Science fair projects don’t have to be stuffy or boring. They can examine almost anything youth have an interest in, from slime to music to a certain situation involving deflated footballs.
“This is a wonderful way for youth to explore the world around them, and experience all the benefits of a science fair or STEM demonstration project,” said Jo Ann Britton, 4-H program coordinator with University of Illinois Extension. “These fairs promote more than science; they also encourage organization, communication and public speaking skills.”
With that in mind, 4-H has teamed up with Parkview Christian Academy again to be host to the 2019 community-wide Science Fair in April. It is open to youth in grade levels four to 12 from DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and surrounding Counties. Students may choose to work individually or in pairs, and they may do a STEM demonstration, or a science project that follows the Scientific Method.
“Doing an experiment using the scientific method helps students understand the process of question, hypothesize, test, observe, analyze, and conclude,” said Britton. “This is instrumental in both critical thinking and problem-solving, even outside of science.”
Judging will occur as a face-to-face conference April 11 with a special showcase and awards ceremony. All participants will earn a blue, red, or white ribbon, based on their own project work meeting requirements, and will have the opportunity to earn multiple special recognition awards. In addition, the top individual Science Fair entries will earn a smart speaker!
The judging and event will be at Parkview Christian Academy, upper campus, just off Illinois Route 47, at 202 E. Countryside Pkwy, in Yorkville. Cost is $10 per entry. For more details about the 2019 Science and STEM Fair visit go.illinois.edu/science4Hdkk
—University of Illinois Extension