Los Angeles County Science Fair Project

Writing and Research Guide

Science Experiment

Packet #2

Compiled by Kimberly Paggett Willis

6-8 Grade Students should complete the following for the Experiment/Analysis Steps for the Science Fair Project:

q  Finalize Hypothesis

q  Design Experiment

q  Define Experimental Groups

o  Define Controls

o  Define Constants

o  Define Variables

q  Design Study

q  Write Experiment Proposal

q  Develop Method for Data Collection

q  Daily Experiment Log (bound notebook ONLY)

Name______

Date______

Class Section______

Experimental Design: Pre-Lab

Complete this ExD planning form BEFORE beginning a lab

Title: The Effect of … (IV) on … (DV). (write last)

Independent Variable: Name the variable that you will purposefully change during the experiment; include units. Indicate the levels of IV in the columns below. (# of minutes, different temperatures, levels of fertilizer, types of soil…etc)

Dependent Variable: Name the variable will be measured, that responds to changes in the IV. (Population growth; Dissolved oxygen level, plant height, habitat preference, etc…)

HYPOTHESIS: What you think will occur to the Dependent Variable (DV) as you change the Independent Variable (IV) – the cause effect relationship. Use an “if...then… format. Your educated guess MUST be testable.

Control: What is the experimental group you will use for comparison?

Repeated Trials: How many numbers per group; how many times will the experiment be performed?

Constants: List everything that will be kept the same in the experiment - (light, temperature, wind level, noise level, amount of water, etc…)

SKETCH OF EXPERIMENTAL SETUP, with labels: (put on back)

Experimental Design: Example

Title: The Effect of Different Amounts of Fertilizer on the Plant growth

Independent Variable: Amount of Fertilizer
1 ml fertilizer/L water / 5 ml fertilizer/L water / 10 ml fertilizer/L water / 15 ml fertilizer/L water / 20 ml fertilizer/L water

Dependent Variable: Plant height, from base to highest leaf where it attached to stem.

HYPOTHESIS: If 10 ml f fertilizer/L of water (recommended amount) is added to the bean plants, then the bean plants should grow taller than any other bean plants.

Control: Plants with no fertilizer added

Repeated Trials: 5 bean plants for each concentration, 5 bean plants for the control

Constants: Brand of fertilizer, direction and level of light, wind level, species of plant, time & amount of watering, type of soil and container

SKETCH OF EXPERIMENTAL SETUP, with labels:

Set-up at beginning of experiment (each concentration group = 5 plants)

Name(s) ______Period: ___ Date______

Step-by Step Design

1. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE(S): In the left column, list the independent variable(s) that you

will change in your project. In the right column, list the levels that you will be testing. You must list at least 3 variable levels. See the example below.

Independent Variable(s) / Variable levels
Example: volume of water used on plants / 0 mL/day, 5mL/day, 10 mL/day (3 levels)

2. CONTROLS: In the left column, list all the parts of the experiment that you will control, or keep the same in every trial. In the right column, describe how it will be the same. List at least five controls.

Controls / Controls
Example:
1.  type of pot
2.  type of water
3.  temperature of water
4.  diameter of pot
5.  type of soil / 1.  Terra cotta pot
2.  Bottled Evian water
3.  20 degrees Celsius
4.  10 cm diameter
5.  home depot potting soil

3. DEPENDENT VARIABLE: In the left column, list the dependent variable that you will measure

as the results of your experiment. In the right column, explain how you will measure it, what tools you will use, and what unit you will use.

Dependent Variable / Method, tools, and unit
Example: The height of the plant / ·  On day one, measure height of plant in cm, using a ruler. Measure from top of soil to top of unsupported plant. (“Beginning height”)
·  After 10 days of watering, measure plant height again using same method, unit, and tool. (“Ending height”)
·  Subtract Ending height – beginning height to calculate plant growth. (cm)

4. NUMBER OF TRIALS: In the left column, list the number of times you will test each variable level (at least 3). In the right column, list the TOTAL number of trials for the entire experiment.

(Total # of trials = # of variable levels x # of trials per variable level)

# of trials per variable level / TOTAL # of trials
Example: 5 / 5 trials/level x 3 levels = 15 total trials

5. NOTES ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE:

What materials did you use?

What additional materials will you need to perform the actual experiment?

What worked really well or really easily?

What didn’t work so well or didn’t go very easily?

What changes did you (or will you) have to make to your procedure?

In the space below, write any other comments about your experience and how you can make it better when you perform the actual experiment.

6. WHAT DOES THE EXPERIMENT LOOK LIKE? In the space below, draw a picture you of measuring your dependent variable during the experiment. Include all necessary tools and label each tool. If you prefer, take a photo during “playtime” and paste it below. Label all materials.

Parent Signature

Created by Anne F. Maben, AP Environmental Science Teacher, Jordan HS, LBUSD