✋ Is my idea allowed?

The answers, and why

1. The check asks: "Does your project need fire or heat?" You tap "Hot water, poured by a grown-up". What does the check say? Ask your teacher first. Yes: "Ask your teacher first". Hot water is fine at home when a grown-up pours it, but some fairs say no liquids or nothing hot on the display table. Your school's sheet wins.

2. The check asks: "Does your project need fire or heat?" You tap "A flame, a candle, the stove or the oven". What does the check say? Most fairs say no to this. Yes: "Most fairs say no to this". Every rule set we read bans flames, at home and at the fair. Your school's sheet wins.

3. The check asks: "What liquids or powders does it use?" You tap "Kitchen things: water, salt, sugar, vinegar, baking soda". What does the check say? Fine at most schools. Yes: "Fine at most schools". Nothing in that answer breaks the rules we read. Your school's sheet wins.

4. The check asks: "What liquids or powders does it use?" You tap "Cleaners, bleach, pool or garden chemicals". What does the check say? Most fairs say no to this. Yes: "Most fairs say no to this". The rules we read allow kitchen chemicals in small amounts and ban dangerous ones. Your school's sheet wins.

5. The check asks: "Does it use an animal, a pet or a bug?" You tap "Only watching animals outside, never touching". What does the check say? Ask your teacher first. Yes: "Ask your teacher first". Some fairs allow watching animals with no handling. Projects with animals need a teacher's review first. Your school's sheet wins.

6. The check asks: "Does it use an animal, a pet or a bug?" You tap "An animal or a pet is part of the test". What does the check say? Most fairs say no to this. Yes: "Most fairs say no to this". Projects that test animals need forms and a review, and living things stay home on fair day. Your school's sheet wins.

7. The check asks: "Does it grow mould or germs?" You tap "No, nothing grows but plants". What does the check say? Fine at most schools. Yes: "Fine at most schools". Nothing in that answer breaks the rules we read. Your school's sheet wins.

8. The check asks: "Does it grow mould or germs?" You tap "Bread or fruit going mouldy". What does the check say? Most fairs say no to this. Yes: "Most fairs say no to this". Mould is a microbe, and the K–5 rules we read say no growing microbes at home. Your school's sheet wins.

9. The check asks: "Does it test people?" You tap "Asking people questions, or timing them". What does the check say? Ask your teacher first. Yes: "Ask your teacher first". Surveys and timing people need a review and a signed OK before you start, at every fair we read. Your school's sheet wins.

10. The check asks: "Does it test people?" You tap "Tasting, eating, or anything on someone's skin". What does the check say? Most fairs say no to this. Yes: "Most fairs say no to this". Testing what goes in or on a body needs a review board first; at home, test things instead. Your school's sheet wins.

11. The check asks: "Will it be filmed or put online?" You tap "Photos of the test for the board, no faces". What does the check say? Fine at most schools. Yes: "Fine at most schools". Photos of the cups, the ramp or the plants are a good way to show a test that can't come to the fair.

12. The check asks: "Will it be filmed or put online?" You tap "Videos of me or friends posted online". What does the check say? Most fairs say no to this. Yes: "Most fairs say no to this". Peabody's own rule: your board and your judge are your audience, so keep faces and names off the internet. Your school's sheet wins.