Beyond the Science Fair: Creating a Kids’ Inquiry Conference

MPS Elementary School Science Fairs Each year, elementary school students in grades K-5, have had the opportunity to participate in a school wide Science Fair. Students volunteered to participate in the Science Fair either as individuals or working with other students in a small group. At home, students had approximately 4 weeks to create a science fair project that showcased the work/experiments and subsequent steps they took in answering their science related question. On the designated evening, students & projects were on display in the APR. Using a rubric that generated scores, judges, visited projects and talked to students.

This year, we are hosting a “Kids’ Inquiry Conference” & a “Project Showcase.”

What is Kids’ Inquiry Conference? “In school, the traditional format for the sharing of science experiences has been the science fair. Usually the science fair is conducted as a competitive event at which prizes are awarded for the “best” examples. Unfortunately, this type of science event has little connection to the real sharing scientist do regularly. The National Science Education Standards calls for an approach to science that honors the scientific processes in which scientists actually engage. A careful look shows that practicing scientists share informal talk daily and deliberately prepare for more formal sharing of their work through participation in professional conferences. An alternative to the traditional school science fair is a Kids Inquiry Conference (KIC). KIC encourages students to develop their own inquiry projects, carry them out using an inquiry based model, and prepare for a public sharing event.” http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ921139

At School: Kids’ Inquiry Conference Follows Science Inquiry Process Constructive Feedback from Peers Audience = Classmates, Teachers, other Adults Work Product = Oral Presentations, Google Slideshow, Science Notebooks, Journal Articles, and/or Poster, Tri-old display board Every Student participates in the Conference under the direction of a teacher the “work product” will be on display in classrooms on June 1st from 6:00-7:00PM

At home: Project Showcase Students are invited to also participate in a science investigation, on any topic at home using the inquiry process The product of the at home investigation will be on display at school at the “Project Showcase” on the evening of May 22nd Project Showcase is completely voluntary This event will be open to the Horace Mann School community Students may participate individually, work with partner, or small group (no more than 4 children) Project Showcase participants need to submit a “Project Showcase: Inquiry Investigation Plan” by April 24th for review by Dr. Cobbs

…...Project Showcase continued Once the plan has been reviewed, it will be returned to the student Students who are collaborating on a project only need to submit one form

Question(s) (Q) Research (R) Presentation (P) Q: Curiosity Driven = Questions can and often do change R: Student’s Conduct Ongoing Research P: Process Oriented = Goal is documentation and analysis of learning, Presenting the learning to an audience The Inquiry Process Question(s) (Q) Research (R) Presentation (P)

Commonly Asked Questions to Guide the “Project Showcase” How do I get started? Think about a topic you are curious about. Consider a question that could be tested and explored. What should my presentation include? Tell your audience the question you investigated, what you did to answer your question, and what you discovered. What could my presentation look like? Journal Article, Poster, Tri-fold Display Board Will there be awards? No, in place of awards, students will receive feedback from peers and adults. The focus is on learning and sharing from each other.

How to Support Your Child through the At-Home Inquiry Process? DON’T: Change or revise the question being asked Offer advice beyond what is being sought by your child Gather data, make poster, write article, or prepare presentation for your child DO: Be available for guidance should they have a question Ask questions about your child’s investigation and how it’s progressing Be ready to help supply materials that your child may need for the investigation and conference

How to Help Support Your Child Continued.. DO Continued….. Help your child schedule meetings with other group members Trust your child’s judgement as he/she investigates question DON’T Continued…. Arrange partners for your child Attempt to make the investigation more than what your child originally planned Expect school-time to be used for the project.