Tennessee FFA Agriscience Fair

CDE

Chaney MosleyTennessee FFA Executive Secretary

July 2011

Objectives

• Overview of the Agriscience Fair

• Rules of the Agriscience Fair

• Information About the Competition

• Agriscience Fair Project Display

• Logbook

• Project Final Report

• Tips for Teaching

What is the Agriscience Fair?• Opportunity to explore an area of

interest in agriculture

• Enhances SAE (good for STAR applicants and proficiency applications)

• Academic integration

• Teaches problem solving and critical thinking

• Recognizes students for scientific exploration

• Promotes career success

Research Based Project • Categories include:

– Animal Systems

– Environmental Service Systems / Natural Resource Systems

– Food Products and Processing Systems

– Plant Systems

– Power, Structural and Technical Systems

– Social Sciences

• Divisions:– Division I: individual students 7th - 9th

– Division II: individual students 10th - 12th

– Division III: teams of two members 7th - 9th– Division IV: teams of two members 10th - 12th

– Participation in the same category and division over multiple years will be allowed. Must document research is a continuation of past research presented

Project Must Use Scientific Method

Display• May consist of one or more panels

• Must be stable & free standing

• Max size = – 48” wide x 30” deep x 108” high from the floor

• Upper right hand corner must have– Name of student(s)

– Chapter Name

– Title of Category

– Division (I - IV)

Display

Winning Display• Conduct multiple trials

• One trial may not be enough to draw a conclusion• Attempt at least three trials

• Prepare a display to give your audience a quick overview of

• The question you asked, the method you used, the result you got, and the conclusion you came to

• Create charts, diagrams or illustrations to explain your question, methods and results

• A neat and organized poster will obviously communicate your work better than a sloppy, disorganized poster

Include within Display• Demonstration Materials

– Items that illustrate a scientific principle, equipment or materials used, or enable others to retrace your steps

– ”Hands-on" will make an exhibit more interesting and help others understand your discovery

– Use photographs to illustrate your work if your experiment involves valuable equipment or animals & dangerous chemicals that are not allowed

– Log Book (see handout)

– Project Report (see handout)

Getting Started

• Selecting a Research Topic– Choose a topic of interest– Realistic

• (student abilities, knowledge, resources and time)

– Select topic matches closely to SAE– Seek a topic that can be expanded

• National winning projects (long term 2-3 year with performed replications & more data collection)

Tips for Teaching• Require students to complete an agriscience fair project as a classroom

assignment

• Conduct a school wide Agriscience Fair

– Have science teachers judge projects using the agriscience fair scoring rubric…then ask them for suggestions

– Give prizes (ribbons, t-shirts, money, certificates, etc)

– Display completed projects throughout school

– Do not allow freshmen to pair up with 10th – 12th grade students

• Find community contacts who can/will help students with projects

– Veterinarians

– Hospital laboratories

– Horticulturists

– Mechanics

• Relate projects to student SAEs

– Add this information to proficiency award applications

What Does A Local Agriscience Fair Look Like?

• The quality of projects will vary• Some students will go above and beyond• Use the local agriscience fair as a state qualifier

Questions?

Let’s Complete A Project

• Break Into Groups

• Distribute Supplies

• Provide Direction

• Complete Projects

• Judge