As new science standards increase emphasis on the teaching of science and engineering practices, research is needed on the implementation and outcomes of students' experiences with authentic inquiry-based activities. Using a framework on teacher support for inquiry, we examined results from a national survey of middle school science fairs. Three…

The purpose of this ex-post facto study was to determine whether or not all students have an equitable chance of winning in science fair competitions. Winners and nonwinners at local, regional, and state levels of 1994 Mississippi science fair competitions were compared for the following variables: project cost, status of participation (voluntary…

The Pacific Region Junior Science and Humanities Symposium has operated for 14 years as a region of the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. In response to the trend among professional science and science education societies to include both formal research report presentations and informal poster presentations, the Pacific Region…

Current research shows that the number of science fairs and science fair participants is increasing. However, other than the growth of participant numbers, there is very little research investigating the benefits of these science fairs and assessing whether science fair projects are worth the time, effort, and money spent on them. The purpose of…

In a world where science has become too confined to books and too reliant on technology, and science fairs have been taken over by parents, this paper offers suggestions to help young people have actual hands-on experience with nature. Topics include soil formation; ants; earthworms; temperature; weather predictions; rain acidity; physical science…

Gender differences in science interests were examined in two studies of projects entered in a regional science fair in kindergarten through grade 12. A content analysis of 1,319 project topics and materials submitted to the Northeastern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair from 1991 through 1993 showed that girls were more likely than…

This paper focuses on the status of science teaching and learning in 20 secondary schools in an urban community which caters to an extremely diverse multicultural student population and the research needed to improve science teaching and learning in such a setting. This research was conducted to provide pre-service teachers with an insight into…

In this study, prospective science teachers' (PSTs) views about their poster presentations were investigated. These posters were developed through PSTs' online and library research and scientific mini-symposiums in chemistry related topics in the framework of science, technology and society course (STS). During the first four weeks of STS course,…

Each year, Chesapeake College sponsors an Arts Contest, Social Science Fair, Occupational Skills Expo, and Regional College Night for the high school students in the college's five-county service area. The programs are designed to recognize the creative skills and academic achievements of the students and to establish the role of the college as a…