Middle School Fairs
Rules & Guidelines
Explore the updates Middle School Manual for requirements, regulations and expectations for the fair.
Use the Middle School Science Fair Ready FAQs for a visual guide to the process. All student projects will use the Middle School Statewide Review site https://MAMS.zfairs.com, regardless of region.
Email us for guidance and support at [email protected]
Middle School Students who want to begin projects this summer can do background research and planning only. Experimentation can not begin until the start of the school year. Email [email protected].
Project Requirements:
Please see manual for more details
1.
Projects should only include research done in the current school year to be eligible for participation.
If projects build on any knowledge or experience from a previous year’s work, students should explain this on the research plan and should only present the current year’s work to judges. A continuation project is only allowed if students use a new procedure or answer new questions.
2.
All students grades 6-8 who attend school in Massachusetts are eligible to participate.
Projects are individual with 1 student or made up of a team of 2 or 3 students. For team projects, one student is the lead.
See Student Eligibility Policy for more information.
3.
All projects need adult permission before experimentation. Follow directions at MAMS.zfairs.com & use the paperwork packet. Projects in ‘restricted areas’ need approval before experimentation begins. Submit early for approval!
It is the student and teacher’s responsibility to follow the rules, contact [email protected] for support or clarification. With notice, MSEF can pre-review projects for compliance to avoid disqualification.
4.
There are five primary components to a Science & Engineering Fair project: (1) a submitted research plan, (2) a project notebook to record each step of the project – handwritten preferred. (3) A lab report or research paper, complete with works cited and an abstract. (4) A visual display for presentation at the Fair. Consult the manual for restrictions on materials for the Fair presentation and venue. (5) An oral presentation about the project. More information and recommendations can be found here.
5.
Projects should show evidence of scientific research, engineering design, computer science, or applied mathematics. More information on project methods can be found here. Projects that are demonstrations, ‘library’ research or informational projects, ‘explanation’ models, or kit building are not appropriate for competition in MSEF.
Students can choose from these project categories at the Middle School level.
6.
While teachers may suggest general project topics or themes, projects MUST be student’s own design and work.
- Consult the MSEF Ethics Statement
- Adults should provide support and encouragement but the work should be led and facilitated by the student(s).
- Students should explain any work done by others in their research plan and with judges.
The Judging Experience
Judges (professionals and academics in STEM) volunteer their time to review student projects. Judge scores are based on a student’s understanding of their project, not its sophistication. Review the Judges Rubric/Scorecard with your students to help them prepare for the experience.
The Judging Rubric has been updated for the 2025 Fairs.
Science Fair projects are reviewed for
- thoroughness
- problem solving
- independence
- understanding of the topic
Projects receive awards and prizes based on overall score and/or topic category and ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What are the project categories for student projects in Middle School?
See the full list and description of project categories for Middle School projects here.
-
What is pre-approval?
Students who engage in research in the following categories MUST get prior approval before starting experimentation. This prior approval MUST come from the Statewide Middle School Review Committee for projects that involve
- Human participants/subjects
- Hazardous or toxic chemicals
- Remote Vertebrate Animal projects
- Potentially hazardous biological agents (e.coli K-12)
- Research performed in an industrial/institutional setting
Teachers can request training in order to approve non-restricted projects for experimentation. Email [email protected] to schedule.
Projects that are NOT in restricted areas do not need approval from the SRC before experimentation. If teachers are unsure of the rules, they should contact MSEF for preliminary review.
-
What are the forms I may need to submit for review and approval?
The following forms must be uploaded to the student’s Middle School Regional zFairs account. In 2024-2025, all of these forms are now available in a combined Paperwork Packet.
- Forms 1A and 1B : Research Plans and permissions are required for ALL PROJECTS
- Form C: Human Informed Consent Form that will be given to subjects before experimentation, if applicable
- Form must be uploaded to zFairs with supervisor approval
- Human subject signatures should be collected and brought to the fair for proof of consent
- Form D: Designated Supervisor Form, if applicable
Student must keep a copy of any/all forms. This will make it easier if any corrections or adjustments are needed.
-
What are the materials required to be judged at MSEF?
- Research Plan must be submitted for approval before beginning
- Project Notebook should be kept up to date throughout the project and displayed at the Fair
- Project Report with work cited describes the project including methods, analysis, and conclusion. Please include a short project description (2-3 sentences) in your project report and project zFairs profile. Include keywords.
- Project Display is the visual presentation of your work – typically a trifold but could be a display board and easel
- Oral presentation that is 5-7 minutes long, plus Q&A with judges
More information about requirements and related resources can be found in this slideshow.
-
What are the deadlines for submitting projects and registering for the fair(s)?
Final deadline for ALL projects to be approved for regional or state fair participation is ONE MONTH before your Regional Fair. Paperwork submitted close to this deadline will take longer to review so submit early. Paperwork that is submitted at the deadline and/or is incomplete may not be approved in time for experimentation.
- Paperwork can be submitted on a rolling basis for review and approval. Submit when you are ready and before experimentation.
- If your project requires Forms C or D your paperwork must be submitted BEFORE you begin experimentation. Determine a personal deadline that allows for review and experimentation.
Fair Registration Deadline: Submitting paperwork for approval is not the same as registering for the Fair event, however projects need to be submitted to be eligible to participate. Regional Fairs will reach out to teachers with students in the zFairs platform to ask for the list of participating student. This registration list is due 10 days before your regional fairs.
-
Why are there two sets of safety guidelines?
One set of safety guidelines refers to the time during which you are doing your experiment. The other set of safety guidelines refers to what you can bring the day of the science fair as part of your project display. Some of the guidelines overlap, but there are differences, so be sure to look at both sets. Consult the manual for more information. On the day of the science fair, there will be safety checks of all projects before the judging takes place.
-
What is Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC)?
The Thermo Fisher JIC (Junior Innovators Challenge) is a national competition for the top 10% of winners from all middle school regional and state fairs. Students with qualified projects receive a certificate and information about submitting their projects online. It is the student’s responsibility to submit their project by the deadline.
-
How do I find my regional zFairs page?
These pages will have details about the regional fair event. Go to www.scifair.com/fairs to use the map to find your region.
Region 1: msreg1.zfairs.com Region 4: msreg4.zfairs.com Region 2: msreg2.zfairs.com Region 5: msreg5.zfairs.com Region 3: mareg3.zfairs.com Region 6: mareg6.zfairs.com -
Where can I find results from past years?
Results for the 2024 Middle School State Fair Awards can be found here.