Laurel Mountain will hold our school's Science Fair on January 11th, 2024. 

You can register a project group to join the info session HERE.

See our info session slides here.

Participants must pay for their registrations through the PTA store.

We need volunteers and judges to help out at this year’s fair. Sign up is available HERE

Important dates:

Online Information Session:         November 30^th

Project Registration Deadline:      December 6^th

Blank Tri-fold Board Pickup:         December 11^th – December 14^th

Project Drop-off Window:             January 8^th – January 10th

Project Setup at School:               January 10^th – 3:00 – 6:00PM (Volunteers Needed)

Science Fair Coordination:           January 11^th – 3:00 – 6:30PM (Volunteers Needed)

Science Fair Judging (k-2)           January 11^th – 1:00 – 3:00PM (Judges Needed)

Science Fair Judging (3-5)           January 11^th – 3:00 – 6:30PM (Judges Needed)

Austin Regional Science Fair:      February 24^th

For questions, or if you need further information, contact Jeff Sabins or Vice Principal Marco Pedraza.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the Science Fair?

Science Fair is an opportunity for students of all grades to apply the scientific method to conduct independent research at home.

Grades 3-5:

Students will verbally present their project boards to judges to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place projects in each grade (total of 9 awards) based on the Greater Austin Regional Science Fair grading rubric. Awarded 3-5th grade projects can go on to complete in the Austin Regional Science Fair.

Grades k-2:

Student projects are not judged to determine "winners", but rather are each awarded a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd rank ribbons based on the quality of their work. These students will not present their work in person and judging will be done based on the project boards and the same grading rubric as the older grades (link above).

The grading rubric for all projects is located HERE

 2. How do I start and complete a project?

The Greater Austin Science Fair has provided some great resources to help kick-off project inspiration and execution at the link HERE

And an example project board layout is located HERE

 3. What kinds of projects are acceptable?

Projects must be a scientific investigation that includes a variable that is changed in order to observe or measure the result of that change. Research is likely needed to support this kind of investigation, but is insufficient on its own to qualify for progression to the Austin Regional Science Fair.

The grading rubric for projects is HERE

Projects that are not permitted include any of the following:

• Growing bacteria or mold of any type
• Firearms, explosives or discharge air pressure canister devices (i.e. potato guns)
• Causing pain, suffering, sickness or death of an animal
• Breaking Local/State/Federal Law
• Production of ANY amount of consumable alcohol
• Any activity or substance that presents a danger to the student, other people

or the environment, including hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials

 4. Was the info session recorded?

Yes, it will be. The link will be posted here after the information session is complete. A link to last year’s info session is HERE.