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The Science of Science FairsThe science fair is a wonderful opportunity for children and adolescents to get first-hand experience with what it is like to be a scientist. I consult with the Louisiana Science Fair and we would like to judge science fair projects accurately, consistently, and precisely so students can get the best possible feedback. We also would like science fair organizers to have a simple intuitive way to rank projects for awards. Below are various materials you can use for your science fair at any level (e.g,. local, regional, state, national or international). I am a scientist who studies how science fairs work. I am always looking for more collaborators. Please let me know if use these materials; I appreciate the feedback from fair organizers, judges, and students. I may be able to help you develop new materials and I am interested in working with science fair organizers to study how children learn and grow as they participate in science fairs over the years. I am very interested in collaborating with classroom teachers too. In fact, before earning a Ph. D. in Developmental Psychology, I was a middle school teacher. My research focus is problem-solving development, from its earliest origins during infancy to active ways we solve problems as adolescents. Does participation in inquiry learning experiences, like the science fair, help children uncover a deeper conceptual understanding of science? Do the kinds of experiences their teachers provide make a difference in how they understand science outside the classroom? To find out, I am studying science fairs: the students, teachers, and judges. Science Fair Materials
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