How Can I Find Out More About Science Fairs and Math Competitions?
Wendy Sherman McCann
Parents, has your child suddenly become interested in determining which laundry detergent
produces the most suds? Or has he or she developed a sudden interest in math problems? Have
you noticed your child acquiring a bizarre collection of magnets, wires, and batteries lately? Does your adolescent seem to be speaking in tongues, mumbling about hypotheses, dependent
variables, or problem solving? If so, then you may be feeling the effects of a science fair or
mathematics competition, annual events in which kids compete for various levels of recognition
by designing and carrying out scientific investigations or by solving math problems.
Science Fairs
Participation in science fairs is usually included in the science curriculum as a means for children
to experience "thinking like a scientist." The types of projects students are expected to complete
will probably vary by grade level. Younger children may simply build models or collections, or
exhibit basic demonstrations of scientific phenomena. Older children are often expected to test a
scientific hypothesis through a detailed, controlled experiment.
The rules that govern science fair projects also can vary across schools. Some schools allow kids
to complete group projects, while others require individual work. Children may be asked to
present their project results to teachers, classmates, or outside judges for evaluation. Some
science fairs, but not all, allow invention-type projects, such as "designing a utensil for eating
peas."
Many kids enjoy participating in science fairs, but others may need a bit of encouragement from
teachers and parents. You can help ensure that your child's experience is a positive one by taking
the following steps:
- Encourage your child to choose a project that will
sustain his or her interest. Because the investigation will be
carried out over an extended period of time, your child should be
motivated to study the chosen topic (for project ideas, see the
box to the right).
- Help your child prepare a realistic timeline for completing the project. Most science fair
investigations take a good deal of time to complete and analyze. Be sure to allow time for
mistakes and false starts--waiting to complete a science project until the night before the due date
will never result in a satisfying experience!
- Help your child gather materials early. Take time to think about the project presentation
and the materials needed for a neat, attractive display. Plan to photograph appropriate aspects of
the investigation for later display on background posters.
- Make sure your child is aware of any restrictions that apply to his or her project. Keep in
mind that many science fairs have strict rules about experimentation on humans and animals.
Knowing the rules and expectations ahead of time will help avoid problems or even
disqualification down the road.
- Make sure your child is aware of all project assignments and deadlines. Some teachers
require literature searches, written reports, or in-class presentations in addition to the
investigation itself.
- Be a supportive "practice audience" for your child. Many science fair contests require
kids to give an oral report to one or more judges, who can then ask questions about the
investigation. Listen to your child rehearse the oral presentation, and try to anticipate questions
the judges may ask. Teachers can help by providing judging criteria for students and parents to
consider.
For more help in choosing science fair topics, finding examples of science fair projects, or
obtaining guidelines for completing projects, use the Internet resources listed on the ERIC
Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education Web site at
http://www.ericse.org/scifair.html.
Math Competitions
Like science fairs, math competitions generally have local, regional, state, and national levels of
competition and awards, but in other ways they differ fundamentally. In most math competitions,
the sponsors--not the students--determine the nature of the problems to be solved. Most math
competitions involve student teams, and most are extracurricular, so they generally are not part of a regular math class.
But there is tremendous variety in the types of competitions that are held. For instance,
MATHCOUNTS competitions are treated almost as a sport, with children in grades 7 and 8
being coached for several months before the school selects a team of four kids to compete
locally. Winners then proceed to state competitions, and winners at the state level go on to
compete nationally. The questions can cover a number of math topics, including algebra,
geometry, number theory, and statistics (for more information about MATHCOUNTS, see
http://mathcounts.org).
The Mandelbrot Midlevel Competition (http://www.midlevels.org)
conducts three rounds of competition for individuals and teams throughout the year. Though
a school can select only one team for competition, there is no limit to the number of kids who
can compete on an individual basis. The questions cover such topics as elementary algebra,
geometry, combinatorics, and number theory.
In addition to generating an interest in mathematics, participation in math competitions serves to
develop number sense, algebraic thinking, and problem-solving skills--all of which are important
prerequisites for success in high school and college mathematics courses.
For more help in finding math competitions, preparing for competitions, or obtaining guidelines
for various competitions, see the Internet resources listed on the ERIC Clearinghouse for
Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education Web site at
http://www.ericse.org/mathcomp.html.
| Wendy Sherman McCann is the Science Education Analyst and an AskERIC Specialist at the
ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education at The Ohio State
University in Columbus, Ohio. She is also a doctoral student in science education at the
university. |
 Calculators in the Classroom: Is the Jury Still Out?
 Table of Contents
 A Parent's Guide to Student Performance in Science and Mathematics
This page was updated on Fri Nov 2 19:14:45 GMT 2001
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