fair Committee for $10.  Just email Sarah Lesko at drlesko@gmail.com for details.  You can also purchase a project display board at Office Depot, Michaels, etc.

Q: What is the difference between the regular and competitive tracks?

The regular track is open to K-5 students and is non-competitive.  You can have a hypothetical (question-based) or descriptive project.   The competitive track is open to 4th and 5th graders and was introduced two years ago because some students and teachers expressed a deeper interest in the scientific method and are motivated by slightly stricter standards in the development and evaluation of their project.  Competitive track projects must be hypothetical, meaning they must have a hypothesis that is tested. They will meet with two judges to explain and discuss their project, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place projects will be recognized.

Q: My experiment failed. What should I do?

A: Negative answers are just as good as positive answers. Many scientific discoveries come from "failed experiments". Think about why it failed. What does that mean? What would you do differently next time? Please do not throw these results away. We are just as excited to see your negative results. And, if you can explain what you have learned, then your project is a success.

Q: What is involved in the judging process? Our goal is for each child to feel comfortable presenting and discussing his or her project.  The judging sessions are really just conversation sessions and should be fun and lively.  Students new to the Science Fair may be a bit shy or nervous at first, but we find that they quickly realize it’s not a test and they get very involved in the discussion.  K-2 projects may interact with an adult or trained HS science student. 3-5th grade projects will interact with an adult judge, and the competitive track projects will interact with 2 different adults. Each judging slot is 15 minutes, 10 for discussion and 5 for pictures, certificate, etc. Students should be prepared to describe their project from start to finish, challenges, surprises, and any new questions. Common discussion topics include: "Why did you pick this project?", "How did you come up with your hypothesis?", and for descriptive projects: "Tell me about something you learned."

Contact WM Science Fair co-chairs Sarah Lesko drlesko@gmail.com or Kaia Akre Kaiaakre@comcast.net with any questions.