Teacher Resources

Everything you need in the classroom

Curriculum materials, communication templates, and professional development tools. Most resources below require a free Teacher Portal account.

Lesson Plans — Grades 6–8

Ohio Standards-aligned lesson plans covering scientific method, hypothesis formation, experimental design, and data analysis.

Lesson Plans — Grades 9–12

Advanced lesson plans for high school science fair projects. Includes research paper writing and statistical analysis.

Student Worksheets Pack

Printable handouts for every phase: topic selection, experimental design, data collection, analysis, and display board.

Grading Rubrics Pack

Rubrics for project proposals, research papers, display boards, and oral presentations. OAS scoring criteria included.

Parent Communication Letters

Introduction letter, permission slip, and project deadline reminder templates. Editable Word format.

Mentor Training Guide

How to guide students through the scientific process without doing the work for them. Includes common stumbling blocks.

OAS ProjectBoard Walkthrough

Step-by-step guide to registering your fair and students on ProjectBoard. Screenshots included.

Judging Score Cards

Official FairGame judging score cards — vertical and horizontal formats. Print-ready PDFs.

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Science Fair Timeline Poster

Classroom-ready poster showing the full year timeline. 11×17 printable format.

Don't have portal access yet? Request Teacher Portal access →

STEM Professionals

Why judge or mentor?

A 3–5 hour time commitment has an outsized impact on a student's trajectory. Many ISEF qualifiers cite their judges and mentors as the reason they kept going.

Judging

  • 3–5 hours on fair day
  • Evaluate 5–10 student projects in your expertise area
  • OAS scoring rubric provided — no prior experience needed
  • Counts toward corporate volunteer hour requirements
  • School, district, or state level opportunities
Sign Up to Judge →

Mentoring

  • 1–2 hours per month during the project cycle
  • Guide a student through experimental design and analysis
  • Virtual mentoring available — no geographic constraints
  • Training materials provided through our portal
  • Matched based on your area of expertise
Apply to Mentor →

Judge Training Manual

OAS-approved orientation materials including scoring criteria, effective questioning techniques, and judge ethics.

Download

Mentor Handbook

How to support student research without crossing the line into doing it for them. Common scenarios and suggested responses.

Special Awards Guide

Overview of special category awards available at district and state level — EPA, ASM, IEEE, and others.

School Administrators

The case for science fairs

Science fairs deliver measurable academic benefits aligned with Ohio Learning Standards, and FairGame removes nearly all the logistical burden from your staff.

Academic Outcomes

Research skills, scientific literacy, data analysis, public speaking — all directly aligned with Ohio Learning Standards for Science grades 6–12.

College Preparation

Science fair participation is a demonstrated differentiator in college applications. ISEF qualifiers receive priority consideration at top universities.

Community Visibility

Science fairs generate positive local press, build industry partnerships, and demonstrate your school's commitment to STEM education.

Administrator Proposal Template

One-page pitch document with cost data, time estimates, and academic ROI for your school board presentation.

Budget Template

Full cost breakdown for a $300–$2,000 school fair with notes on where to cut and where not to.

Standards Alignment Map

How science fair project phases map to specific Ohio Learning Standards by grade band.

Schedule a free consultation

30 minutes with the FairGame team. We'll review your school's situation and give you a specific, realistic action plan — no commitment required.

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