Science Fair Registration Rules
Eligibility
Students ages 5–18 who are enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible to participate. Students should be homeschooled. Students who are homeschooled through a hybrid program or participate in a homeschool co-op are also welcome.
Project requirements
- Projects must be the student’s own work, with help from an adult limited to appropriate guidance and supervision.
- Each project must include a testable question or hypothesis and use the scientific method to evaluate it.
- Students should explain what they tested, how they tested it, what data or observations they collected, and what their results show about the hypothesis.
- Conclusions should be based on the results—even when the results do not support the original hypothesis. Projects are judged on the student’s process and learning, not on whether the hypothesis was correct.
Safety
- Projects must be safe to conduct, transport, and display. Students must follow adult supervision and safety directions throughout the project.
- Projects involving people, animals, chemicals, heat, electricity, tools, or other potential hazards must be reviewed and approved by the fair organizers before the student begins testing.
- Projects may not include dangerous substances or activities, such as explosives, weapons, toxic chemicals, or harmful biological materials.
- The fair organizers may ask a student to modify or remove a project that presents a safety concern.
- Before registering: Be ready to provide the project title, question or hypothesis, a brief description of the testing process, and any materials or procedures that could raise safety concerns.