stem Fair Project Guidelines

Fifth Grade | 2024

Every year at Faith Baptist Schools we hold a Science Fair. The students will begin
working on this project in the days ahead, and we wanted to provide you with some
preliminary information regarding this project.

The fifth graders will be creating an engineering STEM project. Included in these
guidelines is a list of some ideas of simple engineering projects, but you do not have to
choose one of these ideas. However, all topics must be approved by your child’s teacher.
Please send in an engineering topic for approval by Monday, December 4th.

It is extremely important to carefully plan and prepare for this project, as there is a high
level of expectation for these projects. A successful science project does not have to
be expensive or even terribly time-consuming. However, it does require some planning
and careful thought. Traditional science experiment kits are not permitted, but items
like K’nex or Legos may be used in their build.

We require that the students are involved and working on the project at home. As
teachers we require that the students do as much of the project as they are physically
able to do. As a fifth grader this would include most of the work. If there is something
that you deem dangerous (i.e. paper cutter, glue gun, etc.) then a parent should be
there to help. If it is something that your child does not know how to do (i.e. making
labels on the computer, adding transitions and titles on video, etc.) then please show
them how and let them do the work themselves as much as possible. If the teachers
feel that parents helped in areas that the students should have done themselves,
their grades will be docked. Our goal in making the projects simpler is that the
students can be fully engaged and actively involved throughout the entire process.
Please note we are only accepting engineering projects.

The science project reports, videos, and project displays are due on Wednesday,
February 7th, the day before Open House and will be displayed on both nights of
Open House.
 SECTIONS OF the SCIENCE PROJECT

The Report

Reports must be typewritten using Times New Roman, 12 point font, and the report
should be double-spaced. The students should type their own report; however, parents
can assist by proofreading. The reports must be submitted stapled in the left-hand corner
with a cover page. No report folders please. The report should be written in MLA
format. An example of the formatting for the first page of the report is attached. Every
section should be written in paragraph form. Each section is a separate paragraph and
should include a section heading. The report will be graded for a separate Language
Arts grade as well. The sections for the report are listed below:

• Introduction: Creatively introduce what your science project is about.

• Goal for the Project and Materials: What do you hope to create? Please list all
materials used in your construction.
• Steps to engineering: Briefly discuss each step that went into making the
successful project in numerical order.
• Attempted Tries and Modifications: What changes had to be made to your
project? How did those changes improve your project? If your project was
successful on the first build, how did you modify it to make it a stronger or
better build? What made the best product?
• Results: What were your results? How did you create a successful project?
• Scientific Concept(s): Using research, explain what scientific concept(s) were
demonstrated in the results of your project?
* "Scientific Concepts” was the most missed section in the student’s reports in
our last STEM Fair; so please make sure to include this section in the report.
• Conclusion and Biblical Application: Tie up your report. Discuss what you’ve
learned. Which Bible verse could be applied to your project and how does it
apply?
* Just stating a Bible verse is not sufficient; be sure to include an application of
your verse to your project.
 SECTIONS OF the SCIENCE PROJECT

The Demonstration video

The video should only be two to five minutes as it will serve as a replacement for the
typical science project speech. On the due date, students will need to bring their video
on a USB flash drive. The video should include all the same sections from the student’s
report:

• Introduction
• Goal for the Project and Materials
• Steps to Engineering
• Attempted Tries and Modifications
• Results
• Scientific Concept(s)
• Remember you are explaining or teaching the audience about these
concepts.
• Conclusion and Biblical Application

Voiceovers are NOT acceptable for any section of the video. Keep in mind, this is an
informational and demonstration type speech, the speaker must be seen on camera.
Video effects and editing are acceptable, but keep in mind this is the student’s project.
If they do not know how to add transitions or effects, you may teach them how and help
them, but parents are not do it completely for them. The students should also be
prepared to answer questions or demonstrate their knowledge of their projects and
video presentations after the video has been presented.
 SECTIONS OF the SCIENCE PROJECT

The Display

Each student’s display area should include three things:

• The finished project
• A creative display of the materials used to build their project
• A title poster (an example is attached)
o This should be an 8”x10” photo print. (It must be this size as they will be
framed by the student’s teacher)
o It should include the following:
§ Title of the project
§ Subtitle: STEM Fair 2024
§ Student’s Name
§ Due Date
§ Teacher’s Name
§ Acknowledgements

For example: if a child builds a pendulum, on the day the project is due, he should bring
the completed pendulum, a creative display of the materials, the title poster, the project
report, and the demonstration video on a USB flash drive.

Because these are often recycled items, please ensure that your materials are
displayed in a creative way and are fit for display.

Faith Baptist Schools approaches education from a Christian perspective. Even science
is considered through the light of God’s Word. Presentations and projects should have
no reference in support of the theory of evolution. Because the Bible teaches that God
created the earth, universe, and all that is in it (Genesis 1:1), we do not allow the
students to receive credit for a presentation or report that describes creation from an
evolutionary perspective. We hope to see your children excited, engaged, and learning
as great future scientists.
 Example topics

• A propeller car • Bungee cords with Barbies

• A mouse trap car • Building a bridge (Any Type)
• A fluid powered car • Creating a drawbridge
• A balloon powered car • Building a Ferris wheel
• A hurricane safe house • Creating a water pipeline
• An egg drop • Any Simple Machine
• A pulley system • Water Wheels
• A bottle rocket launch • Rubber band powered boat
• Egg drop with parachute • Steamboats
• Building a Wind turbine • Jet propelled boats
• Marble rollercoasters • Marshmallow shooters
• Catapults • Zipline racers

Remember that many of these projects can be built with everyday materials. Popular
STEM materials include toothpicks, foil, paper, paper cups, rubber bands, plastic
spoons, cardboard boxes and tubes, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, legos, string, ping
pong balls, and plastic bottles or bottle caps. Remember, traditional science
experiment kits are not permitted.

There are also many STEM Engineering projects on YouTube, and here are some good
websites to check for more inspiration:

https://thehomeschoolscientist.com/100-engineering-projects-kids/
https://www.education.com/science-fair/engineering/
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Science-Demo-Guy/Page:3
https://www.youtube.com/c/STEMInventions/videos
 Dates to Remember Dates to Remember
5th Grade Science Fair 5th Grade Science Fair
Monday, December 4th Monday, December 4th
- Topic is due for approval - Topic is due for approval
- Please make sure your child gets his topic - Please make sure your child gets his topic
approved during this week to ensure ample approved during this week to ensure ample
time to adjust if necessary time to adjust if necessary

Monday, December 18th Monday, December 18th

- Start constructing - Start constructing

Monday, January 8th Monday, January 8th

- Rough Draft Check and Title Poster Check - Rough Draft Check and Title Poster Check

Wednesday, February 7th Wednesday, February 7th

- Science Project Due - Science Project Due

- The students will bring all their display - The students will bring all their display
materials on this day to allow the teachers to materials on this day to allow the teachers to
set up for video presentations Open House set up for video presentations Open House
the following day. the following day.
- Please bring all materials in a recyclable bag - Please bring all materials in a recyclable bag
clearly labeled with the Child’s Name. clearly labeled with the Child’s Name.
Different examples for project: Title Poster Example
Mla format and report layout Example:
This does not include all the report sections
Student Name

Teacher’s Name

Science 5

7 February 2024

Title

Introduction

This is where your introduction paragraph would go. Make sure to write in complete

sentences and use appropriate punctuation and capitalization. Please do not announce yourself

here.

Goal and Materials

This is where your goal for your project should be stated. Next, you will list your materials.

Remember this should be written in complete sentences not in bullet points.

Steps to Engineering

This is where your steps of engineering should be stated. Be sure to use transition words

and ordinal numbers like first, second, next, lastly. Make sure you communicate clearly how

something was built and assembled.

Attempted Tries and Modifications

This is where you state the changes that were made to your project. Make sure to state

how those changes improved your project. Make sure to discuss the multiple builds.

Results

This paragraph should state the result of your project. Discuss what produced the best

product.
 5TH SCIENCE PROJECT GRADING RUBRIC
Name: Title:

STEM Video Content Points

Introduction /2
Goal for the project and materials clearly stated /3
Steps to engineering clearly explained /3
Attempted tries and modifications explained /3

E
Results- what happened and why? /3
Scientific concept explained /3
Conclusion and Biblical application /3

PL
STEM Project Thoroughness
Student involvement and execution /10
Data drawn from tries and modifications /5
Information reflecting outside research /5
Materials sufficient to conclude an accurate result /5
Level of difficulty /5

Video Quality
AM
Creativity /10
Overall effectiveness /5
Relevant pictures/picture quality /5

Display
Exhibit materials displayed according to guidelines /15
Title Poster, Completed Build, Creative Display of Materials

Typed Report
Includes all required sections /15
EX

Introduction, Goal, Materials, Steps, Tries, Modifications,

Results, Scientific Concepts, Conclusion, Biblical Application

Project Grade
Speech
Memorization /15
Expression (fun to listen to/interesting) /15
Communication and well-written script /10
Reflects clear understanding of project /10
(Student should also be able to answer questions thoroughly after their video presentation)
Good use of demonstration/display /10
Falls within time limit (2-5 minutes, 15 second grace period) /10
Poise /10
Eye Contact /10
Volume /5
Enunciation/Pronunciation /5

Speech Grade

TOTAL SCIENCE GRADE