2021-2022 Virtual Science Fair

High School Science Fair:  December 14, 2022 
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​Middle School Science Fair:  January 27, 2023

So, How Do I Participate?
1.  Commit to participating, and begin to think on possible experiments or research you would like to complete.

2.  Complete the Virtual Science Fair Teacher Approval Form by October 15, 2021. 

3. Once your teacher has approved your project and methods, teachers will complete the Virtual Science Fair Teacher Registration Form by November 1, 2021.  Teachers, you will need to use your rhschools.org account and you may be required to enter your email address on the form.  You will submit a form for each project. 

4.  Begin your research and/or experiment.  Take lots of  pictures.  Be sure you are in some of the photos.  Collect data.  Analyze your data. 

5.  Develop your presentation.  Use this template.  Be sure to read everything on the template.

5.  Determine how you will present your virtual presentation.   
​      a) Will you use Zoom?   b) Will you use Screencastify (Canvas Studio)?   c) Will you make a trifold board and be recorded?

6.  Present your project and record it.  -HS projects may be no longer than 8min.  -MS projects may be no longer than 5min. 
      
7.  Upload your video to YouTube.  Set it as "unlisted." 
     -High school projects are due Dec. 9-10 
     -MS projects are due Jan. 27-28   

8.   Return to this website to submit your YouTube link by 3:ooPM on the final day for project submissions. 

​9.  Participate in the Zoom meeting when the winners are announced. 

Three Ways to Record your Presentation

Present on Zoom -
​great for projects with partners!
Have your teacher help you use the Zoom feature embedded in Canvas.  For group projects, this is the recommended way to record. Don't forget to click record!  Watch your recording, if you think it needs to be revised, do it again before submitting it for judging. 
-MS video length may be  5 minutes
-HS video length may be 8 minutes.
Present using Screencastify -
use PPT or Google Slides.
Download Screencastify as a Google Chrome extension.  The free version allows only a 5 minute video, so practice your presentation first.  HS students, you are allowed an 8 minute video, but 5 minutes, it is acceptable. 
Trifold Video -
keep with tradition! 
Make your trifold board, as you ordinarily would for a Science Fair.    Place the board on a table and present with someone recording you.  Be sure to hold the phone horizontally for a wide view.  

-MS video length may be  5 minutes
-HS video length may be 8 minutes.
Picture
Students using a microscope during the 19-20 Science Fair.
How to Upload A Video to YouTube
Picture
Students toyed with motors during the 19-20 Science Fair.
How to Make Changes to YouTube Settings
Let's say you have uploaded your Science Fair video, then you realize you misspelled a word in the title!   This video is for you! 

The Elements of your Presentation

Download the Presentation Template

What About My School Science Fair?
Each middle school and high school will be allowed to submit 10 projects in the RHSD Virtual Science Fair.   All projects will be entered into the same project portal, but each school will have 2 days to decide which projects they will judge themselves, and which 10 they would like to submit as RHSD Virtual Science Fair Projects.   These decisions will be made by the Science Department at each school.
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Middle School Project Submissions will take place 7:00am Jan. 20 until 7:00pm Jan. 21, 2022.  The Science Dept. must choose 10 projects for the RHSD Virtual Science Fair by Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 3:30pm.   Other projects will be a part of the school's virtual science fair.   (Dates subject to change.)

High School Project Submission will take place 7:00am Dec. 9, until 7:00pm Dec. 10, 2022.  The Science Dept. at each school must choose 10 projects for the RHSD Virtual Science Fair by Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 3:30pm.  Other projects will be a part of the school's virtual science fair.  (Dates and times are subject to change.)

How Do I Get Help with My Project?
  • Whether you attend school face-to-face or through the Rock Hill Schools Virtual Academy, you may participate in the Virtual Science Fair, and help is available!

  • This webpage has resources below to help you choose a topic for your research.  The Media Center at your school may have helpful some resources, too!

  • You have a Science teacher!  If you are a high school student, you may not have Science until 2nd semester, so you may not know your Science teacher well, just yet, but you can find that person's name and room number, go introduce yourself and ask for assistance.  (If you're shy, ask a teacher you know to introduce you.) 
    -All RHSD Science teachers are in support of the Virtual Science Fair and they are willing to help students.  If you feel more comfortable with your Science teacher from last year, that's an option, too!  

  • Due to limited time on A/B days, C-day may be the best option for time with your Science teacher to help you with your project.  You will need to work at home, too, but do seek the advice of your Science instructor.  
    ​
  • If you are a RHSVA student, your Science teacher may host a Zoom session to assist with Science Fair projects - but you may need to ask!

  • If you need a trifold board, please let your Science teacher know and one will be provided. 

  • Don't neglect to seek the advice of your parents!  They were Science students at one time, and they may even have experience with the Science Fair - maybe not a virtual Science Fair, but they can help you!

  • If all else fails, please email kmassey@rhmail.org for help with your project!  

Why participate in the Science Fair?

Build your confidence.

Gain recognition for your research.

​Solve world problems.
Give meaning to your scientific study.

​Deepen your knowledge.

Put various academic skills to work.

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
  • Research Results
    -This category is for projects that are not an experiment.  Research may be related to Biology, Chemistry, etc. ​​
NOTE: Depending on the number of projects submitted in each category, some categories may be combined. 

How Do I Decide on a Project?

Think about topics that interest you. 
electricity....water...solar energy...cell phones...coronavirus recycling...germs...climate change...music...pets...insects...severe weather...engineering...construction...five senses...periodic table...bacteria...fungi...planting seeds...insulation

Brainstorm questions you have about how things work,
or how something could work better.
Design a test or experiment that uses the scientific method to answer your question.
Does cell phone use impact short term memory?
Does hand-washing with hot water or cold water make a difference?
What weather conditions are indicative of mosquitoes carrying viruses?
What's the best treatment for ant bites?
Is wifi or carrier more strain on a cell phone battery? 
Do grasshoppers chirp more when it's warmer or cooler?

If you don't do an experiment, but would like to share your research, that's fine, too! 
Choose Research Results as you category. 
These projects will be allowed for the Rock Hill Schools Secondary Science Fair, but  will not be allowed to proceed to the Piedmont Region III Science Fair. 
What happens to blood once it is donated but before it is given to a new person?
What I learned from my dog's DNA results, and my new questions.
Why are so many people deciding to become vegetarian or vegan?  Is it really a more healthy option?
How do the Covid-19 metrics really work?
How is Coronavirus like and unlike other viruses?
​​

Need Some Ideas?

Browse through the lists to develop your own, original question to research and investigate.
Picture
This photo, from http://templatedb.me/pick/ is a suggestion of how your board should look.
Picture
​
Google Slide Template 
PPT Template

​Since the conclusion of the 2020 Piedmont Region III Science Fair, it has been uncertain how the 2021 Regional Science Fair will be conducted.  It has been concluded that having an in-person Regional Science Fair is not a good idea this academic year. ISEF recently announced that they will have the International Science Fair virtual in 2021. The uncertainty of how the pandemic will play out for the next few months has pushed the Regional Science Fair planning committee into a proactive stance. The Piedmont Region III Science Fair will be virtual for 2021.  Here is what you need to be aware of:
  •  The rules and overall format of the posters will remain the same. Projects that use human subjects, biological materials, or potentially harmful materials will still need to provide the appropriate paperwork for the SRC (Grades 5 – 12). ISEF created a really nice rules wizard to help students determine what they need to do before they submit their paperwork to SRC. https://ruleswizard.societyforscience.org/
 
  • The project posters will be turned in virtually.  See the templates above.  If a student is unable to create a poster using this template, they can create a traditional trifold board and take a clear picture of it.  The digital template will be the preferred method. The font on the digital board cannot be any smaller than 24 point (Arial). We are adjusting the registration page to include an attachment option.  The templates about are NOT REQUIRED for use in the RHSD Virtual Science Fair, they are allowed, but not required. 
 
  • Registration will be from February 22nd – 26th. All projects must be submitted by 5pm on February 26th, 2021.

















​Following our RHSD Virtual Science Fair, some projects may proceed to the Piedmont Region III Science Fair.  



This is a video compilation of photos from the 2019-20 Science Fair.




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This website has been developed and maintained by
Kimberly G. Massey, K-12 Science Instructional Specialist
for Rock Hill Schools of York County, South Carolina.

Telephone

803.981.1886

Email

kmassey@rhmail.org