Cougar Ridge Science Fair
Register to participate by Friday, March 2nd.
Early registration ends February 17. Online registration closes on March 2. If you experience any problems with the registration process, contact us.
Projects should be student-driven.
Project ideas should come from the students and the project should be driven by them. Parents should use their best judgment in deciding when to get involved, such as when there is a potential safety issue. For especially young kids, parents may provide some guidance, but it is important that the kids be able to call the project their own.
Working with someone else.
You may work on your project independently, or you may optionally work with a partner who is also a student at Cougar Ridge Elementary (for example, a classmate or sibling). For groups of 2-4 people, each person should register individually online and indicate they are part of a group. You can also do a project involving your whole class! (In this case, one project coordinator can register for then entire class.)
Need help choosing a topic?
When it comes to choosing a topic, the sky is the limit! What have you wondered about? The best topics come from your own genuine curiosity about how something works, or why something is the way that it is. Click here for a list of project ideas. Click here for some examples of projects Cougar Ridge students have entered in the past.
If you have trouble thinking of something on your own, visit the school or local library. You also could grab an adult and check out the internet, which is full of resources to help you choose a topic. For your convenience, we have listed a few science links on the Web. Browse several books about science fair projects on the Parent Education bookshelf, available outside the Cougar Ridge office.
Judging and awards.
Our science fair is non-competitive, as our goal simply is to encourage scientific exploration and discovery and promote a deep, lifelong passion for science. All participants will have an opportunity to briefly present their project to passersby at the fair, on March 15th, to receive an Oral Presentation ribbon.
For those young scientists interested in a more competitive environment, follow this link to learn more about WSSEF, the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair.
Submit your project on March 14th.
Bring your project to the Cougar Ridge gymnasium between 5:30 - 7:30 PM on Wednesday, March 14th, to check-in your display.
Please review the science fair Safety Rules before submitting your work.
Volunteers needed!
A big event like the science fair wouldn't be possible without the help of numerous volunteers. If you can spare an hour or two on March 14th or 15th, and want to help, please register online to volunteer by March 2. If you missed the registration deadline, please contact us.
Follow the guidelines.
To see how your project might look, click on this project board diagram. Don't forget to include your name(s), grade, and teacher somewhere on your presentation!
Students in grades K - 4 are encouraged to explore any part of science that interests them. Students can present their discoveries on the standard 36" board or any smaller size board. The presentation may be freestyle, but it should include a title, pictures or drawings, observation, captions and/or comments.
5th grade students have received science project guidelines in class. Please refer to the rules specified by his/her teacher.
Go to our Tips page for detailed recommendations on creating your science project.
Pick up your project at 7:30 PM, March 15th.
Display pick-up is at 7:30 PM Thursday, March 15. Please try not to take your display home early because others want to see your work, too! If you can't pick up your display on Thursday evening, it will be available for pick up by the office, starting at 8:15 AM Friday, March 16. (Tri-fold boards are NOT allowed to be carried home on busses.)
Displays not picked up by Friday, March 16, at 9 AM, will be returned to students' classrooms.
Support our School Library
A book fair hosted by Usborne Books will be held in conjunction with the Science Fair on March 15. From 5:30 - 7:30 PM, visit the book exhibit located in the Multi-Purpose room. All orders in excess of $200 will generate a purchase credit for the Cougar Ridge library. Our school may earn back 25% to 50% of the retail value of orders. Visit the display on March 15th!
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