Science Fair Project 2013
The Science Fair is an opportunity for each student to perform scientific research on a topic of their choice. Each student will present their project and results to Pre-K through 5th grade from 1 – 3 pm. Students will present their projects and results to parents from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.
Question ~ due Nov 2
Area of Study: What aspects of science are you interested in? Is there a specific
question that you would like to investigate? Write down several ideas that you come up with and discuss them with your parents. Eventually you want to have a question that you can answer by measuring something or comparing data.
There is an online survey that asks what you like to do, then recommends possible projects based on your answers. This survey may spark ideas for you ~ but you do NOT have to take it.
It is NOT necessary to sign in to take the survey.
It is preferred that students develop an original question in which they’re interested in finding the answer. If students are having trouble coming up with a question to research, they can take the Survey to Pick a Topic (gold button) or go to Fair Central (green button on Science Fair page).
Students may decide to analyze online data. There are several sites that have scientific data, both real-time and archived. Students should go to the Internet Data page (blue button on Science Fair page) to explore the available data sets.
If students are still having trouble refining their question, they should make an appointment to come see me BEFORE November 1st.
Research due Jan 22
Once you have your question, you are going to do research and
record the source of the information in a bibliography.
The research section of their paper should be minimum 4 pages (maximum 8 pages) double-spaced (font size 12).
A minimum of 5 sources is required. One source should be
an encyclopedia. The IMC has encyclopedia sets for students to use during lunch recess. Wikipedia is a compilation of knowledge; however, anyone can edit it. Therefore it is NOT considered a valid source of information for a research project.
Plan and Procedures ~ due Nov 14
DO NOT do the experiment until I have approved your plans
Planning: Now that you have your question, you have to decide how you are
to run your experiment and what you are going to measure to
answer your question. Please do not get discouraged. If you are
having trouble planning it out, come see me.
Identify your variables: List everything that can change in the experiment Remember, you only want ONE VARIABLE to change in your experiment. So every other factor has to stay the same (keep it constant). This is difficult to do sometimes. Write down next to each variable how you are going to keep it constant. If you are having trouble with this, please come see me.
Hypothesis: What is your educated guess about the outcome of your experiment?
Safety: List all safety precautions you need to take. Some may be the
ones we use in class; however, you may encounter some new or different situations. If you are unsure of what safety precautions you need to take at any time ASK me. Do not do anything that will put you in a dangerous situation.
Materials: Before carrying out your experiment, you should formulate a complete list of materials that you will need. These materials should be things that are readily found in your home or our classroom. The items should not be expensive to purchase. If there is any equipment in the classroom that you would like to borrow, arrangements may be made, just come talk to me. Remember – do not purchase a kit.
Procedures: You should have a specific plan of procedures that you’ve thought
out carefully and placed in writing before you begin your experiment. At all times you should have a clear, concise list of procedures that another person can follow. These should be written like the procedures you follow in class experiments ~ numbered steps. For example,
1. Fill the spray bottle with 15 mL of lemon juice and 45 mL of water.
2. Spray plant A with the lemon solution 10 times every morning.
3. Spray plant B with just water 10 times every morning.
Data / results: You will need to collect measurable data / results. Observations
should be recorded clearly. A data table is a good way to organize information, but sometimes illustrations, narrative observations, sketches, or pictures are better. Explain what data you will be collecting and how you are going to measure the data (ruler, triple beam balance, etc.)
For students analyzing online data:
You need to write a Google Apps doc listing the sources you intend to use to gather your data. The list should have links to the websites. You should indicate exactly what data you will be comparing along with your plan on organizing the data for analysis.
Experiment
All experiments should be completed by Feb 4th.
Conclusion ~ due in Formal Lab Report Feb 21
Conclusion: In your conclusion, you restate your original question. Then tell if
your hypothesis was supported or not supported by the data collected. Explain how you know. How would you now answer your original question? How could this information be used in the “real” world? Who would most benefit from this information? If you were going to do another project, what would you study next? Why?
Formal Lab Report ~ due Feb 21
Much of the information for the lab report has already been done in preparation for the science fair. Students can cut and paste the information from the various files into their final lab report.
Reports should be typed double-spaced in font size 12, in a style that is easy to read such as Times New Roman, Comic sans, or Arial.
Each student will hand in 2 copies of their formal lab report. One copy will be graded, the other copy will be on display during the science fair.
The lab report should have a standard cover page listing the title of the research project, the student’s name, grade, and date. The title page can be done in any font style and size. (Please do not use fancy binders for the copy to be turned in for grading. Just a staple in the left-hand corner is required) Students are more than welcome to use a fancy binder for their display copy.
The formal lab report will include the following sections:
Question and the explanation of how you became interested in that question.
Research
Hypothesis
Experiment with sub-sections: safety
materials
procedures (step-by-step directions)
Data / Results
Conclusion (see above for all the information to be included in the conclusion)
Display ~ due Feb 25
Each student will have a display that lists at a minimum the question, hypothesis, and results of their experiment. Students may add more information.
Many students use a display board (24 x 36) that bends and stands by itself. They can be purchased at office supply stores such as Staples.
Some experiments can be brought in for display in front of the poster. If too large, sometimes students bring in a portion of their experiment. Some students build models of their topic. Each experiment lends itself to a different sort of display.
Here is an example of how a display board can be arranged, but it’s not required to use this layout. Students should display their results in a way that allows them to easily explain their findings to the lower grades.