CENAC GUIDELINES

K - 4 Grades

Each project will be judged by two teams of judges
Community experts will judge cultural projects one additional time using a separate rubric
Projects scoring 76+pts (scale of 100pts) are eligible to advance to the CENAC fair
Projects scoring 60 –75pts - Need Improvement before CENAC deadlines to advance to the CENAC Fair
1 st – 3 rd place winners for each grade level (ties must be broken at the school level)
2-3 students will be allowed to represent Team Project/Class project at CENAC science fair. (3 students max.)
CENAC strongly encourages students to include abstract, research, bibliography/list of resources and journals/documentation (complies with the NM Science Standards)
Must be registered by the deadline
Must have Parent/Student authorization forms signed

Cultural Projects will be eligible for Native Scientist Award

Each project will be judged by two teams of judges
Community experts will judge cultural projects one additional time using a separate rubric
Projects scoring 76+pts (scale of 100pts) are eligible to advance to the CENAC fair
Projects scoring 60 –75pts - Need Improvement before CENAC deadlines to advance to the CENAC fair
1 st – 3 rd place winners in each category (ties must be broken at the school level)
2-3 students will be allowed to represent Team Project/Class project at CENAC science fair (3 students max.)
CENAC requires an abstract, research, bibliography/list of resources and or journals/documentation (complies with NM Science Standards)
Must be registered by the deadline, with appropriate authorizations for safety and required ISEF forms by the SRC (refer to ISEF Rules & Regs)
Must have Parent/Student authorization forms signed

Cultural Projects will be eligible for Native Scientist Award

SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1.	Is the problem stated clearly and unambiguously?
2.	Was there a procedural plan for obtaining a solution?
3.	Are the variables clearly recognized and defined? Was there a proper recognition of the necessity of controls, and were these controls sufficient and correctly used?
4.	Are there adequate data to support the conclusions? Are the limitations of the data recognized?
5.	For the research, did the student cite scientific literature or cite only popular literature (local newspaper, Reader's Digest, etc.?) Does the student(s) understand how the project ties to related research? Does the student(s) have an idea of what further research is indicated by their findings? How well did the student use the resources available to her/him?

SKILLS
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1.	Does the student(s) have the skills required to do all the work necessary to obtain the data exhibited in the project? Laboratory skills? Computation Skills? Observation Skills? Design skills?
2.	Where did the equipment come from? Did the student(s) build it independently? Was it obtained on loan? Was it part of a laboratory where the student worked? Where was the project done? Home? School laboratory? University laboratory? What assistance was received from parents, teachers, scientists or engineers? Was the project carried out under the supervision of an adult, or did the student(s) work largely on her/his (their) own? (Note: Supervision and assistance by an adult is desirable, if and only if the student(s) shows the ability to understand the work and use his/her (their) own skills to perform the work. If the student(s) depended on an adult to perform a significant portion of the work, a lower score should result.)

CREATIVITY
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown DescriptionDoes the project show creative ability and originality in:
1.	- the question asked?
2.	- the approach to solving the problem?
3.	- the analysis and interpretation of data?
4.	- the use of equipment? - the construction or design of new equipment?

CLARITY
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1.	Presentation? - How clearly is/are the student(s) able to discuss the project? - Is she/he/they able to explain its purpose, procedure and conclusions in a clear and concise manner? - Are the important phases of the project presented in an orderly manner? - Is the presentation done in a forthright manner, without cute tricks or gadgets? (Try to make allowance for nervousness when talking to a judge. Watch for memorized speeches with little understanding of principles.)
2.	Display? - Has the written material been carefully expressed by the student(s)? - How clearly are the data presented? - How clearly are the results presented? - How well does the project display present itself? (Remember that such material could have been prepared with the assistance of another person.)

THOROUGHNESS
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1.	Does the project carry out its purpose to completion within the scope of the original aims? How completely has the problem been covered in the project?
2.	Are the conclusions based on a single experiment, or on replication?
3.	Is/are the student(s) aware of other approaches or theories concerning the project? Is/are the student(s) familiar with the scientific literature in the field in which she/he was working?

[TEAMWORK] APPLIES ONLY TO TEAM PROJECTS
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1.	Is there an equitable contribution from all team members?
2.	Do all team members comprehend the project fully?

OTHER REQUIREMENTS for GRADES 5 – 8
	Abstract
	Research
	Journal/ Documentation
	Bibliography

Integration of Cultural Traditions and Western Science & Technology
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1.	Will the project have impact on the community or individuals of that community?
2.	Does this project show a balance and an understanding of how indigenous science incorporates the scientific method?

Traditions
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1..	Does the project exemplify cultural heritage?
2.	Is there evidence that the student(s) consulted with one or more community elders, local experts and other cultural resources? (exploration of natural world, conversation)
3.	Was the project done with respect and maintaining the integrity of the natural world?

Self-Reflections
Question No.	Criteria Breakdown Description
1.	Has the student gained cultural knowledge?
2.	Might this project have future impact on the student?