It’s an exciting time at OVCS as we gear up for one of the highlights of our academic calendar – the Academic Fair, set to unfold on March 6, 2024! Building on the success of previous years, this event promises to showcase the dedication, creativity, and academic progress of our students.
What is the Academic Fair?
The Academic Fair is a unique multi-subject project where students delve into topics of personal interest, undertaking weeks (sometimes months) of research and project development. It’s very similar to a science fair, however it goes beyond just science. This is an opportunity for students to explore a wide array of subjects and present their findings to judges, teachers, peers, and their families.
The Process: Learning through Exploration
Students kick off the process by selecting topics of personal interest. Over the following weeks, they will engage in research, note-taking, resource citation, and the creation of a multi-subject project around their chosen topic. This approach, akin to a Unit Study, not only fosters academic growth but also hones valuable executive functions such as time management, resource planning, and presentation skills.
Each grade level receives age-appropriate instructions and expectations, with teachers providing guidance and benchmarks to keep students on track. When these projects are done, students will have so much to be proud of!
Project Criteria: A Fusion of Academic and Artistic Endeavors
To meet the project criteria, students must integrate knowledge from several academic and artistic areas, except for PreK and Kindergarten who are working to complete class projects. Grade 1 has three required subject areas, 2nd-4th have four required subject areas, and 5th thru high school have five required subject areas.
The required subject areas vary by grade level, spanning social studies, history, literature, science, mathematics, creative writing, and more. The judging criteria encompass content, a verbal interview, creativity, organization, neatness, inclusion of each subject area, and the use of different mediums.
Examples of Topics and Projects
Primary Grades – Topic: Pets
- Science: Poster of a cat with labeled body parts
- Math: Graph of types of pets owned by students
- Art: Clay model of a bird
- Literature: a display of a scene from a Clifford book
- Bible: Recitation of verses from the creation story dealing with animals
Upper Elementary – Topic: Benjamin Franklin
- Research writing: a brief biography of Benjamin Franklin
- Science: re-creation of some of his simple experiments with light and sound
- Literature: a poster displaying proverbs from Poor Richard’s Almanac with illustrations
- Geography: a US map showing cities and counties name for Benjamin Franklin
- Math: a survey and graph of how many people know what Benjamin Franklin invented
Junior High – Topic: Baseball
- Social studies: a Power Point presentation comparing rounder, cricket, US, Cuban, Japanese baseball, and softball
- Research writing: a short opinion paper as to whether Abner Doubleday truly invented baseball
- Science: a video demonstration on how to throw different pitch styles, including audio explanation of why the move the way the do
- Public speaking: recitation of “Casey at the Bat”
- Literature: read a biography and write a book report
High School – Topic: Missions
- Bible: Map and timeline of Paul’s missionary journeys
- Public speaking: Brief ‘sermon’ to inspire Christians to get more involved in missions
- Math: Pie charts/graphs showing mission impacts over time
- Music: Performance of “Onward Christian Soldiers”
- Literature: Book report on Jim Elliott’s biography
The Grand Finale: Academic Fair Event on March 6th
The gym transforms on March 4th, with students bringing in their completed projects on March 5th. Judges impartially evaluate each project on March 6th, with families invited to view the displays from 6 pm to 7 pm. Awards, ranging from trophies to honorable mentions, recognize the students’ effort and achievement.
AWARDS!
We are a community that believes in appropriate recognition for the effort and achievement of our students. We use this opportunity to recognize the immense effort and learning that each student has dedicated to the process with the following awards.
98-100 pts: Trophy
90-97 pts: Blue ribbon
80-89 pts: Red ribbon
78-79 pts: Yellow ribbon
Honorable Mention: Awarded for individual areas of excellence, regardless of overall score.
Are these projects a lot of work? YES.
Can it be overwhelming at times? Absolutely.
Is it worth it? Without a doubt.
For a glimpse of last year’s Academic Fair and to relive the excitement, click here to see pictures and more! Get ready to witness the brilliance of OVCS students as they shine at the Academic Fair 2024!