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 Science Fair Judges Needed

Hello PFGA Parents and Guardians!

Hopefully, last week, you received a paper letter in your student's backpack inviting you to help our resident science rockstar and junior high science teacher, Mr. Dennis Conley, with the judging of this year's Annual Science Fair (for 7th and 8th graders). In normal years, this is done in person and you would volunteer to come in for one full afternoon to observe presentations and judge experiments, presentations, and paper reports. This year, we are doing Science Fair VIRTUALLY, which could make it easier for you to participate. It's so much fun, and it's a great opportunity to see how a science fair works so you'll be better prepared to help your own students when they get to 7th grade! 

Please take a look at this letter from Mr. Conley and consider stepping up to help him out. MANY volunteers are needed, and it's really fun to do. You would only be asked to help when it fits your schedule.  Please find his contact information at the bottom of his letter below.

Thank you,

Mrs. Thyen

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Dear Parents of Grades Preschool to Grade Six,

My name is Dennis Conley. I am the junior high science teacher at Pope Francis Global Academy. The reason I am writing to you is to ask you to consider judging this year’s virtual science fair using Zoom. I think you might enjoy this great opportunity to see what is expected of our students in Junior High. You will receive 2 service hours for this. I would greatly appreciate your help.

The dates and times for judging are:

  • January 24, 2022 Times for judging: 3:14 PM to 6:00 PM

  • January 25, 2022 Times for judging: 3:14 PM to 6:00 PM

  • January 26, 2022 Times for judging: 3:14 PM to 6:00 PM

  • January 27, 2022 Times for judging: 3:14 PM to 6:00 PM

  • January 28, 2022 Times for judging: 3:14 PM to 6:00 PM

During the judging experience, you will listen to our presentations, ask questions about our projects, and finally review the student’s reports and rate them on different criteria. You will have a google form sent out to help you fill out the responses. An example form is attached to this letter.

The format for judging is:

  1. 24 hours before the time and date you will judge, you will receive an electronic copy of the
    science fair report. A picture of the presentation board will also be sent to you.

  2. A link for the meeting will be sent to you.

  3. On the day of judging you will listen to the science presentation and ask questions.

  4. You will review the report and rate the students using a google form. HERE is a sample of that form.

  5. You will be asked to judge at least three projects in this same manner.

 

The faculty is extremely proud of the projects that the students are presenting. Some examples of the science fair project summaries written by the students are:

  • ● My experiment is related to behavioral science. During my experiment, I have been testing people for inattentional blindness, which is the phenomenon of being so focused on something that one doesn’t notice another important event happening right in front of oneself. I will be dividing people into three age groups and showing them a video of people playing catch. Partway through the video, a person in a pirate mask and pink onesie will come on. I will ask the subjects whether they noticed anything strange happening during the video and compare the rates of inattentional blindness between different age groups.

  • I have been testing how different drinks affect chicken bones. I used Coke-a-Cola, milk, orange juice, and water and I let the bones sit in the liquids for 15 days. Every three days I checked bones by using a goniometer and bent the bones and I also used a rating scale, that I made, to see the effect.

  • My experiment is related to chemistry. During my experiment, I have been using different colors of ink and exposing them to the weather outside. I am recording these results by leaving the ink outside for 20 minutes. I am checking the data of the change in temperature within the inks and comparing it. Any reactions that occur within the ink are documented.

  • My experiment is related to chemistry. During my experiment, I have been testing three different types of chocolates. The three types of chocolate are milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate, each from a different brand. I have been testing these chocolates to see which one melts the fastest, by using a crock pot. I will discuss why the chocolate melts faster than the other chocolates, based on the results provided from the experiment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Please email me If you are interested in judging. The times and days that you are going to judge is determined by you. When emailing me, please indicate the day that you would like to judge and the times that you are available. Please email me at dconley@pfgacdemy.org.

Thank you for choosing our school.

Sincerely,

Dennis G. Conley
Junior High Science Teacher