Important Information about the Let’s Talk Science Challenge
Why participate in the Challenge?
This event series is both fun and challenging! The Let’s Talk Science Challenge supports the development of positive attitudes towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which leads to sustained interest in these areas in high school.
At a time when students are on the cusp of making important decisions about their high school course choices, participation in the Let’s Talk Science Challenge gives them a unique, positive experience with STEM. There is no charge to participate, so everyone can join!
What does the Let’s Talk Science Challenge look like?
The Let’s Talk Science Challenge is a team-based competitive event offered in the spring of each year to students in Grades 6-8 (ages 11-13) across Canada. This free, enrichment program includes an exciting Ultimate Quiz, a hands-on Engineering Challenge, and a team spirit activity named the Lorna Collins Spirit Award.
Preparation for the competition is important. Students will work in teams or individually to learn STEM concepts provided in a handbook prior to the competition. Let's Talk Science also offers practice quizzes and design and build challenges available weekly beginning in mid-February.
The Let's Talk Science Challenge competition is offered in both virtual and in-person formats. Both options include the same activities and opportunities for prizes! In-person events hold all of the activities on one day at select locations, while the virtual events spread out the activities and offer asynchronous (self-paced) options.
Schedule for the Challenge
November 1st: Registration opens
February 1st: Handbook published
Mid-February to mid-April: Online weekly practice activities
The weekly practice activities include quizzes and design and build challenges to help students prepare for the Grand Finale Events (competition). The quizzes will help students prepare for the Ultimate Quiz and the design and build challenges for the Final Engineering Challenge. Each week, for 10 weeks, we will cover a new topic that comes from the Study Handbook. Quizzes are available live on Zoom, pre-recorded, and in written form. All design and build challenges are self-paced.
The practice activities are only offered virtually.
May to mid-June: Grand Finale Events (competition)
The Grand Finale Events are the competition portion of the Let’s Talk Science Challenge. Each spring, students compete against each other during an Ultimate Quiz Competition and a Final Engineering Challenge that covers the entire Study Handbook. Students will also showcase their team spirit and their love of STEM by trying to win the Lorna Collins Spirit Award.
The Grand Finale Events are offered virtually and in-person at some locations.
Mid-June: Announcement of all winners.
The complete schedule, date and locations of events will be posted each year around November 1st. Keep an eye out for the event cards in the event section of our website.
Who should participate in the Challenge?
The Challenge is geared toward students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 (aged 11-13). We think students in any grade can have fun learning STEM! This is why the activities offered during the practice portion are open to anyone. Note that only students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 can officially compete in the Grand Finale events.
How many people can register for the Challenge?
Thanks to our virtual platform, there is no limit to the number of students who can participate. You’re invited to register an individual student, a small team or even a whole class.
If you wish to register for one of our in-person events, spots are limited. Each location will have its own limit. Once the capacity is reached, you will be automatically placed on the waiting list. You may still participate in the virtual practice events and/or register for a virtual competition if you are on the waitlist for an in-person competition.
How many are students in a team?
For the virtual competitive events, a team needs to have at least one student but has no upper limit. (though please note we can only provide a limited number of prizes per winning team). For the in-person events, teams must be composed of 2 to 4 students.
Information about teams is not required to participate in the practice activities. However, information about students and teams will be required to participate in the Grand Finale Events (competition).
How do I register students for the Challenge?
Registration opens in November each year. Students must be registered by an adult, they cannot register themselves.
Registration will close in the spring at least two weeks before the Grand Finale events take place.
I am a caregiver that is doing home schooling. Can I register?
Even though we often use the terms students and educators, any adult can register any youth to the Challenge - even if you are the leader of a community group. Please note that students must be registered by an adult, they cannot register themselves.
I am a teacher in a school and have multiple classes. Can I register all my classes under one form?
Yes. You simply have to let us know the total number of students you are registering. You can also register for another teacher at the same school, but know that you will be the one receiving all the communications and are responsible for distributing them appropriately.
How do students prepare for the Challenge?
Students should study from the Let’s Talk Science Challenge Study Handbook (available in February) and participate in the practice activities offered between mid-February and mid-April. The practice activities include quizzes and a series of design and build challenges. These practice activities are optional, but highly recommended.
What is the Let’s Talk Science Challenge Study Handbook?
The Let’s Talk Science Challenge Study Handbook has everything students need to study in preparation for the theory portion of the event. The Handbook is available on February 1st on our website.
The Study Handbook uses a variety of methods to engage students in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Environmental Sciences, Math, Physics and Space Sciences. Each chapter may include general subject backgrounders, career profiles, and articles on particular topics. Some topics are relevant to what they’re learning in school, while others give them a sneak peek of what they will learn in years to come.
How can we participate?
The Let’s Talk Science Challenge is offered in virtual and in-person formats.
Note that all practice activities will be offered virtually no matter if you choose to participate virtually or in-person for the Grand Finale Events (competition).
Virtual format:
Your students can participate if they are by themselves at home or together in a classroom.
All the live activities (weekly quizzes and Ultimate Quiz competition) will be through a secure Zoom Webinar account. Recorded versions of all the live activities will also be available on-demand.
For the asynchronous activities (design and build challenges, Final Engineering Challenge and Lorna Collins Spirit Award), we will have a virtual submission box for participants to share their work and be eligible for prizes.
In-person format:
You and your students will be invited to visit one of our Outreach sites hosting the Let’s Talk Science Challenge. It is your responsibility to arrange for transportation and accommodation if needed. You also must ensure that you have all the necessary consent required by Let’s Talk Science and your school/school board to attend the event.
The in-person format and requirements may differ for each location. More information will be available in March.
Do my students have to participate in everything?
Not at all. When registering for the Challenge, you register for the Grand Finale Events (competition) of your choice (date and location). You will be automatically registered and receive access to the practice activities.
The practice activities offered by Let’s Talk Science are meant to help students prepare for the competition with limited involvement from educators, and are completely optional. However, we strongly encourage all students to prepare for the competition to get the most out of the event and succeed.
You can choose to offer alternative or additional preparation activities that may be better suited to your students.
What are the languages that the Let’s Talk Science Challenge is offered in?
All the activities, events and resources presented during the Let’s Talk Science Challenge are available in French and English. Students can participate in any combination of both if they want to. As an example, a French immersion class could do the practice activities in French and the Grand Finale Events in English. Please register for a Grand Finale event in the language you would like to compete in. During registration you have the opportunity to request access to the practice activities in both languages.