4th Grade Campbell School Science Fair
THURSDAY, April 16, 2026
Dear Parents and Students,
It's that time of year already! That's right! It's time to start thinking about this year's science fair. In just two months, the Campbell School gym will again transform into something quite magical! It will become a room full of exciting surprises, as students from 4th grade share with their parents and friends the wonderful science fair projects that they have worked on. As in the past, this event is one of the highlights of Campbell School's annual events, and is not to be missed. As in prior years, the 3rd & 4th grade science fairs will be 2 separate events. Our Wednesday science fair will be for 3rd graders and our Thursday science fair will be for 4th graders. The 4th grade science fair takes place in the afternoon for students AND in the evening for family & friends beginning at 6:30 PM. In preparation for the science fair, the most difficult part has always been coming up with an idea for a project. Here are some guidelines to help you:
- Ask your family to help you come up with good ideas.
- With the help of your parents, check out the great Internet sites on my Science Fair Help Page.
- Go to either the public library or the Campbell School library.
- Still stuck for an idea? Ask me, Mr. Nolde for help and advice.
Here are some other important guidelines that you should know about the 4th Grade Science Fair:
- All students who participate will receive a participant award and will receive extra credit towards their science lab grade.
- All students who participate will be eligible to win a wide variety of prizes in our science fair raffle.
- Students must submit their entry form to me NO LATER THAN Thursday, March 26th.
- Students may ONLY work with other students who are in 4th grade. (NO MORE than 3 to a group! I really prefer groups of 2 -you and a friend.) You may also work by yourself.
- The majority of the work done on the project must be done by the students, not by parents.
- Projects involving live animals are prohibited. Bacterial cultures are not allowed to be brought into the science fair.
- If you know that your project may create messy spills or any trash, please make sure that you have plenty of clean-up materials with you (garbage bag, paper towels, dishpan, bucket, tray, etc..)
- The following projects have historically created disastrous messes and are NOT allowed:
- Projects involving cornstarch, potato starch, polyvinyl alcohol, or glue (ie. gak, ooblek, magic mud)
- Projects involving the combination of vinegar & baking soda (ie. erupting volcanoes)
- Projects involving shaving cream, cooking oil, baby oil, mineral oil, or dishwashing soap (ie. lava lamps, magic milk experiment etc..)
- Projects involving the use of sand
- Projects involving liquids GREATER THAN TWO Quarts (Please be sure to have a tray underneath liquids!)
- No candy or food of any kind shall be given out by science fair participants.
- Projects involving eye hazards are prohibited, including any hot liquids, chemicals not found in a typical kitchen, small flying objects and impacts intended to break objects.
- Absolutely no testing on humans or animals is permitted in any experiments or displays.
- NO PRIZES, GIFTS, or HANDOUTS of any kind shall be given out by science fair participants.
- Science fair presenters will be standing BEHIND their projects, NOT in front of their projects.
- If you are planning to use a science fair display board, please lower the height of your science fair board OR create a LARGE space in the middle of your board so that you can COMFORTABLY stand behind it!! (Please refer to my website for display ideas!)
- Chairs, step-stools, and ladders are not permitted in the science fair. (They are a fire & safety hazard!)
- Parents of science fair participants are asked to help in getting the projects to Campbell School gym on the morning of THURSDAY, April 16th.
I look forward to getting your entry forms soon. As always, I'm really looking forward to seeing you and your science fair project on the day of the science fair! Be sure to visit my website: coolsciencelab.com
Sincerely,
Jonathan Nolde
Hands-on Science Teacher
