Science Fair Guidebook 2012-2013
Prescribed Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to...
A1· demonstrate safe procedures A2·perform experiments usingthescientificmethod
A3· represent and interpretinformationingraphicform A4· demonstratescientificliteracy
A5· demonstrate ethical, responsible, cooperativebehaviour
A6· describe therelationshipbetweenscientificprinciples andtechnology
A7· demonstrate competence inthe use of technologiesspecifictoinvestigativeprocedures and research
Components of a Science Fair Project
Check out www.sciencebuddies.org for help with every aspect of your project. And, of course, your teacher is always available. J
There are three parts to your science fair project. See the website www.sd23sciencefair.com for more information.
A. The Project Report Requirements:
1. All required sections in detail (see ‘Required Components’ checklist on next page).
2. A title page and a heading for each section. Titles and all headings are underlined. Headings are left-justified.
3. Report is typed (in a simple, size 12 font, 1.5 or double-spaced) and in a duotang.
4. Original raw data (that will not on the display board).
5. Your signed science fair proposal -signed by parents and teacher
6. This guidebook with a filled out “Science-Fair Self-Assessment” (p. 5-6)
7. Any consent or safety forms used (animal and human test subjects, explosives).
B. The Log Book
Include the completed task list in your log book, as well as a more detailed record what you did each day as you work on your project. This should be written by your own hand and placed in another duotang or a log book. You can choose to use the 'guided log book' which you'll find on the website.
C. The Project Display Board
Display Layout
Please keep close to these dimensions.
(If you go to the regional fair, the boards MUST follow these dimensions.)
Boards can be bought at Staples for ~$10 OR you may borrow a previously-used boards from your school for free (if they are available)!
Required Components:
1. Title - Creative and fun!
2. Question
The focus of your investigation
3. Hypothesis
What do you think you will find out?
Use an If/then statement. E.g. “If I increase the amount of fertilizer, then the plant’s growth will increase.”
4. Background Information
In your OWN WORDS, this is a paragraph describing any background needed in scientific concepts, the history of your topic, any other science experiments on this topic that have been done in the past, and why this research is important to know about. (All sources will be in bibliography.) (Briefer version on Display Board.)
5. Materials
Point form list of all materials you used. Be specific. Include sizes and amounts!
E.g. 5 mL baking soda, 3 jars with a 15 cm diameter
6. Procedure
→ First state your variables: independent, dependent, and controlled
→ Then step-by-step instructions on how to perform the experiment. Number your steps. (This is not a past-tense story of what you did.) Anyone should be able to follow this procedure and know exactly what to do to replicate your experiment.
7. Data & Observations (Results)/Analysis (Data Tables, Photos, Models, Graphs)
→ The more data you have (large sample size, repeated trials), the more valid your data is!
→ You need to have at least one table containing your numerical data on your board → USE AVERAGES ONLY in your display board. Other data goes in project report as “raw data”
→ You also need to have at least one graph using the averages only. NEVER EVER GRAPH RAW DATA. Be sure to select the most suitable type of graph. Your math teacher will help.
8. Conclusion – THE MOST IMPORTANT PART!
Paragraph format. Summarize what you did, what you observed, what you learned. ANSWER THE QUESTION YOU ASKED AT THE BEGINNING. Address your hypothesis.
→ Include any possible sources of error. Did you make any mistakes along the way or have trouble controlling your variables? Discuss that here.
9. Future Directions
→ If you were to do this science fair project again, what would you do differently?
→ What other experiments in this same topic area would be interesting to investigate?
→ How could you apply this knowledge? Think big!
10. Bibliography
→ You can use a web tool such as www.noodletools.com or www.easybib.com to make your bibliography
→ Include any websites, books, magazines etc. you used
11. Acknowledgements
→ A thank you to any parent, teacher, or friend/student who helped you
Helpful Hints
(See more at www.sciencebuddies.org in “Project Guide” then “Display Board”)
· Have a science fair project that you are passionate about and interested in
· The report contains ALL detailed information. The display board has all the same components, but you can feature just the “highlights”
· Make your backboard bright, colourful, and fun!
· Type up all information and use a graphing program like Excel to make your graphs
· Use at least a 16 sized font for your display board
· Each section should be boarded by a bright colour of construction paper and then neatly glued to your backboard
· Use a paper cutter, or cut along a line drawn with a ruler. Corners should be 90˚
· Take pictures of each step of your experiment and include the photos on your backboard. Pictures speak a thousand words! (You may not bring any organic material or chemicals to the fair.)
· Make your title VERY creative, fun, and LARGE
· Proofread your work. Have someone else proofread it for you.
· Be sure to practice your presentation prior to judging. Know your variables!
· If you have problems, ask your teacher for help.
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Science Fair Levels
1. Classroom Fair à ______
Projects must be finished when you arrive in class on this day.
All required components must be here. Be prepared for a 5
minute presentation to your peers outlining your project.
2. School Science Fair à ______
All classes set up in the ______. Students may be peer-
assessing. Teachers & Community members will be judging.
Be prepared to answer questions about your project in addition
to a short presentation.
3. SD23 District Science Fair à Feb. 12-13
Includes a 10 minute presentation to judges. The top 10 projects from the school fair will be invited to this fair at Okanagan College. Prizes and an invite to the regional fair are possible.
4. Okanagan Regional Science Fair à April
Students will compete at UBCO for more prizes and a possible invite to the Canada-wide fair.
5. Canada-Wide Science Fair à May 11-18th
Selected students get a paid trip to the national competition in Lethbridge. There is also a possibility for an invite to an international science fair (In Taiwan, Australia…)!
Subject Divisions
The projects will fit into one of these categories:
1. Biotechnology à application of biological systems to solve a problem
Eg. Crop development, animal sciences, microbials
2. Computing and Mathematical Sciences à any project dealing with computing, mathematical models, innovative software and hardware design. Also any project that uses math to solve a theoretical problem
3. Earth & Environmental Sciences à a project that focuses on a topic related to planetary process or the relationship of an organism to its environment
4. Engineering à a project that applies to any physical science knowledge to solve a problem or achieve a purpose
5. Life Science à a project with some aspect of the life or lifestyle of an organism
6. Physical Science à studies an abiotic phenomenon in order to understand the relation of identified factors, perhaps including a cause and effect relationship
District 23 Science Fair 2013 Experiment Judging Form (updated Oct 18, 2012)
Experiment: Undertake an investigation to test a scientific
hypothesis by the experimental method. At least one
independent variable is manipulated; other variables are
controlled.
Judge's Name: ______
Criteria / ExceedingExpectations / Fully Meeting
Expectations / Minimally Meeting
Expectations / Approaching
Expectations
/ Question & Hypothesis / ● Creative, original experiment (outcome not apparent) that is also challenging or important / ● Original experiment (outcome not apparent)
● OR common experiment but modified in an original way / ● Common experiment with apparent outcome / ● Known experiment with obvious outcome
● Supported with thorough scientific background research / ● Supported with some background research / ● Brief background, more would have been helpful / ● Limited research, background not established.
Procedure
(Data Collection)
x2
*See judging FAQ / ● Exceedingly large* sample size / ● Large sample size / ● Satisfactory sample size but increasing it would have led to more interesting results / ● Sample size is too small to conclude much
● Multiple* trials / ● Several trials / ● Very few trials, validity of data is questionable / ● Limited data collected, data not valid/reliable
● All necessary variables considered/controlled / ● Important variables considered/controlled / ● Most variables
considered/controlled / ● Variables not adequately controlled
● All necessary safety precautions taken and explicitly stated / ● Safe procedure / ● Some safety precautions not considered / ● Unsafe procedure
Representation of Data
MCT = Measure of Central Tendency, e.g. mean, median, mode / ● Data clearly displayed with correct units in exceedingly neat, well laid-out table / ● Data displayed with correct units in easy to read table / ● Data displayed in table but difficult to read
● Units incorrect / ● Data not displayed in table
● Units missing
● Chosen graph types are appropriate and best display MCT data / ● Chosen graphs types are appropriate and display MCT data / ● Inappropriate graph chosen, or graph displays raw data / ● Data not displayed in graph
● Graphs are exceedingly neat and easy to read, contain all required components (labels, units, title) / ● Graphs contain all required components and clearly display data / ● Graphs are readable but may be missing components or are not entirely clear
Continued →
Criteria / ExceedingExpectations / Fully Meeting
Expectations / Minimally Meeting
Expectations / Approaching
Expectations
Data Analysis
& Conclusion
x2 / ● MCT and Standard Deviation calculated / ● MCT calculated / ● Data displayed in table but MCT not calculated / ● Limited data collected
● Advanced statistical analysis (ANOVA, t-test, etc.) / -- / -- / --
● Valid, logical, thoughtful, creative conclusions drawn based on data / ● Valid conclusions based on data / ● Conclusions partially supported by data but may have assumed relationships not necessarily shown in data / ● Conclusions not supported by data
● Numerous possible sources of error considered and thoughtfully discussed / ● Possible sources of error considered / ● Sources of error not explicitly addressed but student can propose some with prompting. / ● Sources of error not considered.
/ Visual Communication
(Display Board) / ● Extremely organized, logical, self-explanatory / ● Organized / ● Layout is not always logical – the eye has to “jump around” / ● Confusing layout
● Attractive, exceedingly neat, very well-constructed (90˚ corners, typed, straight lines) / ● Well-constructed / ● Not always well constructed (crooked, not securely fastened) / ● Messily put together
● Many photographs, videos, diagrams, and/or models clearly display results and/or process / ● Some photographs, videos, diagrams, and/or models display results and/or process / ● Only a few basic photographs or diagrams to display results and/or process / ● No photographs, etc., to display results/process
● Colourful, very creative design and title, fun to look at / ● Colourful, some creativity, pleasant to look at / ● Some colour, basic design / ● Very little colour, not especially visually appealing
Oral Communication
(Presentation)
Speaker is… / ● Extremely clear
(appropriate volume, speed, enunciation, tone) / ● Reasonably clear / ● Attempting to communicate ideas but can be hard to understand at times / ● Difficult to understand, little apparent effort to be understood
● Extremely positive, confident, and enthusiastic / ● Positive and enthusiastic / ● Positive / ● Not especially positive or enthusiastic
● Extremely knowledgeable, can confidently answer all questions / ● Knowledgeable, able to answer questions / ● Some difficulty with higher-level questions but can explain the basics / ● Difficulty answering questions
Written Communication (Report) / ● Report contains all required components* as well as additional information / ● Report contains all required components* / ● Report missing 1-2 required components* / ● Report missing 3 or more required components*
● Extremely organized, well laid-out, easy to follow / ● Organized / ● Mostly organized / ● Lack of organization makes it difficult to follow
● Logbook is detailed, thoughtful, and interesting / ● Logbook is complete / ● Logbook doesn’t seem to include all steps / ● Logbook extremely brief or missing
● Error-free / ● Some minor errors / ● Errors are present, but they do not detract from meaning / ● Errors detract from meaning so that report is difficult to follow
*Required: Question (or Purpose), Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure, Data & Observations, Analysis, Conclusion, Future Directions, Acknowledgements, Bibliography