Beyond the Science Fair: Creating a Kids' Inquiry Conference

It's time to rethink the traditional science fair, with its tired tri-fold posters and first-prize ribbons. It's time to create an event where children share the results of authentic, personally meaningful explorations with one another rather than compete for adults' praise and attention. It's time for a Kids' Inquiry Conference (KIC).

Beyond the Science Fair is a how-to manual for organizing and hosting a KIC that's linked to your curricular planning and goals. Beginning with a snapshot of a KIC developed by the authors, Beyond the Science Fair guides you through the specifics of organizing and hosting the conference in your classroom, school, or district

Wendy Saul, Professor of Education at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, is Director of the National Science Foundation-supported Elementary Science Integration Projects (ESIP). She is the originator of Search It! Science, an online resource available from Heinemann. She also serves as editor of "Thinking Classroom: An International Journal of Reading, Writing and Critical Reflection."

Donna Dieckman is a classroom teacher who works with ESIP at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She taught for nine years in Montgomery County and serves as Program Director.

Charles Pearce is a classroom teacher who works with ESIP at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Pearce, a long-time classroom teacher, is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

Donna Neutze serves as ESIP program resource specialist.