Austin Energy Regional Science Festival February 18 – 21, 2015 Palmer Events Center Teacher Orientation: Elementary Division

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

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

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, p.m. – 7 p.m. Judging and Awards at Palmer Events Center Saturday, February 21, 2015

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

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!!

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.

Elementary Division All documentation is available online in English and Spanish at Information for Participation

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.

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

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

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 Students16 Projects Maximum per School Junior Division Grade 6 70 Projects Maximum per School

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.

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!

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

Sponsors 2015

Special Awards Awards for 2015 to be listed on website later this year Special Awards: Austin Energy Best Use of Electricity Austin Energy Best Use of Renewable Energy Austin Energy Best in Climate Protection

Internet Resources Austin Energy Regional Science Festival Science Fair support – ideas and “how to” for projects Austin Science Education Foundation– non profit support organization for the regional fair

Contacts Regional Fair Director Russell Cowen (512) Austin Science Education Foundation Ingrid Weigand Advisory Committee Members: Barbara tenBrink, Chair SueAnn Decuir Michele Mann Lisa Rogers Ingrid Weigand

Selecting Winners