SciFest Science Day for 3rd-6th Graders: 2024

Dates and Deadlines

Registration: Registration is limited to 300 young scientists, opens on January 15th, and closes one week before the event.

Science Day for 3rd-6th Graders: March 23, 2024

3rd-6th graders will be led through a series of 30 minute, fun, hands-on activities throughout the day and participants receive a free:

  • T-shirt
  • Snack: either apple sauce or potato chips (donated by Frito Lay)
  • Drink: either water or juice box
  • Certificate of completion

Please note that we cannot be responsible for possible allergens contained in these products.

Students do not need to prepare or bring anything. They should wear comfortable clothing for activities indoors and out, and they should eat lunch before they come.  There will be some walking to and from different campus buildings as the young scientists explore different stations and activities.

Please note that the following is a public event, and sponsoring organizations or the public may be taking pictures or recording video footage. By participating in this event, you (or, for students and other children under 18, your parent or guardian) consent to the capture and/or use of your (or your child’s) image and/or voice by Randolph College and waive any claims or rights, whether in law or in equity.

Activities

Students will be divided into groups and guided through a series of fun, hands-on science demonstrations and activities that reinforce the Virginia Standards of Learning. We will list activities here closer to the event date. Past activities have included:

  • The Barbara Williams Competition Activity: Egg Cars – protect your egg from getting a crack!
  • Science activity booths
  • Sound and music
  • Chemistry: “bang”
  • Psychology experiments
  • Fruit batteries
  • Forensics
  • Multiple biology and environmental science activities including planting and lava lamps

Additional information for teachers will be available. We invite teachers to participate, to consider bringing your classes, and for the teachers to register to receive recertification points by being group leaders. Please email psheldon@randolphcollege.edu if you are a teacher and plan to attend.

Here are some activities from 2021 that you can do at home:

Eligibility

This event is open to 3rd-6th graders. Please note that there is an additional event, Science Day for Little Scientists (ages 3-7) on the same day. If your child is an age or grade between the two activities, you may choose whichever you think is most appropriate.

Requirements

There must be a parent or guardian present on campus for all students (one adult can bring a group of students). Parents can observe or can relax in a provided space with wireless internet access. Snacks and coffee are available for purchase.

Cost

This event is free!  Thank you to our generous sponsors at United Bank!

Registration

Registration is required and opens January 15, 2024. This event fills up quickly and has a limited capacity of 300 children. There is no waiting list and you may not trade tickets. Please register this link.

If this event has reached capacity and you were unable to register, please participate in other SciFest events throughout the weekend! There are more hands-on events for children that do not require registration.