DC STEM Saturday 2026
March 28: State STEM Competition and Math Inquiry Fair at Dunbar High School
Register to attend DC STEM Saturday!
EmpowerK12 and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education are collaborating to host the first STEM Saturday on March 28 at Dunbar High School. Come see our student scientists’ projects, enjoy math games and challenges, and grab a bite to eat! Students who win Grand Prize at the Science Fair will qualify for ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) May 9-15 in Phoenix!
DC State STEM Fair
The DC STEM Fair is the official fair for the District of Columbia and the longest-running student competition in the District of Columbia. The fair will host an elementary exhibition for students in grades K-5 and a competitive fair for secondary students in grades 6-8 and 9-12. The elementary exhibition and secondary fair will bring together students from all eight wards to showcase their ideas, talents, and innovative research in STEM.
Math Inquiry Fair
Just like a science fair, students investigate, test ideas, and defend their thinking using math. Families and students can explore interactive math booths, ask questions, and engage in hands-on investigations. Come see math in action—no calculators required (but curiosity is)!
2026 STEM Saturday Run of Show
Math Inquiry Fair Activities
Below are a sample of the types of fun math activities that students and families can experience at the STEM Saturday: Math Inquiry Fair.
-
Use toothpicks and a connector of your choice to design a bridge that can hold weigh for 10 seconds
-
Create a Möbius strip and explore what happens when you cut it in different ways
-
Which One Doesn't Belong, choose an image out of four, make a claim for why it doesn't belong with the others, justify your reasoning, and compare your thinking to others
-
Create a heart, frog, or fortune teller and explore symmetry, fractions, and angles
-
Uno (youngest ages), Shut the Box (middle grades), and Wits & Wagers (later grades)