Science Fair

Doing a science fair project can be a great learning experience!  It can provide opportunities for problem solving, experimentation, creating a hypothesis, data collection, research and much more!   In order for your project to be competition ready there is also paperwork that needs to be completed and much of it needs to be completed PRIOR to Experimentation! (See How to Guide for Parents below.)

petridish

No junior (or middle school) students can do projects involving culturing micro- organisms (bacteria, mold, fungus, etc.) in any location (school, home, or regulated institution). NO EXCEPTIONS.

Who can participate?

  • Students in grades 6-8 REQUIRED FOR ALL 8TH GRADERS

  • There may be up to 3 students per project.
    Example: 3 students from grade 8 OR 1 student from grade 6 and 2 students from grade 8, etc.

  • Students from different grade levels can work together.

How to Guide for Parents

  • Ms. Kelly Hinson has provided parents with a how to guide in completing the science fair paper work.  The majority of the forms must be completed prior to starting the experiment and turned in for approval. 

  • Click this link to watch the video on how to complete the science fair forms.  

Required forms:   

  1. NCSEF Elementary/Junior EZ Form  must be completed Before Experimentation, one per student.

  2. Research Plan, attach to NCSEF with 3 references, must be completed Before Experimentation, one per project.

  3. Risk Assessment Form 3  must be completed Before Experimentation, one per project.

  4. Some projects will require additional forms: Humans, Animals, Hazardous Chemicals, Using Labs and Research Facilities. (FORMS LOCATED HERE)
    IF THIS IS YOUR PROJECT, IT MUST GET APPROVED BY HINSON BEFORE YOU CAN START!  

    Send it to Mrs. Padgett as soon as possible to get it approved. 

  5. Abstract  must be completed AFTER Experimentation, one per project. 

If you would like a physical copy of the forms, please contact Mrs. Padgett.

I also encourage students to maintain a journal and documentation throughout the experiment from beginning to end so that it can be displayed with their project or viewed digitally. 

Scientific Method

When to turn items in for the science fair?

  • The science fair is on Thursday, October 23, 2025 @ 4pm.

  • All projects will need to be in the Media Center by 3pm.

  • Students will need to email or turn in their science fair forms BEFORE starting the experiment starts for approval. NCSEF Elementary/Junior EZ Form (one per student), Research Plan with 3 references, Risk Assessment Form 3.

  • Some projects will require additional forms: Humans, Animals, Hazardous Chemicals, Using Labs and Research Facilities. (FORMS LOCATED HERE) IF THIS IS YOUR PROJECT, IT MUST GET APPROVED BY HINSON! Send it to Mrs. Padgett as soon as possible to get it approved.

  • Science Board or Digital presentation AND Abstract Form are to be emailed or turned in by Thursday, Oct. 23 @ 3pm.

  • Judging will take place on October 23rd at 4pm.

  • Recording interviews of science fair winners is on October 24th.

Turn in all forms to Mrs. Padgette. Forms may be emailed (stephanie_padgett@iss.k12.nc.us) or turned into Mrs. Padgett in Room B11.

science fair board

Science Fair Boards

You can purchase tri-fold boards at the following:

  • Walmart for $1.97  a piece. Click link.

  • Hobby Lobby for $2.99 a piece.  Click link.

NOTE:

  • No student faces should show in photographs.

  • Do give credit to anyone who assisted you.

  • Place the school name, student name and grade on the back of the project, not the front. 

Displaying Science Fair Project

  • All projects must follow size restrictions-Maximum Size of Project Depth (front to back): 30 inches or 76 centimeters, Width (side to side): 48 inches or 122 centimeters, Height (floor to top): 108 inches or 274 centimeters

  • Students are encouraged to display research notebooks.

Science Presentation Slides / PowerPoint

Instead of the tri-fold boards, students may create a digital presentation of the science board on Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc.  It will still need to have the same components of the science fair board. (See format to the left.)

NOTE:

  • No student faces should show in photographs.

  • Do give credit to anyone who assisted you.

Science Fair Presentation
science fair rubric

What will the science fair look like this year?

Judges will be invited to judge the science fair.  How?

  • Judges will be invited to to judge the science fair in person.  
  • Students will present their project to the judges.
  • The same rubric will be used from previous years. 
  • The district/regionals will be using the pre-recorded interview to score the interview portion this year.

Recorded Interviews

  • Mrs. Padgett will record the interview on Friday, October 24th

  • I will ask the same questions for all students.  

  • I cannot provide leading questions, hints or information that may assist with answering questions. 

  • The students will have only one chance to record the interview.

SHARING OF RECORDED INTERVIEWS

  • The recorded interview will be shared with:

    • Kelly Hinson the director of the ISS Science Fair (if they are going to the District Science Fair). 

    • The judges at the District, Regional, and State Fairs if the students qualify to participate in those levels.

Additional Information:

  • All work is expected to be that of the student(s) and student(s) should act ethically and responsibly.

  • It is the responsibility of the student and adult sponsor to know which additional forms are required based on project content and experimentation as well as what additional rules might be required  INTERNATIONAL RULES SCIENCE RESEARCH.

  • It is the responsibility of the student and adult sponsor to make sure safety is considered and addressed throughout experimentation INTERNATIONAL RULES SCIENCE RESEARCH.