2023-24 RHSD Secondary Science Fair

Theme:  Science For All

​The purpose of the Rock Hill Schools Secondary Science fair is to give students the opportunity to pursue their own Science interests through research and experimentation. 

The South Carolina Academy of Sciences hosts seven regional Science Fairs.  Our school district is a part of the Piedmont Region III.  Students who participate in the Rock Hill Schools Secondary Science Fair will be receive feedback that will enable them to improve their project for submission to the Piedmont Region III Science Fair which is scheduled to take place March 12 - 14, 2024. 

Each middle school and high school in RHSD is invited to submit 10 projects to the RHSD Science Fair. Individual schools are not required to host their own Science Fair.  Please check with your Science teacher to find out the Science Fair guidelines/procedures for your school.   

The RHSD Secondary Science Fair will be held December 12-14, 2023 at Saluda Trail Middle School.

So, What's Required? 

  • ​To the RHSD Science Fair students must bring:
    1)​ trifold board display of the project       LINK
    2) completed teacher score card  LINK
    3) printed lab report containing all information on the board,
         stapled in the upper left corner.  LINK  When you click the link you
         will be forced to make a copy in your Google Drive.  Use the template
         to create your lab report.  Your lab report will likely be more than one
         page.     ​
    4) blue folder, provided

How Do I Decide on a Project?

Students are encouraged to decide on a project that is of personal interest.  Of course you can find project ideas online, but the judges really enjoy hearing about how a personal dilemma lead to a scientific investigation. 

Everyone is interested in something whether it be sports, or technology, photography or pets.  What questions do you have regarding your interests?  What new techniques are out there, how do we know one is better than another?  How could you perform a test and collect data to show a difference?  The best projects are those that are based on student interests.  This is because the student will be intrigued to continue the study and expand the research.  The student will be able to articulate the the judges and the pubic the importance of the findings, which is our theme - Science For All. 

There are online sites that give ideas for Science Fair projects, too.  If you use these resources, don't neglect your interests.  For example, maybe you find a project that asks:  Do Plants Grow Taller With Music?  This sounds interesting, but if you don't like plants, you think they take too long to grow, and you forget to water your plants - this may not be the project for you.  Additionally, lots of other students probably saw this experiment idea so it may not be unique.  Use your creativity to ask a question that only you (potentially) have asked.
  • Does Cell Phone Use Impact Short Term Memory?
  • Does Hand-Washing with Hot or Cold Water Make a Difference?
  • What's the Best Treatment for Ant Bites?
  • Is WiFi or Carrier more Strain on a Cell Phone Battery?
  • Do Crickets Chirp more When it's Warm or When its Cold?

Check with your Media Specialist.  The Media Specialists in RHSD have told me that they want to help students with Science Fair.  When you have some time, go to the Media Center and ask the Media Center Specialist where the books and other Science Fair resources are located, you may find or develop a great project this way.  

Am I Required to Perform an Experiment?

Students are not required to perform an experiment. A student could enter the Science Fair with an analysis of varied research that seeks to answer a question.   Need an example?

​Question - Is West Nile Virus more common in coastal areas than inland areas?
The student would form his hypothesis, then study a variety of sources to find answers and data that answer the question.  The student would list the same parts of an experiment as if he/she had conducted an experiment.  This student would be sure to list all of his/her sources of information. 
  • Which type of blood is the most common to be donated?
  • Which is Healthier, Vegetarian or Vegan?
  • Do Viruses Multiply at the Same Rate as Bacteria?

What are the Categories?

  • Behavioral & Social Sciences
  • Biology
    -    Environmental Sciences
    -Medicine & Health Sciences
    -Plant Sciences
    -Microbiology
    -Animal Sciences
    -Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Chemistry
    -Biochemistry
  • Computer Science
    -Math
    -Statistics
  • Earth Science 
    -Astronomy
  • Engineering
    -Electrical & Mechanical
    -Materials & Bioengineering
    -Environmental Management
    -Energy & Transportation
  • Physics​​​
NOTE: Depending on the number of projects submitted in each category, some categories may be combined. 
Some teachers have asked for a template students may use to submit their project to the teacher as a lab report.  Click Here

What Should Be on my Trifold Board?

Download the Presentation Template
Picture
This photo, from http://templatedb.me/pick/ is a suggestion of how your board might look.

Need Some Ideas?
This a video compiled of photos taken at the RHSD Science Fair in
​January 2020

Piedmont Region III Science Fair Information Packet
  • Now through Jan. 5...School Science Fair Coordinators indicate participation.
  • March 4 – 8...School Science Fair Coordinators register winners online.
  • March 12...Project Drop off:  Projects can be dropped off from 12pm – 6pm.
    6pm - 8pm – Only High School students should be present for interviews.  Location: University Readiness Center Greatroom
  • March 14...Project Pick Up and announcement of Awards. Projects must be picked up by 7pm. 
  • March 16... Awards Ceremony in Campus Life Center Ballroom 310


This website was developed and maintained by Kimberly G. Massey, former K-12 Science Instructional Specialist for Rock Hill Schools of York County, South Carolina.  Mrs. Massey is no longer employed by RHSD and her Google Drive account is now inactive, which may cause multiple broken links.

Mrs. Massey is now the Program Manager for Business, IT and Professional Development at York Technical College.  Her new email address is [email protected].  Please reach out if you have questions or needs.