Congratulations to our 2021 Solutionary Fair Participants!

The San Mateo County Office of Education would like to congratulate all of our Solutionary teachers and students for a job well done and for helping us make our first annual Solutionary Fair a great success! Thank you for participating.

We would especially like to congratulate all of our winners! We will follow up with the winners soon about how to obtain your prize.  

About the Solutionary Fair

The San Mateo County Solutionary Fair is a showcase of student solutions to local and global problems. It highlights K-12 student leaders who have identified inhumane, unsustainable systems and developed solutions that are healthy for people, animals, and the environment. 

Why Participate?

The Solutionary Fair offers San Mateo County students the opportunity to develop their skills, deepen their connection to their community, and prepare for college and career while having fun. 

  • Learn valuable skills such as critical thinking, research and project management, and collaboration
  • Prepare for college and career by connecting your project to one of the 15 Career and Technical Education industry sectors
  • Create a more sustainable, equitable, and peaceful world through addressing underlying challenges within your community
  • Grow and develop into informed, active citizens

Stay tuned to learn how to participate in the 2022 Solutionary Fair!

What is a "Solutionary?"

What is a "solutionary?" According to the Institute for Humane Education, a solutionary is someone who...

  • Develops systems-based solutions that do the most good and least harm to people, animals, and the environment
  • Makes compassionate and responsible choices
  • Identifies unsustainable, inhumane, and unjust systems
  • Brings critical, systems, strategic, and creative thinking to bear on solving problems

Participating in the Solutionary Fair

It's never too early to start thinking about participating in the 2022 Solutionary Fair. Follow the steps below on how to choose your topic and create your project proposal.

Choosing Your Project

Reflect on the challenges you see within your community, such as homelessness, sea-level rise, poverty, and pollution. Research and investigate the root causes and systemic structures that have created this challenge, and then brainstorm meaningful solutions that address the underlying causes without harming people, animals, or the environment.

Creating Your Project Proposal

Students must use either the K-2 Grades, 3-5 Grades, or 6-12 Grades project templates to create their proposal. K-2 grades must submit their project proposals as a class. Project proposals must be submitted using the following structure:
  1. The Inspiration: What was your inspiration for trying to solve this problem?
  2. The Problem Statement: What is the problem you are attempting to solve?
  3. The Evidence: What evidence have you gathered to demonstrate that the problem exists?
  4. The Diagram: Make the system visible. Graphically show the system in which this problem exists and persists.
  5. The Analysis: What are the mental models that people have about this problem? Who are the stakeholders affected by this problem? What are the leverage points for finding a solution?
  6. The Solution: What is your solution to this problem?
  7. The Implementation: What is your detailed plan for implementing this solution? Who do you need to help you implement it?
  8. The Reflection: How has your journey been from inspiration to solution? What other problems arose during the process? What are your next steps?

 Solutionary Fair Slide Deck Examples

Here are some examples of solutionary projects for each grade band.

K-2 Sample Slides

K-2 Sample Slides
3-5 Sample Slides

3-5 Sample Slides
6-8 Sample Slides

6-8 Sample Slides

Submitting Your Project

Please stay tuned for how you can participate in the 2021 Solutionary Fair. Questions can be directed to Doron Markus, Coordinator, Career and STEM Success.