🔬 Island Park Science Fair

Sparking curiosity, creativity, and a love of science!

Applications close Friday, February 6!

We are excited to announce that the Science Fair is making its long overdue return to Island Park! This special event is open to all students in grades K–5 and is designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a love of science.

The Science Fair is noncompetitive and focused on exploration and discovery. Students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate topics that interest them, and discover answers on their own—because science is fun!

We invite families to start brainstorming experiment ideas with their children and help build excitement around this opportunity. Projects may be completed individually or with a partner, and each student or pair will present their findings on a trifold poster board.*

We can't wait to see the creativity, curiosity, and enthusiasm our students bring to this event.

*A trifold poster board will be included in the $10 registration fee per project. This small fee helps support and fund the Science Fair so we can create a great experience for all students.

💡 Choose Your Project Type

Students should choose one of the following formats:

🧪 Hypothesis Project
Formulate a research question and explore it using the scientific method. Make a prediction, run an experiment, and discover if your hypothesis was correct!

📚 Report Project
Research a scientific topic that interests you and present your findings. Dive deep into something you're curious about—from dinosaurs to black holes!

🛠️ Invention Project
Design and create an original invention. Identify a problem and build something creative to solve it!

🔍 Creating Your Experiment

All scientific experiments and discoveries begin with a question—and curious school-aged children are already experts at asking them! The scientific method is a step-by-step process scientists use to find dependable answers they can test again and again.

Question	Ask a real question about something you wonder about—something you don't already know the answer to.
Research	Look for good information from books, websites, or other reliable sources. Use what you learn to better understand your question.
Hypothesis	Make an educated guess about what you think will happen, based on your research.
Procedure & Materials	Design an experiment to test your idea. Write down each step and list all the materials you'll need. Plan to repeat the experiment to be sure your results aren't just a coincidence.
Data & Results	Share what happened during your experiment. Use pictures, charts, graphs, and words to clearly show what you discovered.
Conclusion	In the previous step, you described your data. Now, it's time to interpret your results. Explain whether your hypothesis was correct and why you think you got those results. You can also include what you might do differently if you repeated the experiment.
References	Show where you got your information—websites, books, and even people you asked for help.
Name	Include your first and last name and grade.

Building Your Display Board

Once you've completed your experiment and drawn your conclusions, your project is only halfway finished—now it's time to create a poster that clearly shows what you did.

Standard trifold poster board layout (36" × 48")

Make your project eye-catching by using pictures, colors, and creative design elements.
Use large, easy-to-read lettering, and be sure to check spelling and grammar.
Consider adding an item that represents your project in front of or on your display board.
Display items must be safe (please refer to the Rules section).

Examples of display items include:

Equipment or materials you built or used
Artistic models or representations of your topic
Photos, videos, or audio recordings from your project work

⚡ Note: Electrical outlets are limited and must be requested during registration. Students are responsible for bringing their own extension cords if needed.

📋 Rules

The Science Fair should be a fun experience for all students! The following rules are in place to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone at the Island Park Science Fair.

⚠️ PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Safety & Display Guidelines

All projects must be safe for students and visitors. Adult supervision is required for any setup involving tools or equipment.
No open flames, heat sources, or combustible materials are allowed.
No hazardous chemicals, toxic substances, or strong acids/bases may be used. Household materials should be used whenever possible.
No live animals, insects, mold, or bacteria may be displayed. Photos or drawings may be used instead.
No food or drink should be available for tasting as part of a project.
Any electrical components must be low-voltage, in good condition, and used safely. Electrical outlets are limited and must be approved in advance.
Projects must not include sharp objects, broken glass, or projectiles.
Liquids must be in sealed, spill-proof containers.
Displays should be stable and not block walkways or create tripping hazards.
Project displays will fit within the standard poster board sizing of 36" × 48".
Students should be able to explain their project without performing live demonstrations that could be unsafe.
All projects are subject to final safety approval by event organizers.

The Science Fair is meant to be a fun, positive, and exciting experience for all students—these guidelines help keep everyone safe so we can focus on learning and enjoying science!

Student MUST:

Set up the project on the day of the fair during the set-up time.
Present their project to Science Fair Detectives during their assigned time.
Provide all materials needed to set-up and display project (extension cords, tape, etc.)
Leave the project on display until completion of the fair.
Remove the project promptly at the end of the fair. Island Park PTA and MISD are not responsible for stolen or lost items.

Parents/Guardians MUST:

Limit your participation in the project to supervision.
Choose a volunteer position to assist with the operation of the science fair event. At least one adult volunteer per family is mandatory.

📖 Links to Books & Resources

Looking for inspiration? Check out these helpful resources at your local library or online:

🔬 Science Experiment Ideas

🧪 Science Made Simple	🎯 Science Fun for Kids
💡 Waterford Project Ideas	🔬 Science Buddies Elementary
🚀 Science Fair Adventure	📚 Education.com Projects

📚 Books Available Through KCLS

These titles are available at King County Library System branches—search the KCLS catalog to find them!

📖 The Everything Kids' Magical Science Experiments Book	📖 Steve Spangler's Mind-blowing Science Experiments for Kids and Their Families
📖 Super Simple Science Experiments for Curious Kids	📖 Awesome Science Experiments for Kids
📖 Steve Spangler's Super-cool Science Experiments for Kids!	📖 Science Magic Tricks for Kids
📖 Chemistry for Kids	📖 Biology for Kids
📖 Physics for Kids	📖 The Everything Kids' Easy Science Experiments Book
📖 Good Housekeeping Amazing Science	📖 Awesome Outdoor Experiments for Kids

🙋 Volunteer Needs

The Science Fair cannot happen without the support of parent and guardian volunteers. To ensure a successful event, we ask that each participating student have one parent or guardian volunteer in some capacity during the Science Fair.

No science background, knowledge, or expertise is required—just a willingness to help and be part of a fun community event!

Volunteer Opportunities

🔍 Science Fair Detective
Walk around and engage with students about their projects. A set list of questions will be provided—this is a fun way to get to know your child's peers and see their creativity! This is a great role for parents who want to interact with students and celebrate their hard work.

🛠️ Event Set-Up
Help prepare the space before the Science Fair begins. This includes arranging tables, setting up signage, and making sure the venue is ready to welcome students and families.

📋 Student Check-In
Greet families as they arrive and help students check in their projects. You'll help ensure a smooth start to the event by directing participants to their assigned display areas.

🧹 Clean-Up Crew
Help break down tables, collect materials, and tidy up the venue after the event ends. Many hands make light work!

📅 Prep & Logistics
Help the Science Fair Committee with event organization, preparation, and logistics in the weeks leading up to the fair. This is a great option for parents who may not be able to attend on the day of the event but still want to contribute!

More details about volunteer sign-ups will be shared soon. We truly appreciate your support in making this a positive, exciting experience for all students.