Science Fair

Grown-ups

Top 10 science fair rules every school shares

Each rule is from a school rule set we read on 30 October 2026, named beside it. Your school's sheet always wins.

How it's ordered: Safety at home first, then what may be on display, then the board.

The ten, in order

  1. No flames of any kind: UNM STEM-H, Washington County and Lowville all ban open flames.
  2. No live animals at the fair: Lowville bans them at the fair; UNM keeps organisms off the display.
  3. No mold or bacteria grown at home: UNM's K–5 rules say no microbe cultures at home.
  4. Kitchen chemicals only: Lowville bans dangerous chemicals; Washington County allows safe household ones.
  5. Small amounts on display: Washington County limits a safe chemical on display to under a tablespoon.
  6. Projects that test people need a review: UNM and the ISEF rules require review and consent for human subjects.
  7. Nothing hot on display: UNM's limit is 75 °C.
  8. No liquids, batteries or open containers on the table: UNM bans liquids and batteries on display; Washington County bans open containers.
  9. The board has a size limit: Washington County: 30 in deep, 48 in wide, 96 in high. A 36 × 48 in tri-fold fits.
  10. One student per project, in their own words: Washington County allows one student per project, and its judges favour children's own language and drawings.

Sources: UNM STEM-H Center, K–5 research project rules and forms (revised 11 Aug 2022); Washington County School District (Utah), district science fair rules (October 2011); Lowville elementary science fair rules; Society for Science, ISEF International Rules and Guidelines. Your school's sheet wins.

👨‍👩‍👧 For grown-ups and teachers: how much to help, the safety rules, and running a school fair. Science fair v0.16.1 · Checked .

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