8 Easy Steps for Hosting a Homeschool Project Fair

{This post initially was initially shared in 2014 at the now defunct Upsidedown Homeschooling Blog, which can only be found using the Wayback Machine. I am resharing it here since someone asked for tips on how to host a fair and I wanted to offer them these. I pray it benefits you as well should you wish to host a project fair.}

Much to my amusement, the other day, my children woke and began transforming our hallway into a project fair.

I smiled as I prepared breakfast, listening to my oldest son read information to his sister about hyacinth macaws, Japan, knights, tarsiers, Bunker Hill, Germany and more and, then, hearing my daughter, in turn, share recalled facts with my youngest child, whose little feet were pattering off to his bedroom to get a stuffed animal in order to complete a rabbits project set up.

It had been nearly a year since we’d participated in our first project fair, an Endangered Species one, seven months since a History one, six since a Geography one and five since a Nature Explorers one.  Yet, there all three of my children were gleefully hosting an eclectic “just us” fair in our hallway.  

Reading, public speaking and more unfolded at the children’s morning micro-fair, just as it had at the original fairs that we had prepared for and presented at throughout last academic year.

As each of my children enthusiastically shared their prior projects with one another, it struck me:  a seemingly “one time” event can – and often does – hold residual effects.  

Planning, preparing for and presenting at project fairs is well worth the effort, and, in our experience, a whole lot of fun, too!  I encourage you to participate in such a fair, and, if none exist in your area, to host one.

It is not difficult to host a project fair.  In fact, I have found that it’s fairly simple and well worth the effort!

In my tried-and-true experience, hosting a project fair can as easy as eight simple steps!

1.Choose a fair topic.  

Animals, History, Geography, Art, Nature, Science, Saints, Holidays around the World…  Ideas are endless.  Keeping the topic broad offers participants freedom while also providing a bit of direction.

2. Contact a host location to nail down a day and time. 

My family has participated at project fairs at a local library’s community meeting room and hosted one at a parish center.  At all of these locations, we have found a three-hour block works well.

3. Get word out.  

Use a local homeschool networking page to get word out.  Share the time, date and RSVP deadline for the fair.  Then, consider creating a special contact list for participants to share ideas, questions and concerns.  All communications or the fairs our family has participated in has been by word of mouth and private Facebook groups.  Other such social networking paths could work just as well!

4. Offer suggestions and ideas.  

Once you have a participants list, periodically remind folks of the date and time of the fair, offer tips for research and presentation and outline the agenda for the fair day. 

For the fairs we participated in, all this was done through brief posts on a private Facebook group.  For the one I put together and hosted, I created an information packet with research tips, presentation ideas, an agenda, FAQ’s, and more.

5. Ask for set up and break down volunteers.  

Many hands make light work; too many can result in chaos.  Thus, I have found that asking only a few families to help set up and break down tables and chairs works best.

6. Print participation certificates. 

Creating and printing personalized participation certificates to hand out at the fair adds a special touch and allows parents who need it “evidence” to put in children’s portfolios.

7. Prepare your family’s projects.

Leave plenty of time for your own children to research and prepare their projects.  Nothing is worse than putting your efforts into hosting a fair only to forget to work on your own family’s projects until the last-minute.  A little bit done over a number of weeks adds up to less stress and more fun!

8. Set an agenda and enjoy!  

For the fair I hosted,  which happened in a three-hour block, I found the following agenda worked well (and included 15 minutes of unscheduled “wiggle” room.)

Set Up

• 30 min. -Event organizer and several volunteer families arrive and begin to set up tables and chairs.

• 20 min. - Participants arrive and set up.

Fair Opens

• 20 min. - Geography Fair Opens; parents or other non-participating family members or friends “man” students’ displays so children can circulate

• 20 min. - Participating students return to their displays while parents and guests circulate

• 30 min. - Oral Presentations begin; those who wish to may continue to quietly circulate among the display areas. 

• 30 min. - Participation certificates distributed.

Fair Closes and Break Down Begins

• 30 min.- Break down displays and clean up.

I hope these tips help you to plan and enjoy learning and sharing together with a fair!

Making Picture-Word Labels for Learning Environments -- A Simple How-To

Someone asked me what my actual picture-word labels look like for our Music and Movement area and how we made them.  Here's the low down:

1. After deciding where things would go, I took pictures of each thing in its basket, drawer, etc.
2. I uploaded the pictures onto our computer.
3. Using Microsfot Publisher, I created a document much like that I use for Montessori three-part cards.  For each card, I inserted a small picture of a specific material.  Below, I typed the name of the material.
4. I printed two copies of the document, "laminated" them with contact paper and cut them out.
5. I put one picture-word label in the actual basket, drawer bottom, etc. that its corresponding material goes in and one on the outside of the cupboard or drawer or on the shelf that we put that container.  (This way, the kids (and Daddy for that matter!) know which material goes in which container and which container goes in which place.)

I find that this system works well for us in a home environment.  I think it would work in a classroom one, too, although I might suggest larger labels.

As a side note: I purposely made the cards small enough to fit nicely into baseball card page protector pockets.  That way, as I rearrange our home or switch out materials, I can simply take the tape off the backs of the cards before placing the cards into a three-ring binder full of pocket protectors.  Then, the kids can use this 3-ring binder to choose activities and supplies as I catalog more of them and get the binders organized.  (This is my hope, at least.)  A similar idea could work well in other home and school environments.

Likewise, I purposely made them three-part card style so that if I ever desire, I can use any of our picture-word label cards as nomenclature and matching ones as we move along with different homeschool endeavors.

I would love to hear how you label your home or classroom for ease of use, organization and future activities. please leave a comment.