2026 McAuliffe PTSA STEM Fair
February 26, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Curious minds, creative ideas, and lots of learning, our annual STEM Fair is back!
We invite all McAuliffe families to join us for an evening of discovery as students showcase their amazing work in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
[Register here]
Who Can Participate?
Project Categories
Students may choose one of the following:
Project Display Requirements
Additional Details
A Note for Parents
Your role is important! Parents are encouraged to guide, discuss, and cheer students on, while making sure the ideas and work remain student led. Projects should be created at home by students, with age-appropriate support.
How Projects Are Assessed
The McAuliffe STEM Fair is not a competition. It’s a celebration of curiosity, effort, and learning. Projects are thoughtfully reviewed to give students meaningful feedback and encouragement, not to rank or compare them.
Each project is viewed through four pillars:
Registration & Questions
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
We can’t wait to see our Challengers’ creativity, curiosity, and confidence shine at the 2026 STEM Fair!
February 26, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Curious minds, creative ideas, and lots of learning, our annual STEM Fair is back!
We invite all McAuliffe families to join us for an evening of discovery as students showcase their amazing work in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
[Register here]
Who Can Participate?
- All students in grades K–5 are welcome!
- Projects may be individual or group projects (up to 3 students).
- Every participant will receive a participation certificate - because effort matters!
Project Categories
Students may choose one of the following:
- Research – Explore and present a STEM topic of interest
- Experiment – Ask a question, test it, and share what you discover
- Invention – Design, build, and explain a creative solution or model
Project Display Requirements
- All projects must be displayed on a standard tri-fold board (36” x 48”).
- Each project must include written information explaining the work.
- K–1 students may dictate their writing to an adult.
- Project title
- Student name(s), grade(s), and teacher (on the back of the board)
- Question, process, research, or design
- Results, conclusions, or final outcome
Additional Details
- Research projects should include sources.
- Experiments should show a testable question and results.
- Inventions should highlight originality and explain how they work.
- Any extra materials must fit in front of the display board.
- Invention projects may use a demo area if needed.
A Note for Parents
Your role is important! Parents are encouraged to guide, discuss, and cheer students on, while making sure the ideas and work remain student led. Projects should be created at home by students, with age-appropriate support.
How Projects Are Assessed
The McAuliffe STEM Fair is not a competition. It’s a celebration of curiosity, effort, and learning. Projects are thoughtfully reviewed to give students meaningful feedback and encouragement, not to rank or compare them.
Each project is viewed through four pillars:
- Scientific Thinking & Creativity: How students explore ideas, ask questions, think critically, and show creativity in their approach.
- Effort & Presentation: The care, organization, and pride students show in explaining and presenting their work.
- Learning & Problem-Solving: What students learned along the way, including how they worked through challenges, changes, or unexpected results.
- Impact & Curiosity: The curiosity behind the project and how it connects to the world, sparks interest, or inspires new questions.
- The goal is for students to explore, try their best, ask questions, make mistakes, and learn from the process. Every project represents growth, and every student’s effort is valued and celebrated.
Registration & Questions
- Registration is available here
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
We can’t wait to see our Challengers’ creativity, curiosity, and confidence shine at the 2026 STEM Fair!
