MONTCLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR

RULES & PROCEDURES

CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTATION

Projects involving vertebrate organisms (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) must be only observational in nature and must not interfere with the normal life processes of the organism. There must not be handling of the vertebrate animal in any way that interferes with the life processes of the organism. No vertebrate organism must be subjected in any way to stress such as nutritional deficiency or oxygen deprivation. Students may not construct mazes or similar apparatus to study learned behavior. In every case involving vertebrate study, the appropriate protocols sheet must be completed BEFORE experimentation is begun. Vertebrate animals cannot be included in the project display. Contact the Science Office for further information or clarification.
Students shall not use any chemicals listed as "not permitted" on the list of Prince William County Chemical Hazards. Refer to the listing provided below.
Students are not allowed to use controlled substances in conducting any experimentation.
Students should not culture throat bacteria unless under direct supervision of a person knowledgeable of these procedures. To do otherwise places an individual at risk for serious infection by potential pathogens, including toxic septicemia.
Students must not use power equipment for the construction for experimental apparatus or project displays unless under the direct supervision of an adult.
Students must have direct adult supervision during experimentation in which heat or open flame is used.
The use of recombinant DNA is prohibited.
Laser radiation is not permitted.
Known pathogens (disease causing agents) are not permitted as a part of any experimental research.
Students shall not use for any project or experimental purpose blood, teeth, skin cells, urine, saliva, tears, sweat, or other human body fluid or tissue unless it has been determined by a certified medical pathologist as HIV negative. The only exception includes microscope slides properly acquired from biological supply companies and labeled as to their origin. Use of hair is permitted.

PROJECT DISPLAYS

While food may be used in experimentation, neither human nor animal food may be displayed in or at your project area. Photographs are suitable representations of food and/or procedures involving food.
Bacterial cultures, yeast cultures, molds or other fungi, or other microbial cultures (live or dead) are prohibited from display. Photographs are suitable representations of cultures and/or procedures involving cultures.
Bare wires or knife switches may be used on circuits of 12 volts or less; otherwise, standard enclosed switches, conforming to safety codes, are required.
Neither vertebrate or vertebrate parts may be displayed. This includes taxidermy specimens. The only exception includes microscope slides that are properly acquired from biological supply companies. Such slides must be labeled as to their origin.
For projects requiring electricity, a 9' grounded extension cord must be provided. The extension cord can only be connected during the time the project is being evaluated by judges.
Prince William County Guidelines allow students in Grades 5-8 to display plants. Students in Grades 9-12 are subjected to ISEF guidelines, which do NOT allow plants to be displayed.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY CHEMICAL HAZARDS NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS. WHEN IN DOUBT, CONTACT THE PWCS SCIENCE OFFICE.
CHEMICALS NOT PERMITTED
1.2 Dichloroethane	2.4 Dinitrophenol	Acetamide	Acrylonitrile	Anthracene
Arsenic	Arsenic Chloride	Arsenic Pentoxide	Arsenic Trioxide	Asbestos
Ascarite	Benzene	Benzone	Benzoyl Peroxide	Cadmium Sulfate
Cadmium Powder	Carbon Tetracholoride	Chloroform	Chrimium III Oxide	Chromium IV Oxide
Colbalt powder	Colchicine	Diphenyl EsterCarbonic Acid	Ethyl Ether	Formaldehyde
Gunpowder	Hydrofluoric Acid	Lead Arsenate	Methyl Iodide	Nickel Carbonate
Nickel 11 Acetate	Nickel Powder	O-Toluidine	p-Dioxane	Perchloric Acid
Phenol	Picric Acid	Potassium Cyanide	Selenium	Silver Cyanide
Sodium Arsenate	Sodium Aresenite	Sodium Cyanide	Sodium Nitrate	Sudan IV
Sulfuric Acid (fuming	Tannic Acid	Thiourea	Toluene	Uranium
Uranyl Acetate	uranyl Nitrate	Urethane	Vinylite
CHEMICALS PERMITTED WITH RESTRICTION
1-Phenyl-2-Thiourea	2.2.4-Trimenthylpentane	Aluminium Chloride	Ammonium Bichromate	Ammondium Chromate
Ammonium Dichromate	Ammonium Nitrate	Ammonium Vanadate	Aniline	Aniline Hydrochloride
Antimony	Antimony Chloride	Antimony Oxide	Antimony Potassium Tartrate	Barium Chloride
Barium Compounds	Beryllium Carbonate	Bromine	Butanol	Cadmium Compounds
Calcium Cyanide	Carbon Disulfide	Catechol (pyrocatechol)	Chloral Hydrate	Chloretone (chlorobutanol)
Chlorobutanol (chloretone	Chlorpromazine	Chromic Acid	Cyclohexane	Ethylene
Ethylene Oxide	Gasoline	Hexachlorophene	Hydrobromic Acid	Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrogen Sulfide	Hydroquinone	Iodine Crystals	Lead (11) acetate	Lead Chromate
Lead Compounds	Lithium	Magnesium	Magnesium Chlorate	Mercuric Nitrate
Mercury	Methyl Ethyl Ketone	Methyl Methacrylate	Mexitylene	n.n=Dimethylaniline
Nicotine	Osmium Tetroxide	Paris Gree	Pentane	Petroleium Ether
Phenyl Salicylate (solol)	Phosphorus Pentoxide	Pthalic Anhydride	Potassium	Potassium Chromate
Potassium Oxalate	Potassium Periodate	Potassium Permanganate	Potassium Sulfide	Pyridine
Pyrogallic Acid	Silver Nitrate	Silver Oxide	Sodium	Sodium Azide
Sodium Chloride	Sodium Flouride	Sodium Nitrate	Sodium Permanganate	Sodium Silicofluoride
Stamic Chloride	Stearic Acid	Strontium	Strontium Nitrate	Sulfuric Acid
Tetrabromoethane	Thermide Related Compounds	Thioacetamide	Titanium Trichloride

MONTCLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR

RULES & PROCEDURES

CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTATION

PROJECT DISPLAYS

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY CHEMICAL HAZARDS