Prince Edward Island Science FairExpo-sciences de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard

Prin ce Edward Island Science Fair

University of Prince Edward Island

550 University Avenue, Char lottetown

PE C1A 4P3 Canada

Tel: 902.566.0520

Fax: 902.566.0466

E-m ail: cvessey@upei.ca

Web: http://stas.edu.pe.ca

Expo-sciences de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard

Université de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard

550 avenue University , Char lottetown

PE C1A 4P3 Canada

Tél: 902.566.0520

Téléc: 902.566.0466

Courriel: cvessey@upei.ca

Site Web: http://stas.edu.pe.ca

TO: All Science, Mathematics, and Computer Science Teachersof the Eastern, Western, and French School Boards/Districts,Provincially Operated Schools, and Private Schools.

FROM: Christopher R. Vessey, Chair, PEI Science Fair

DATE: December 10, 2003

RE: 2004 Prince Edward Island Science Fair – Official Announcement

Season’s Greetings!

It is that time again – time to begin talking to students about the Science Fair. Our covering letter this year willdiscuss some of the points we’d like you to raise. This document outlines, as we do each year, the format andprocedures of the Fair.

Please make copies of this document available to the administrative or teaching staff at your location as outlinedabove. Your help in distributing this information is greatly appreciated!

We will be holding the 2004 Fair at the University of Prince Edward Island Young Canada Games SportCentre (known as the Field House on campus), on Thursday, April 1, 2004. The storm date is the next day,Friday, April 2, 2004. We are pleased to continue hosting here at UPEI, the first home of the Fair. Your studentsshould now be thinking about ideas and starting the main work on their projects, if they haven’t already beenworking on them!

We have provided some useful resources for students, teachers, and parents, which I shall now outline.

Visit the STAS website: http://stas.edu.pe.ca which is full of science fair ideas, resources, and links.Useful information of primary resource industries on PEI, particularly potatoes and fisheries, is available on the site.Check out the list of Mentors who students may contact for advice and assistance.

Each School District or Board is equipped with videos in English and French which will assist you in promotingScience Fairs in your schools. We also supplied them with copies of the book ‘Science Is...’, by Susan Bosak. Another excellent science fair video, ‘How to Prepare a Science Fair Project’ is available for borrowing from

the Media Centre at the Confederation Centre Library, and from your Science Fair contact in your local schoolBoard or District office.

Another useful resource book on science fairs and projects you may wish to order is ScienceSense by John Hayson(OISE Press, 1994: ISBN 0-7744-0408-6; $19.50). There is also a useful Teacher's Guide (ISBN 0-7744-0409-4)which cost $9.95 (in 2001 money – these prices may be slightly different today.)

We normally get many projects which are experiments in the ‘life’ sciences. Please encourage students to alsocarry out projects in physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. We find that these areasare often neglected, and make for a more well-rounded Fair. Studies and innovative projects should also beencouraged. Remember that specialty prizes are often based in these other areas – students may be missingopportunities for some really nice awards!

If your school has not been involved in Science Fairs in the past, please consider it for this year. For students inGrade 4 or later, it is an excellent method for teaching enrichment, and students are generously rewarded for theirefforts by local industries, organizations, and government departments. The best projects will represent PEI at the2004 Canada Wide Science Fair, a week-long event which will be held in Newfoundland and Labrador at theMemorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, NL, from May 15th to 23rd, 2004, with projects beingdisplayed at the Field House. The Committee has arranged for a number of interesting tours in the St. John’s region.Participants can also look forward to many other special events and visits to area attractions to experience Canada’s“far east” culture. Participation in the CWSF will be a prize well worth competing for!

A few things to remember for the 2004 PEI Fair are as follows:

1. Please inform all students regarding the safety guidelines and regulations for animal experimentationand size restrictions for the displays. This information is all located on the STAS website (mentioned above).Please send this information home to the parents or inform parents where this information is located. We do notwant to turn a project away if they do not follow regulations, but unfortunately we are obliged to do so for safetyreasons. If there is any doubt regarding an exhibit, please do not hesitate contacting me prior to the Fair. If wecannot clarify a rule, it will be sent on to the Youth Science Foundation of Canada and their interpretation will befinal. Please note that cardboard and foam-core backboards are not permitted due to fire and safety regulations.These have been commonly available in office supply stores around the Island, and are unfortunately not usablefor a Science Fair due to their rating as “readily flammable”.

��� Please see the attached notice on backboards. ���

2. Students in Grades 7 - 12 should keep a diary of the progress of their project and write a short researchreport. This should be available to show to the judges at the Fair. This is essential for any students who wish togo on to the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

3. The judging criteria for the top prizes in the Senior and Intermediate Divisions are clearly explained onthe STAS website. The Youth Science Foundation has now clarified how judging for Scientific Thought shouldbe carried out to allow for experiments, studies, and innovations. The judging criteria outlined in the Handbookwill be adhered to for grades 7 to 12. Levels 1 to 4 signify the degree of sophistication of the Scientific Thought.Please inform students as to judging procedures before they begin preparing their projects. It is important thatstudents, parents, and teachers know this information: It will help the students carry out an exemplary projectfollowing the scientific method.

The Youth Science Foundation has prepared a Do-It-Yourself 35 mm Slide Workshop Kit on Judging of ScientificThought at Science Fairs and each of the School Boards has been provided with a copy. We would suggest that

Junior and Senior High Schools borrow the kits and show them to the students planning to enter the Science Fairso that they understand the levels of sophistication and the methods of judging. The judging system that will be used for grades 4 to 6 is basically the same as that used for older students, althoughthere is greater emphasis on the student's knowledge of the scientific principles presented in the project and lesson originality, skill, and sophistication. Please discourage students from having a rehearsed presentation. Ourjudges will make inquiries of the students, and will stop them from presenting a rehearsed track.

4. Please remember that the criteria for entry into the PEI Science Fair is a successful display andpresentation at competitions arranged in the respective School Boards. In other words, the PEI Science Fair is theprovincial final. Check with your School Board administration for the arrangements being made. The number ofprojects invited to the PEI Science Fair from each Board is proportional to the number of students in grades 4 to12 per Board:

French Board 15 projectsEastern Board 130 projectsWestern Board 80 projects

Private and federal government schools may enter through the School Board in whose region they are located.Entry forms will be sent to each Board early in the new year. These should be filled in after the Board determineswho will proceed to the PEI Science Fair and returned to us through the Board by noon on Monday, March 22nd,2004, at the latest. School and Board Fairs should be timed so that results can reach us before the deadline.

5. Because of the high costs of registration and travel ($1200/person or more) involved in sending students tothe Canada-wide Science Fair, we will be asking the students who will be going on to the national finals tocontribute $150/person to travel and registration. Please inform students and parents in Grades 7 to 12 of thisregulation.

We hope that you will convince the young aspiring scientists in your schools to carry out a scientific project thisyear. Encourage them to have fun with science. Remember, as teachers, you have the power to inspire: you couldbe educating the next great scientific mind of the new millennium!

Don't hesitate to contact me by e-mail: cvessey@upei.ca, if further information is required or if I can put you intouch with a Mentor. Visits to your school can also be arranged.

Thank you so very much for your time and attention; without the support and assistance of educators, our Fairwould not be possible!

May you all have a merry Christmas, and a prosperous and happy New Year! See you at the Fair!

Christopher R. VesseyChair, PEI Science Fair Organizing Committee

cc: Sheila O’Shea, Science Fair Department Head, Eastern School BoardRon Rice, Administrative Support Officer, Western School BoardClayton Coe, Science Consultant, Department of EducationKathy Ashton, Home School Science Fair Coordinator