About
Science Symposium is a science project that elementary and middle school student’s work on for approximately 3 months. During this time they will choose a topic, research that topic, conduct an experiment, write a paper describing there experiences and work, and create a visual that describes their experiment, shows a summary of their research, and shows the results of the experiment.
For grades k-2 the experiment is a class experiment. For grades 3-8 the experiment is done individually, in partners, or in a small group, depending on grade level and the specific guidelines for that year.
Purpose
We do this as an opportunity for elementary and middle school students to explore science, and also to prepare students for their high school classes, specifically senior project. Also for middle school it not only gets them interested in science it teaches them how to be self directed learners.
Student Perspective
"As a student who has done 9 years of science fair, I think that it is an excellent opportunity for students to prepare themselves for the classes that come later. The experiment itself can be very fun and exciting for students" said Alex D., a current senior at WMAES. He added, "the process of making the visual is a fun, hands-on activity".
When asked about the challenges of science symposium, Alex D. said, "typically, the most challenging part of science fair every year for was the research, and writing the paper, while I now understand the necessity of those things, and am thankful for doing them because they prepared me for high school, at the time I thought they were horribly boring, and unnecessarily time consuming.
Then and Now
Science Symposium has changed in a number of ways over the years.
o Used to include high schoolers
o Changed to include visual aids
o Option for partners changed yearly, now able
Science Symposium is a science project that elementary and middle school student’s work on for approximately 3 months. During this time they will choose a topic, research that topic, conduct an experiment, write a paper describing there experiences and work, and create a visual that describes their experiment, shows a summary of their research, and shows the results of the experiment.
For grades k-2 the experiment is a class experiment. For grades 3-8 the experiment is done individually, in partners, or in a small group, depending on grade level and the specific guidelines for that year.
Purpose
We do this as an opportunity for elementary and middle school students to explore science, and also to prepare students for their high school classes, specifically senior project. Also for middle school it not only gets them interested in science it teaches them how to be self directed learners.
Student Perspective
"As a student who has done 9 years of science fair, I think that it is an excellent opportunity for students to prepare themselves for the classes that come later. The experiment itself can be very fun and exciting for students" said Alex D., a current senior at WMAES. He added, "the process of making the visual is a fun, hands-on activity".
When asked about the challenges of science symposium, Alex D. said, "typically, the most challenging part of science fair every year for was the research, and writing the paper, while I now understand the necessity of those things, and am thankful for doing them because they prepared me for high school, at the time I thought they were horribly boring, and unnecessarily time consuming.
Then and Now
Science Symposium has changed in a number of ways over the years.
o Used to include high schoolers
o Changed to include visual aids
o Option for partners changed yearly, now able
Photo Citations
Photos were taken by A. D. Depriest
Photos were taken by A. D. Depriest