Dear 7Th Grade Parents

It’s Time for Science Fair! UPDATE: 11/11/13 – THESE PAGES REPLACE ALL PREVIOUS VERSIONS

Dear 7th grade Parents,

Every year UMS Science students do a science fair project. This project is designed to help the students understand and use all parts of the scientific research process. We feel this project helps to give students a solid understanding of how science research impacts their lives. Also, the project will bolster their ability to more critically evaluate media information concerning scientific issues.

Students are encouraged to focus their project on a subject area in which they have a natural interest. They should think about a question or concern having to do with this topic and then challenge themselves to construct an experiment that they can do with materials already available at home. They may have to be quite creative to do this! Students will also have access to experimental models and ideas from one of our many science fair books or from sites online. Once an appropriate topic and related experimental design are developed, students will perform the experiment, record their data on a data table and then graph their results. They will then share their findings with the class using a tri-fold board presentation. All students (along with the teacher) will have a voice in which projects will represent their class in the school science fair. If chosen, the student’s project will be placed in the school science fair in the spring. ALL students may submit their work to the county science fair (also in the spring).

Students will be receiving support in the class room during Hawktime (ELT) to complete this project; however, much of the study is expected to be done at home. In order to support this effort, the UMS Science team has developed a complete guide to the UMS Science Fair project. It is available online through a link on my webpage. This site also has links to other science fair help sources. If you do not have internet access or would like to have a print out of this guide, please contact us.

*Below is a list of due dates, however, work may be turned in early.

Task / Student Reference / Item or Form to be completed / Final Due Date / Grading
1) / Find a research area of interest and develop a focus question. (Students will be given class time to start this process.) / Science Fair Project Planning Flow Chart / Find area of interest & make topic decision / Tue, Nov 12 / CW
10 pts
2) / Complete Flowchart with parent signature / Class notes / Science Fair Project Planning Flow Chart / Tue, Nov 19 / CW
20 pts
3) / Rough drafts of materials list, procedures and an empty data table / Science fair packet and class notes / Provide on your own paper / Fri, Dec 6 / HW
30 pts
4) / Completed data table and corresponding graph (computer generated) / Science fair packet
Graphing rubric / Provide on your own paper / Fri, Jan 31 / HW
20 pts
5) / Final conclusion (computer generated) / Science fair packet
Conclusion guide / Provide your own paper / Fri, Feb 7 / HW
20 pts
6) / Prepare display board. Present board to class. / Science Fair Display Checklist / Completed Display Board / Wed, Feb 26 / Lab
50 pts

We thank you for your support of this project. As you help to monitor your student’s progress, please keep in mind that our goal is to help students develop a sense of the science research process. A project need not have a complicated experimental design in order to reach this goal. We encourage creativity and exploration consistent with the academic level of the student.

We ask that you please acknowledge reading the above information. This page will remain in your student’s science binder for reference.

Parent/guardian signature:______

Science Fair Display Check List

On Display Board:

  Title

  Problem/Purpose – State the problem you were originally concerned with. Explain why you selected the topic. The last sentence should end with a question.

  Hypothesis – If…then….because….

  Materials – Make a list

  Procedure – Numbered list of steps

  Data Table & Pictures of you performing experiment (you must be in the picture & equipment must be visible)

  Graph which displays information from the data table

  Results – One or two sentences to describe what happened

  Conclusion

  What was studied? State the problem and briefly describe lab activity.

  Describe variables: Independent; Dependent and Controlled factors

  Was the hypothesis supported? Refer to data.

  Explain scientific ideas learned. Use data and background information to support. Why did you get these results? Infer a cause. (Infer means to come up with a general explanation by reasoning from research information and data.)

YOU NEED TO SITE AT LEAST ONE APPROVED REFERENCE (BOOK, INTERVIEW OR APPROVED ONLINE SOURCE) THAT DOCUMENTS WHERE YOU OBTAINED YOUR RESEARCH INFORMATION USED TO SUPPORT YOUR INFERENCE. YOUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS ON YOUR “UMS KEEPING TRACK OF SOURCES” WORKSHEET.

  Discuss any problems and how you would change the procedure to fix them and make the experiment more successful.

  Relate the experiment and findings to the real world. How could this information be useful outside the science classroom? How does your project fit into the big picture of the natural world?

YOU NEED TO SITE AT LEAST ONE APPROVED REFERENCE (BOOK, INTERVIEW OR APPROVED ONLINE SOURCE) THAT DOCUMENTS WHERE YOU OBTAINED YOUR INFORMATION USED TO SUPPORT IDEAS ABOUT APPLICATIONS FOR THE USE OF YOUR RESULTS. YOUR LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS ON YOUR “UMS KEEPING TRACK OF SOURCES” WORKSHEET

  UMS Keeping Track of Sources worksheet – 3 documented references are required (one for the “because” part of the hypothesis, one for the “science explanation” and one for the “application”. Tape this sheet securely to the back of the board.

Science Conclusion Guide

What was studied?
- State the problem & briefly describe the lab activity.
- Make sure you
Define variables:
Independent (Manipulated)
Dependent (Responding)
Controlled factors
Was the hypothesis supported?
- Summarize the hypothesis and answer the question, referring to data.
Explain scientific ideas learned.
- Use data & background information to support.
- Why did you get these results? Infer a cause.
(Infer means to come up with a general explanation by reasoning from researched information and data.)
Discuss any problems.
- How would you change the procedure to fix the problems & make the experiment more successful?
Relate the experiment & findings to the real world.
- How could this information be useful outside the science classroom? How does your project fit into the big picture of the natural world?

Science Fair Board Presentation Rubric

Name______Project______

Section / Comments
Title / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / Title should indicate problem investigated
Problem or Question
(Include why you are interested in this question) / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / Clearly state problem or question investigated.
Why interested?
Hypothesis
·  If, then, because / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / Format problems
“Because” section does not propose a scientific explanation.
Materials List / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Procedure
·  Chronological
·  Details / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / List of steps
Pictures of experiment in progress / 8 / 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 / Experimenter not visible in picture
Equipment not visible in picture
Data Table
·  Organized
·  Titles
·  Appropriate display / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / results of each trial not listed
“levels” of investigation not clear
Graphs
·  Organized
·  Titles
·  Appropriate display / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / T. A. L. K. S. to U. problems
Use graph paper
Type of graph used not appropriate for data
Results
·  One or two sentences / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0 / Interpret data – do not just summarize
Conclusion
·  Follows science conclusion guide used in class / 8 / 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 / Describe what was studied & how
Specifically state if hypothesis is supported
Define variables
Explain scientific basis for results
Discuss problems
Give examples of real world application & explain connection to this experiment.
Display Aesthetics
·  Use of color
·  Neatness
·  Use of space / 8 / 6 / 4 / 2 / 0 / Use a ruler to draw straight edges
Too many or too few colors
Typing/Writing too small
Needs section headings
EXTRA CREDIT
Abstract / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 0
Total points earned based on rubric AND
corresponding letter grade entered into grade book / 56-55
A+ / 54-52
A / 51-47
B+ / 46-42
B / 41-34
C+ / 33-26
C / 25-18
C- / 17-13
D+ / 12-8
D / 7-0
F