Parent Participation
Although one of the judging criteria is independent work, parents are encouraged to discuss the project with the student and provide assistance with research or preparation of the exhibit. Students should be encouraged to do as much as possible on their own. (Judges will try to ascertain whether the student did, in fact, do the work themselves.)
Students should do their own manipulations and measurements in the experiments and should make their own drawings and charts. Hand drawn charts and graphs are fine- especially for younger students; computer generated charts and graphs are acceptable only if the student has learned the appropriate software to generate these themselves (this would be recommended for high schoolers).
Following is a list of things a parent may do:
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Help plan a research schedule to prevent a last minute project.
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Help student find appropriate books, scientific journals or scientists to interview for preliminary research.
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Advise student about potential safety hazards.
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Help student fill out any ISEF or other paperwork, if applicable. (Usually the parent is the sponsor of a homeschooled science fair entrant; as such, you must be the one to sign the paperwork)
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Instruct in the use of applicable scientific equipment and of data-gathering equipment, (scales, rulers, timers, etc.) so that the student may collect the data himself.
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Photograph the the experiment for the visual display.
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Proofread project summary of the drafts of written report. For younger students, dictation of the project summary is allowed, while older students are expected to write their own.
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Teach student computer programs which will enable them to generate their own charts, graphs, and display text. Please do not make these for your child!
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Help student focus on gaining skills and doing their best rather than winning a prize. Isn't that your priority too?
Remember that the science fair project can encompass many other subject areas like reading, writing, math, oral and social skills, logic and art. It's okay to lighten up in these areas during a crunch time!
