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PTA Science Fair

  • Centennial Lane Elementary School 3825 Centennial Lane Ellicott City, MD, 21042 United States (map)

2026 CLES PTA Science Fair

April 30, 2026 at CLES

Are You Ready for the CLES Science Fair?! ⚗️🧪

Join us for an evening of student science projects and hands-on STEM fun.

Families will be able to explore science fair exhibits throughout the evening while also participating in exciting STEM activity rotations, including:

  • Lego Derby

  • Mad Science Show

  • Robotics / ICode

  • Earth Day Activity Room

Register your project, or RSVP to come view demos and projects!

Click the button below to sign up using our Google Form registration:

RSVP or Register your Project

Science Fair Project Steps

  • Step 1. Read the Science Fair Handbook‍ ‍UPDATED 4/4!!

    • Learn the guidelines for the fair.

  • Step 2: Pick a Project Topic

    • Decide if you will enter as an individual or as a group.

  • Step 3: Register for Science Fair by deadline of April 23.

  • Step 4: Finish Your Project before the Fair.

  • Step 5: Participate in the Fair! Thursday Night, April 30.

    • 6:30 p.m. Check-in

    • 7-8:30 p.m. Presentations & Prize Raffles.

Volunteers Needed! 👩🏻‍🔬🧑🏼‍🏫

Please consider helping with judging, set-up, supplies, crowd control, etc.

Sign up on SignUpGenius:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B49AEAA2EA0FBCE9-63044489-cles#/

Host a Demo or Activity 🧑‍⚕️🧑🏾‍🎓

Science-based community groups are invited to host a table with a demo and/or hands-on activity.

Sign Up on SignUpGenius:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B49AEAA2EA0FBCE9-63044489-cles#/

Evening Schedule

This schedule is designed to help manage capacity by spreading families across timed reservations, open exhibit browsing, and flexible activities throughout the evening.

We look forward to a fun night of science, creativity, and discovery.

6:00–6:10 PM

Check-in, welcome, event instructions, and opening of science fair exhibit viewing

6:10–6:35 PM — Rotation 1

  • Lego Derby

  • Mad Science Show

  • Robotics / ICode

  • TBD Featured Activity

  • Earth Day Activity Room Open

  • Science Fair Exhibits Open

  • K–2 science fair judging window is open

6:35–6:40 PM

Transition to next activity

6:40–7:05 PM — Rotation 2

  • Lego Derby

  • Mad Science Show

  • Robotics / ICode

  • TBD Featured Activity

  • Earth Day Activity Room Open

  • Science Fair Exhibits Open

  • K–2 science fair judging continues until 7:00 PM

  • Grades 3–5 science fair judging begins at 7:00 PM

7:05–7:10 PM

Transition to next activity

7:10–7:35 PM — Rotation 3

  • Lego Derby

  • Mad Science Show

  • Robotics / ICode

  • TBD Featured Activity

  • Earth Day Activity Room Open

  • Science Fair Exhibits Open

  • Grades 3–5 science fair judging window is open

7:35–7:40 PM

Transition to next activity

7:40–8:05 PM — Rotation 4

  • Lego Derby

  • Mad Science Show

  • Robotics / ICode

  • TBD Featured Activity

  • Earth Day Activity Room Open

  • Science Fair Exhibits Open

  • Grades 3–5 science fair judging continues until 8:00 PM

8:05–8:30 PM

Final exhibit browsing, open exploration, recognition, and closing

Activity Information

Featured Activity Rotations

Families may reserve up to 2 featured activity sessions:

  • Lego Derby

  • Mad Science Show

  • Robotics / ICode

  • TBD Featured Activity

Open Activities Available All Evening

  • Science Fair Exhibits

  • Earth Day Activity Room

Science Fair Participant Priority

To recognize our science fair project participants:

Science fair participants will receive priority access to remaining openings for a 3rd featured activity, if space allows.

Because judging windows run for one hour, students do not need to remain at their project for the full hour. Students should plan to stay at their project for approximately 30 minutes during their judging window and may then participate in an additional activity rotation if space is available.

Important Notes for Presenters

  • K–2 science fair participants will be judged between 6:00–7:00 PM

  • Grades 3–5 science fair participants will be judged between 7:00–8:00 PM

  • Students do not need to remain at their project for the full judging hour

  • Science fair participants should plan to stay with their project for about 30 minutes during their judging window

  • After presenting, participants may join an additional featured activity if space is available

Questions about the Science Fair 🚀🪐🌕

  • - Complete the Project (according to the Project Planning Worksheet in the handbook found on our website)

    - Make a display board, plan and practice your presentation (5 min max)

    - At the Science Fair, you’ll present your project to a judge who will give you some constructive feedback

    - NOTE: This is NOT a contest - just learn and have fun! There will be fun science-themed raffle prizes!

  • To encourage everyone to particpate, the judges will provide constructive feedback but not rank the projects. So there will be no 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes.

    Instead, every participant will receive a prize for participating.

  • To encourage kids’ curiousity about science/engineering and to advocate doing their own research to understand the underlying knowledge.

    The kids can learn, by preparing and presenting a small science fair project, to solve problems, be organized, work and communicate with others, be courageous at public speaking, and have fun.

  • Yes! Please register as a group on the Google registration form linked above.

Need Ideas or Inspiration?

Check out some of these sources:

Questions about the Science Fair? Interested in volunteering at the fair? Please email Yang at science.fair@clespta.org

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May 5

May PTA Meeting