Author: hssciencefair
We will not be leaving this website up much longer as we do not plan to host another science fair. I will not be checking correspondence and communication any longer, so if you try to contact me through here, I will most likely not respond. The Facebook page is being removed as well. Just an FYI for those hoping for future events.
Thanks again to those who participated. It was a great day!
-Terri
Here is the new schedule of events:
8:30 – 8:45 am Check in time
8:45 – 9:15 am Set-up your display boards and wait until a photographer comes by to take your picture. All participants will receive a photo to take home.
9:15 – 9:30 am Welcome and instructions
9:30 – Noon Judging of science fair projects and hands-on science activities. No parents are allowed to be present during their student’s judging time. There will be chairs set up for you to wait. Feel free to look at all the other student projects and leave a comment about their work while at the fair.
**We are trying to get a ham radio operator to do a demonstration for us as well as a Cox Emergency team/ambulance tour. We will keep you updated.
Interactive tables:
Marble Run
Gumdrop Geometry
Tangrams
Optic Illusion Art Project
Building a Simple Circuit and Secret Code Competition
Cauldron Bubbles/lava lamp demo
Floating paperclips
Toothpick towers and index card building competitions
Noon – 1 pm We will break for lunch so that we can tally scores and determine winners. Everyone is on their own for lunch except judges and volunteers. There are many restaurants near the church on Republic Road for those not familiar with the area. Children are not to be left unsupervised at any time in the building. If it is a nice enough day, there is a pavilion next to the gym with picnic tables for you to use.
1 pm – 1:30 pm Awards Ceremony and refreshments for students and families!
1:30 pm Remove your projects and clean your space! Please leave the church better than you found it. 😊
I understand that it is hard to get the word out to homeschoolers sometimes, so if you are just hearing about the science fair and wanted to participate, there is plenty of room. I built in a week of cushion for receiving entry forms, so if you are working on something and want to enter, you are welcome. No forms will be accepted after February 1st. If you haven’t received a confirmation e-mail from me, then I haven’t received your forms. There are no refunds once received. We are striving to conduct a quality science fair, so time is needed to complete good projects that follow the scientific method. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at hssciencefair.gmail.com. If the number of projects is lower than I anticipated, we will most likely be able to judge all projects in the morning. I will keep all participants posted. You will receive judging times and further information in a couple of weeks. Thanks.
Terri Prahl
Coordinator
If you have been meaning to enter the science fair, now is the time! It is fine to mail those out to me today. Please make all checks out to Terri Prahl. Confirmation e-mails will be sent out once they are received. I have seen some great project ideas and am looking forward to seeing all the good work. Again, it is not too late to drop those in the mail! Thanks.
Terri Prahl
2016-southwest-missouri-homeschool-science-fair-flier
Feel free to share!
Here is the updated form for all the experimental projects for ages 10 – 18. Homeschool Science Fair Project Evaluation
We are already receiving prizes for the fair winners. We are excited about the Kindle Fire and Samsung tablet that we will be able to award to the top middle school and high school project winners! Here is a summary of how the age divisions will be broken down for judging and award purposes.
Judging categories:
Students 14-18 (high school) – must complete an experimental project following the scientific method. Prizes will be awarded to the top two scoring participants.
Students 11-13 (middle school) – must complete an experimental project following the scientific method. Prizes will be awarded to the top two scoring participants in this division.
Students 8-10 (elementary) – students who are 10 before the date of the fair are required to complete an experimental project following the scientific method. If they are 8 or 9 years old, they may complete a demonstration or collection project. You can read about what these types of projects require on the Getting Started page. There will be one prize awarded for the top experimental project in this age bracket and one prize for the demonstration/collection category.
**If we are able to, we will reward second and third places, but it will be determined on the funds we receive and donations.**
A note from the coordinator:
When I decided to pull my kids out of public school and embark on this sometimes scary, yet always adventurous task of homeschooling, I feared that my kids would miss out on so many things that the schools supplied. I was only aware of a couple of families that homeschooled, and it seemed like a lonely place to be. I have been so amazed over the past ten years to experience a vibrant and active homeschooling community that offers so many opportunities for learning. I am grateful to those brave moms and dads who have stepped up to fill those gaps and provide the wonderful social and educational experiences that have been very rewarding for our family. In 2013, my husband and I took on the task of organizing the SWMO Homeschool Science Fair and had a great experience. However, we had time constraints and health issues that kept us from making it an annual event. Now, as part of the Classical Conversations 8th grade curriculum, my daughter has to complete a science fair project and enter a fair. So, as parents, we are doing what we need to do to help her meet this goal and are hosting another science fair. It is our desire to produce a quality educational event for all of our children. If you have never participated in a science fair, don’t stress! We use the scientific method every day when we think, daydream, wonder, ask questions, find solutions, and draw conclusions! Although we want to encourage quality work, this is meant to be a fun, learning experience. The judges are there to help mentor the kids and offer them positive feedback about their efforts. It is a great experience for young people to learn to articulate their ideas to others, especially adults. My husband and I hope this event will inspire our young people to think, create, and share their scientific discoveries. So, please help us in making this a great event by participating and supporting the 2016 Southwest Missouri Homeschool Science Fair! Thank you.
God Bless,
Terri Prahl
Event Details: 
2016 Southwest Missouri Homeschool Science Fair
Saturday, February 27th, 2016
@ The Family Life Center at Graceway Baptist Church (http://www.gracewayonline.com/)
9am – 4pm
Southwest Missouri Homeschool Science Fair 2016 