The document proposes transforming a traditional science fair, which focuses on competition and rigid guidelines, into a Kids' Inquiry Conference (KIC) that fosters student-led scientific inquiry through choice, collaboration, and presentation of work through various mediums in a non-competitive environment. It provides an overview of the key aspects of planning and implementing a KIC, including determining the scope, establishing support, fostering inquiry in classrooms, and deciding on logistics like locations, dates, and technology needs. The goals of a KIC include getting others excited about science, providing an authentic learning experience for students, and strengthening students' presentation, communication, and

1. Science Fair
Transformation

2. Science Fair
Transformation:
Alissa Royal
K-12 Engineering Coordinator
aroyal@melissaisd.org
Dollie Green
5th Grade Science Teacher
dgreen@melissaisd.org
Kelli Gobel
5th Grade Science Teacher
kgobel@melissaisd.org

5. Science Fair Kids’ Inquiry Conference
 scientific method  scientific method
 competition  non-competitive
 rigid guidelines  choice
 showing of work through  showing of work through
display boards variety of mediums to
audiences
 authentic experiences
 fosters collaboration
 become experts on topic
 integration of technology
beyond word processing

6.  Get others excited about
science
 Authentic, non-competitive
environment
 Students sharing science
experiences
 Greater awareness of their own
science knowledge
 Strengthened presentation,
communication and
technology skills

8.  Determine scope of KIC for
your campus
 Establish support from
colleagues
 Foster science inquiry in
classrooms
 Introduce KIC to students
 Student Developed Question
 Establish a student timeline
 Establish parent roles
 Gather materials

9.  Decide on the level of involvement: 1 class, 1
grade, whole department
 Decide what type of KIC: single school or
multi-school
 Determine location: rooms for presentations
and demonstrations, welcome area, keynote
address

10.  Determine date: time of year and day of
week
 Determine time: begin with KIC Pep Rally,
how many sessions, length of sessions,
morning group and afternoon group.
 Determine needs for implementation:
technology, materials, volunteers, mentors

11.  Establish rubrics
 Student/Teacher
conferencing
 Assist students in
evaluating their plan
 Mini-Lessons
 Monitor progress

12.  Establish roles
 Investigation
Planning sheets
 Experimentation
 Blurbs
 Presenters Bios
 Journal Articles
 Presentation Prep
 Rehearsals

13.  Video  Photo Story or Vodcast
 Flipvids  Digital camera
 8mm video camera  Microsoft Photo Story
 Microsoft MovieMaker  Demonstration
 Webpage  Presentation with Visual
 TeacherWeb Aid
 Google Sites  Microsoft PowerPoint
 Glogster  Prezi
 TeacherTube  Podcast
 Weebly  Audacity
 MOODLE  Live Streaming
 ustream.tv

14. Websites
Demonstrations
Videos
Vodcast
Display Boards
Oral Presentations/PowerPoint
Live Streaming
Cardinal Learning Online

15.  Increase of student
conceptual understanding
 Increase in district and
state data
 Student ownership of own
learning
 Connects all processing
skills in a cohesive
experience
 “Being a scientist”
 Improves student cognition
 21st century skills: digital
literacy
 Business and community
partnerships

16. Short Course
Saturday
9:00-12:00
Register Today!
The next step in transforming a science fair into a Kids’ Inquiry Conference to
support the rigor and complexity of our newest standards. Attendees will
experience life as a student presenter of a Kids' Inquiry Conference by designing
and implementing an investigation. Attendees will be provided with all of the
resources that have been created over the last 7 years of the Melissa Cardinals
KIC to take back to their district and start your very own Kids' Inquiry
Conference.

17. Dieckman, Dona, Charles R. Pearce, and Wendy Saul. Beyond the Science
Fair: Creating a Kids' Inquiry Conference. Chicago: Heinemann, 2005.
Print.
"The Kids' Inquiry Conference Homepage." The Elementary Science
Integration Projects. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.esiponline.org/kic/
"Science Education Products and Supplies | ETA/Cuisenaire."
ETA/Cuisenaire: Hands-On Manipulatives and Supplemental
Educational Materials for Grades PreK-12. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.etacuisenaire.com/catalog/department?deptId=SCIENCE
&d0=SCIENCE>.
"Melissa Ridge Elementary - KIC: Kids' Inquiry Conference." Melissa Ridge
Elementary - Index. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2010. <http://melissa-
ridge.groupfusion.net/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=3036&sessio
nid=fea16593c11b978dda2befd292dcf250

18. Structured Guided Student-
Initiated
Student: focuses on focuses on more focuses on
one aspect than one aspect all aspects
Teacher: model and guide model and guide defines
supporting aspects supporting aspects learning goals
guide reasoning guide reasoning guide reasoning
with discretion
Stixy.com
Scientific Inquiry Model: NW Regional Educational Library