Instructions for the Judges
Our judges usually get together about 30 minutes before the Science Fair is to begin.
(It would be a
great idea to greet them with coffee/juice and muffins!) They are introduced to each other and given the following
items: a clipboard, judge's ribbon or label, a list of all projects which are numbered in sequence and a stack of score sheets with a sharpened pencil.
Judges are assigned certain groups of projects:
Grade 1-3 (they are not scored ...just enjoyed!)
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grades 7-9
Each project is then visited by at least one judge who scores the project. Judges should not be assigned to visit more than 8-10 projects, so they will not be rushed. The judging experience should be positive for the children and the judges.
Our judging score sheet has the same values as the provincial form, but it is meant to be simpler. It is used as a guide to help select the best projects. It looks like this:
Judging Form
Scientific Thought ____________ ( 45 Points)
Creative Ability _____________ ( 25 Points)
Skill _____________ ( 10 Points)
Dramatic Value _____________ ( 10 Points)
Project Summary _____________ ( 10 Points)
Grade level judges will then meet and list the best projects they saw. These top projects will then be visited by the other judges in that grade level for further judging. After each judge in the grade level has viewed the top projects, the judges will then meet in a group to discuss which they feel are the best. Together they will select the top projects from that grade level.
If we know that our school has 12 spaces at the Regional Fair, we simply try to spread them across the grade levels....but we do not rank them. We feel this takes pressure off both the students and the judges. In the past everyone has seemed pleased with this method.
Students should be made to feel that their project is interesting and worthwhile. The judges can give suggestions for improvements to make projects even better!
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