Do you want to provide this rich and challenging experience for your students? It can be as easy as passing along fair information so students and their families can “take it from there” and signing one form so we know the school was notified of the student’s participation. Or you can draw upon Terra resources such as Fair grants, fellowships, professional development or Fair in a Box to be a mentor or even a local fair director. However, you choose to encourage students, Terra can help.
Students are the explorers and they need to accomplish that exploring themselves. Teachers and parents have the roles of guides, safety monitors, reminders, taxis and signers of paperwork. BEFORE students begin their work, you need to be sure their plans are safe for all involved.
ANY adult can help and guide a student to prepare a STEM project, whether for a local or regional fair. One adult takes the leadership role, providing the supervisor signatures as needed. Simply access the online forms before the student starts to work.
Terra Fairs charge a registration fee per student to help cover Fair Day costs. The early bird fee until January 31st is only $10; it then increases to $20 until registration closes. If that fee is a barrier to a student’s participation, contact Terra about a scholarship.
There are two general project divisions known as a) Research and Engineering Design (RED) and b) Topic Presentations.
| RED Division (Require Data) |
Topic Division (No Data) |
|---|---|
| Senior Research & Engineering Design Grades 9-12 (requires SRC paperwork) | Senior Topic Presentation Grades 9-12 |
| Junior Research & Engineering Design Grades 5-8 | Junior Topic Presentation Grades 5-8 |
Research and Engineering Design (RED) Division is organized into Senior (high school, grades 9-12) and Junior (middle school, grades 5-8) Levels. These projects involve data collection in a scientific experiment or throughout multiple iterations with an engineering design. RED students compete for Fair Honors, Special Awards, and state, national and international advancement. Only Senior Level project may advance to international fairs.
Topic Division is organized into Senior (high school, grades 9-12) and Junior (middle school, grades 5-8) Levels. Students in Topic Division make a model or learn about a particular topic outside the usual school curriculum for their grade without data collection or scientific experimentation. They prepare a report and poster, and compete for Fair Honors and some Special Awards. Typically, students choose Topic Presentation Division as a “beginner year” to become familiar with the fair experience. Advanced students may also use a Topic year for their planning and training in research techniques.
Affiliated science and engineering fairs require documentation signed by responsible adults that the students and their research subjects are safe throughout the process. Adults must review all procedures BEFORE the student begins experimenting or building. Those adults’ signatures and dates prove that was done. Use the provided checklists to make sure the students have completed the required forms:
Senior Research and Engineering Design students: SRC paperwork
Junior Research and Engineering Design and Topic Presentation students: Safety Forms
All Students: Media Release Form
Note that 2021 fair will be held virtually with different schedule in every fair. Please watch for detailed information about your fair schedules for 2021. The information below is fair schedule information for in person fairs for future years. This sample schedule offers a rough idea of what will happen on Fair Day. Registered adults and students will receive a finalized schedule by the first of March.