1. Austin Energy Regional Science Festival February 18 – 21, 2015 Palmer Events Center Teacher Orientation: Elementary Division www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com

2. AERSF 2014 Statistics Elementary Division Projects: 1,835 Students: 2,095 Schools: 174 School Districts: 18+ Judges &Volunteers: over 400

3. Judges & Volunteers We ask that you send 1 Judge and 1 Volunteer for every 10 projects you send from your school.

4. Schedule Highlights Deadline to finalize School Registration packet Thursday, February 5, 2015, 5:00 p.m. Check in and Set up at Palmer Events Center Friday, February 20, 2015 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Judging and Awards at Palmer Events Center Saturday, February 21, 2015

5. What's New For 2015? Major Changes This Year: Numbers have been reduced in Elementary (not new but) No projects where the student has grown mold or bacteria will be allowed to participate

6. Not new, but worth repeating! Parking will be free of charge to all participants at the Palmer Events Center Garage. Project Registration Fee is $15 All elementary projects must complete and submit an “Elementary Project Research Form” with their registration packets. Due to space limitations, late registration will not be allowed. Elementary division covers grades 3-6 only. No mold or moldy food projects!!

7. Restrictions – Grounds for Disqualification -Failure to follow the “Code of Conduct” during the fair -Elementary Division students may NOT conduct a project that includes: growing mold or bacteria (i.e. moldy food experiments etc); discharging a firearm or air pressure canister device or potato gun; chemicals hazardous to student health, or radioactive materials; causing pain, suffering, or death of an animal any other activity or substances that present a danger to the student or others.

8. Elementary Division All documentation is available online in English and Spanish at www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com Information for Participation

9. Project Display & Safety Rules Items Not Allowed in the Exhibit Hall No organisms; living, dead or preserved plants or animals* No human or animal food No Bacteria or mold cultures No liquids Allowed and Encouraged Items Photographs, drawings, or toy animals/artificial plants should be used to depict the items not allowed. Be sure to properly credit/acknowledge all photographers.

10. Experiment or Exhibit? Many students and parents have difficulty discerning the difference between Experiment and Exhibit projects. Experiments follow the steps of the scientific method clearly ask a question to which you do not already know the answer before testing Exhibits explain how or why something works reveal details about the topic are explanations, not questions

12. 6 th Grade Project Entry 6 th Grade Elementary students may enter in the Elementary or the Junior Division

13. Maximum Project Entries Elementary Division – Based on School’s Student Enrollment Grades 3–6 0 – 499 Students10 Projects Maximum per School 500 – 699 Students12 Projects Maximum per School 700 – 899 Students14 Projects Maximum per School 900 + Students16 Projects Maximum per School Junior Division Grade 6 70 Projects Maximum per School

14. Teacher Checklist  Print a Media Release Form and Student Checklist for each student who won at your school’s science fair  By Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Finalize online registration and Submit a complete school packet to Austin Energy  On Friday, February 20, 2015 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. Check in and set up projects at Palmer Events Center  On Saturday, February 21, 2015 Students should be at their project 15 minutes before judging begins Attend the Awards Ceremony Dismantle Projects, 4:30–5:30 p.m. Projects not picked up by 5:30 p.m. on February 21 will be discarded.

15. Registration Deadline & Fees Deadline to Submit Registration Packets: February 05, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Fees Student Project Fee $15 School Registration Fee $35 No late entries can be accepted!

16. What is in a School Packet? Deadline: Thursday, February 05, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Submit to our office: 1.Copy of the school’s online registration confirmation 2.Copy of Elementary Project Research Form 3.Original signed Media Release for each student 4.Payment or documentation of payment

17. Sponsors 2015

18. Special Awards Awards for 2015 to be listed on website later this year. www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com 2014 Special Awards: Austin Energy Best Use of Electricity Austin Energy Best Use of Renewable Energy Austin Energy Best in Climate Protection

19. Internet Resources Austin Energy Regional Science Festival www.sciencefest.austinenergy.com Science Fair support – ideas and “how to” for projects www.sciencebuddies.com Austin Science Education Foundation– non profit support organization for the regional fair www.www.austinscience.org

20. Contacts sciencefest@austinenergy.com Regional Fair Director Russell Cowen (512) 972 9532 russell.cowen@austinenergy.com Austin Science Education Foundation Ingrid Weigand ingrid.weigand@austinscience.org Advisory Committee Members: Barbara tenBrink, Chair SueAnn Decuir Michele Mann Lisa Rogers Ingrid Weigand

28. Selecting Winners