Where has the math/science fair gone?

Where have the math/science fairs gone? As a teacher in Baltimore City, I find it disheartening that we do not hold a city wide math/science fair nor do many schools host a within-school math/science fair and competition. The county school system hosts a math, science, and technology fair every spring and so do many other school systems in the country. How can we expect our students to compete when we do not challenge them with the same opportunities and experiences?

Growing up the science fair was always something to which I looked forward. From the fourth grade through tenth grade everyone in school participated in the yearly science fair. It was a tradition. It involved a lot of hard work and time outside of school, but the end results were sometimes exemplary, usually interesting, and more often than not, left one with a feeling of accomplishment. Math/Science Fair research projects are an excellent way for students to learn about and experience the research process. By conducting the experiment, analyzing the data, evaluating and explaining their results, the student is challenged to think and apply their knowledge.

We have spent time and resources at every high school in Baltimore City for the Bridge Projects which, once completed, will allow students who have not passed the HSA to graduate. If we had only continued to hold science fairs in middle and high school s we may have challenged and prepared our students for success in far in advance of their graduation deadline. I do not think that establishing/reestablishing a city-wide math/science fair would be easy, but I think it can and should be approached in small steps.

First, we should plan now to host a science fair for all high schools in the spring of 2010. By selecting a date and informing school administrations, teachers, and students we can allow them to prepare and plan for these activities. The rubrics, sample work pieces, and procedures for the competition should be planned in advance.

Second, for the first time event we can plan on having more lenient rules in order to allow more students to experience the science fair. One example may be to allow the students to present a poster of their work with the data instead of a poster with an accompanying research paper.

Third, schools should be supplied with sample ideas of projects. More credit would of course be given to more creative projects, but the competition is also based on the ability of the student to explain their experiment, their data, and their conclusions. Ideally, this step would be phased out over time, and student interest takes hold.

Fourth, each school should have a minimum number of students/ projects that they are required to send to the city wide competition. In this way, schools will most likely have within school competitions to which their student body will be invited. The support of the student body is one of the most crucial steps in being able to generate their support and participation over the years.

Fifth, the members of the community and parents should be invited to build their support.

Sixth, over time this process can develop so that the rules are more stringent, the quality of student work sought is better, important members of the community and colleges can be invited to serve as judges and to meet the students. Middle schools students should also be invited to these competitions so that they know what will be expected of them in a few years.

The catch in these plans, is that there must be someone who will take on the role of planning the math/science fair event and he/she should begin soon.