Interest Fair

Thursday, February 23rd 5:30pm Ryan Hall

What is an Interest Fair?
Most people are familiar with the concept of a Science Fair, but in the Montessori world, students are not limited to topics that fall in the category of "science." Here at SJMS, we call it the Interest Fair. All subject categories are welcome. Students create their projects on topics that are of interest to them.

Imagine the excitement of a third grader making a miniature Ferris wheel and then researching the history of its development. Watch the face of a father whose fifth grade child completed a project on the evolution of the Corvette, without his help. Listen to the presentation of a seventh grade student whose research project rivals that of a first year college student.

The First Pets....The History of Chocolate...How Airplanes Fly....Vegan: What is it?...Spaceships of Star Wars... Each February, SJMS students exhibit their interest fair projects on tremendously varied topics. The Montessori Method of Education is based on stimulating the child's interest and facilitating the his understanding and learning capacities

with little or no adult intervention.

Interest Fair Participants

All SJMS students in the elementary levels are invited to participate, though it is a requirement for students in 4th grade and above. Students who participate in Interest Fair research their chosen topic and write a paper on that topic. Additional requirements vary slightly with grade level, though most students prepare a bi-fold or tri-fold poster and create a three-dimensional display that serves as a visual aid for their presentation.

Students in the 7th and 8 grade levels present their topics to judges who evaluate them on their knowledge of the topic, presentation skills, and a number of other specific skill sets. The results of this evaluation is part of their grade for the current grading period.

Middle School students (grades 4, 5, and 6) are encouraged to present their topic to a judge, but it is not a requirement.

You can read more about the Middle School's approach to Interest Fair in these documents.

 

Middle School - How to Create a Bibliography (.pdf)

Middle School - Hints and Suggestions (.pdf)

Students at the Primary level (grades 1, 2, and 3) also present their topic, although they present to their classes or to their individual teachers.

Judges

Many volunteers are needed to judge all of these projects. Parents of Primary and Children's House students, grandparents, community members, friends and other family members are all welcome. And after they've done it once, they are usually eager to do it again. Many adults come away from this experience impressed with how well our students know their topic. But they are more impressed with their composure and with how well they present and discuss their topic. Judges are all instructed on how to conduct the evaluations and dinner is provided.

So you can plan ahead, the evening generally follows this schedule.

• Dinner is typically served at about 5:30pm.

• During dinner, judges receive evaluation forms and information about how to evaluate the presentations.

• Judging usually begins at about 6:30pm. Though the end time depends on the number of judges and the number of students to be judged, it usually ends between 8:30 and 9:00pm.

If you'd like to be a judge, call the school at 614-291-8601. The Interest Fair Committee will contact you and provide you with the details you'll need for the evening.