Science Fair

Caraway Elementary held the school's Science Fair on January 18th, 2024

Congratulations to the following projects for advancing to the Greater Austin Regional Science Fair:

(ordered by space # at the Caraway Science Fair)

ABOUT SCIENCE FAIR & SCIENCE NIGHT
What is the Science Fair?

Science Fair is an opportunity for students to apply the scientific method to conduct independent research at home. The results of each student's research are presented in a school-wide science fair where the student's efforts are judged to determine scientific merit. Students who have been judged to have used the scientific method properly, and who have demonstrated thoroughness in their studies and effort, are awarded prizes.  Our top winners in grades 3-5 are advanced to compete in the 2024 Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair or GARSEF for short (previously called Austin Regional Science Fair).

Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair (GARSEF) Deadlines (for projects advancing)

• Submissions Due: January 25, 2024

• Projects Set Up: February 23, 2024

• Judging and Award Ceremony: February 24, 2024

What is Science Night?

Science Night is a chance for the Caraway community to view all of our students' Science Fair projects. Each year, we aim to have science and engineering demonstrations from other parents, teachers, and older students. A huge thank you to those that demoed this year, including the Canyon Vista Robotics club for showcasing their robots. 

Do you have an interest in science and would love to showcase it to our students? Sign up here if you're interested in giving a science or engineering demonstration for the 2025 Science Night! 

RESOURCES

Guide to Get Started

https://austinscience.org/images/pdfs/ElemHowToDoSciFairProj.pdf

Elementary Project Board Template

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VVvCoSgnZUh7wN9XWsK76tudbyB1SCSw/edit#slide=id.p1

Research Plan Template (Required to complete)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vIFYUh99tFnT8Tv7Ig1eOyPTNvtyzPeQvaz4X8PCFPs/edit

Display and Safety Guidelines

https://austinscience.org/images/pdfs/ElemDSChecklist.pdf

Judging Rubric

https://austinscience.org/images/pdfs/ElemRubric.pdf

Project Ideas

Science Buddies

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What types of projects should I enter in the Science Fair?

Individual and Team Projects Students may conduct a science project individually or in teams (max 3 students/team.) If team members are in different grades, they will be judged according to the grade level of the older student. Only one project per student is allowed. 

Types of Projects Allowed 

• Experiments - a student asks an experimental question, forms, and tests a hypothesis, and makes conclusions. Example: I tested batteries to see which brand lasts the longest in a flashlight. 
• Engineering Designs - a student sees a need, and then designs and creates a product to fill that need. Example: I tried to design a stronger bridge and here is how I did it and I learned this…
• Exhibits - a student has an item or items that they ask a question about or study in order to answer a question. Examples: Here is a toy windmill I bought and this is how it works. My question was "How does a windmill work?". Then by doing research and playing with it I learned this....Or This is my rock collection, this is how I organized it and why, this is what I learned about rocks..... (Exhibits or research papers are not encouraged in older grades, 5th - 6th.)

Disqualified Projects

No Elementary Division student project can involve: 

• Firearms, explosives or discharge air pressure canister devices (i.e. potato guns) 
• Growing bacteria or mold of any type 
• Causing pain, suffering, sickness, or death of an animal 
• Breaking Local/State/Federal Law 
• Production of ANY amount of consumable alcohol
• Any activity or substance that presents a danger to the student, other people, or the environment, including hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials

Are there any Guidelines to create the Project Boards? 

All student project boards must follow these guidelines. 

Display Board 

• Project display should be on sturdy tri-fold board available at local craft and office supply stores. Written material, drawings, and pictures should be securely attached to the display board with glue or tape. Do not use staples: they will poke out the back of the board. 
• Projects will be displayed on tables that are 36 inches high. The size of the display area may not exceed the following measurements: 15” deep, 48” wide, and 72” high. Due to space limitations, displays that exceed these measurements cannot be accepted.
• Electricity for your display will not be available but you can use household batteries to power your project.  

Allowed Items

• Photographs, drawings, stuffed animals/artificial plants or imitation (play) food should be used to depict the prohibited or discouraged items.
• Students should take photographs of project steps as a visual explanation of their effort. Students must ask permission before photographing other individuals for the display board.
• Be sure to properly credit/list all sources of graphics and photographers on the display board (“Photograph/Visuals by . . .”) This includes images from websites.
• Students may use a computer and printer for written parts of the project. 
• Discouraged Items
• Items for demonstrations. This is not a demonstration fair. Judges want to hear what the student has learned. Photographs of the project will suffice. 
• Expensive, breakable, or fragile items 

Items Not Allowed: 

• No organisms; living, dead, or preserved (no plants or animals) 
• No water or chemicals, crystals, liquids 
• No human/animal parts or body fluids (for example, blood, urine) 
• No human or animal food 
• No poisons, drugs, controlled or hazardous substances 
• No sharp items (for example: syringes, needles, pipettes, knives, tacks, nails) 
• No pressurized tanks or containers 
• No glass or glass objects unless part of a commercial product (eg: a computer screen) 
• No batteries with open-top cells (so that battery acid can be seen) 
• No dirt, soil, gravel, rocks, sand, waste products, etc. 
• No project, device, activity, or substance deemed hazardous to student health or safety
• No photographs or pictures of animals or people in surgical techniques, dissections, or necropsies