PJHS Science Fair

SCIENCE FAIR MATERIALS

Name______
Period______

Teacher______

Grade_____

PJHS Science Fair

Project Due Date is ______.

Even if you are absent on this due date, your project is due.

It might seem like the Final Due Date is forever away….but you will have due dates throughout the project! Your teacher will help you fill out the due dates for each portion of your project in your agenda or on another sheet of paper.

Science Fair Due Dates

______,Science Fair Project Completed

______, PJHS Judging

______, HISEF COMPETITION

______, State COMPETITION

WHAT’S IN AND WHAT’S OUT FOR SCIENCE FAIR THIS YEAR:

WHAT’S IN / WHAT’S OUT
Choosing a Science Fair Topic that is on the science fair topic list or one that has been discussed with your teacher. / Choosing the Science Fair Project you did last year (or the year before).
Choosing a Science Fair Project that involves mold, dangerous chemicals (including battery acid), dangerous activities, or body parts (including teeth)*.
Putting a plant in the closet or the dark or feeding it orange juice.
Completing an actual experiment that involves data collection over a minimum of 3 trials. / Making a volcano or rock collection.
Completing an experiment and the data from the web.
Getting your parent’s and your teacher’s approval of your topic. / Changing your topic after your teacher has approved it.
Completing your own Science Fair Project. / Working with 4 other students and then blaming them when the project is not completed on time.
Keeping your Science Fair Folder/Packet for the entire 2nd and 3rd Quarter. / Losing your Science Fair Folder one week before the PJHS Science Fair.
Having a “thumb drive” to transport electronic information from school to home. / Telling your teacher on the due date that your entire Science Fair Project is done, but it’s on the computer at home and your printer is out of ink.
Completing each section of your Science Fair Project on time. / Panicking because you did not complete each section of your Science Fair Project on time!

*These projects are prohibited. Other project topics involving humans (including surveys) and animals require a lengthy approval process.

PJHS Science Fair

Student Worksheet and Parent Permission Slip

Teacher Period

Student Name

Category: Circle one of the categories below. Your project must fit grade level curriculum.

All Grade Levels

Math/Computers

Medicine /Health

Engineering/Inventions

Behavioral/Social Science

Seventh Grade

Environmental/Ecology

Earth/Space

Eighth Grade

Life Science (Genetics)

Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics)

Research Question:

Objective of the Experiment:

Independent Variable (Manipulated):

Dependent Variable (Responding):

Control:

Constants:

Hypothesis (If/Then/Because Statement):

Possible Materials (Be specific and include approximate costs.)

Procedure: Write a brief paragraph describing how you will carry out your experiment.

Student Signature

Parent Permission

Teacher Approval (initial)

“Turning My Topic into My Project” Worksheet

Now, you need to turn the topic into a question, the question into a hypothesis, and the hypothesis into an experiment. Fill in the blanks below to begin organizing your project.

My topic is: ______

The question I asked is: ______

______

This is how I want to study my topic:______

______

Draw a check mark on each line if the sentence is true for your project.

____ My question cannot be answered with “yes” or “no.”

____ I will be interested in this topic long enough to complete my project.

____ I will be able to complete this experiment at least two weeks before the science fair.

____ I will be able to get the permission I need to do this project.

____ I will be able to get the equipment and resources necessary to complete my project.

____ I do not already know the answer to my question.

Answer the following only if seeking IRB approval.

____ I have specified the exact type of subjects for my experiment.

____ I will be able to use more than one subject.

____ I will be able to locate the subjects I need to use for the project.

Variables and Formulating a Hypothesis Worksheet

Variables

List all the variables you will need to consider in your experiment:

______

What is the independent variable in your experiment? (What are you going to change?) ______

Units of measurement ______

What is the dependent variable? (What will change as a result of the independent variable?) ______

Units of measurement ______

Hypothesis

Now that you have completed your background information collection and have an understanding of how a change in the manipulated (independent) variable might affect the responding (dependent) variable, you are ready for the next step in the Scientific Inquiry Method. This is called “Developing the Hypothesis”.

The hypothesis is one sentence that indicates what you expect to happen to the responding (dependent) variable as a result of changing the manipulated (independent) variable. Your hypothesis should also include why you think the change will occur.

If ______then it will______because______.

Example: If a rocket fin is changed from a rectangular shape to an oval shape then it will cause the rocket to fly higher because it lowers the amount of friction.

Write some ‘If-Then’ statements in the spaces below. (Think about the variables you listed above and which ones you should test.) For example: If this (state your independent variable), then this will happen (state how your dependent variable will change).

If ______,

then ______.

The hypothesis of the experiment is that______will

cause ______.

It is hypothesized that if ______then ______will result.

In the experiment, it is hypothesized that there will be a direct relationship between ______and______.

Now combine parts of the statements above to make the best hypothesis for your experiment.

______
Background Research

As you complete your background research, complete the appropriate forms below to help you remember where you found your information. It is very important to be able to give the original author of your information the credit they deserve for putting the information together.

Book

Example: Ashby, R. (2003). The Earth and Its Moon. North Mankato, Minnesota: Smart Apple Books.

Author’s Last Name / First Initial / Middle Initial / (Publication Date) /

Book title

/ Place of Publication: / Publisher / Pages Used
Ashby / R / (2003) / The Earth and Its Moon / North Mankato, MN / Smart Apple Media / 34

Periodical: Magazine or Newspaper

Magazine Article: Example: Svoboda, E. (2006, June). Flawless Man-made Diamonds. Popular Science, 43, 60 - 61.

Author Last Name(s) / First Initial / Middle Initial / (Publication Date) / Article title /

Magazine/Scholarly title

/ Volume number / Page Numbers
Svoboda / E / (2006, June) / Flawless Man-made Diamonds. / Popular Science / 43 / 60-61

Internet

Example:NASA (2007, August 3). HelpingPhoenixLand. Accessed August 20, 2008 from

Agency or Author Last Name / First Initial / Middle Initial / (Publication date) / Article Title / Date Accessed / Article URL
NASA / (2007, August 3) / HelpingPhoenixLand / August 20, 2007 /

Interview

Example: Smith, Stephanie. (2008). Phone interview with the author on 4 August 2008. Gilbert, AZ.

Agency or Author Last Name / First Name / (Date of Interview) / Communication Type / Location
Smith / Stephanie / (2008 Aug. 4) / Phone Interview / Gilbert,AZ

References

Type a list (SAVE it) of all your sources of background information following the above formats. This is your list of references, also called a bibliography.

Materials

List all materials, supplies, equipment, tools, etc. that you will need for this project. Remember that you will need enough materials to perform at least 3 trials of your experiment. Add or delete things from this list later when you perform the experiment so that the list you include in your final project is correct. Brand name used, amounts, quantities, etc., should be used to identify your materials. Type and SAVE Materials List.

You may use bullets when listing your materials.

______
______
______
______
______

Procedures

Write a list of all the steps necessary to run the experiment (do not use personal pronouns). Another person should be able to follow your procedure without ever having to talk to you, so make it very detailed. The procedures must be written in a numbered step format.

Example:

Collect necessary materials.
Record initial weights of …

List your Procedures here, and then type them on the computer (save your work)!!

______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______

Data Table

Record data as you experiment!

A data table will help you organize all the data you collect while you are actually doing your experiment. Draw a data table (in pencil) below so that you have spaces to record (write in) your data.

Not all data tables will be the same, but here are a few guidelines:

1. Label each data table with a title.

2.Each column should have a heading (with units, if appropriate).

3.Data from all 3 trials should be entered.

4. Leave a column for averages, which you will calculate after you collect all your data.

5.When you have all your data and your averages, your teacher will show you how to create a Data Table on the computer.

Sketch your data table below (the grid system is just there to help you keep your lines straight) and use it to record data throughout your experiment.

Data Graph

1.Your teacher will show you how to graph your data using a computer.

2.Decide whether a line graph or a bar graph is better for your data.

**Bar graphs work well for individual events (such as height of a launched rocket or size of rock candy crystals).

**Line graphs are used to plot changes over time (such as the shortening or lengthening of shadows measured each day for one month or the height of grass leaves).

For all graphs:

Label the top of the graph with a title that includes the dependent variable first and the independent variable second along with units of measurement, if applicable:

Example 1: Height of Rocket Flight (meters) vs. Rocket Fin Shape (no units)

Example 2: Height of Grass Leaves (cm) planted in overcrowded conditions over 28 days.

For Bar Graphs:

1. Label the x-axis with the manipulated variable and its units.

2. Label the y-axis with the responding variable and its units.

3. Number the axes appropriately.

4. Use a key to identify the individual bars appropriately.

For Line Graphs:

Remember you are graphing the averages from your trials. Do not try to graph all nine measurements and the averages because your graph will be too busy.
Label the x-axis as Time and identify the units (days, hours, etc.)
Label the y-axis with the responding variable and its units.
Number the axes appropriately.
Use a key to identify the lines appropriately.

Data Summary

Summarize the data you have collected in your Data Table in a few sentences. This section should not include any conclusions. Only state the facts from your data table. This information should directly correlate to your graph and data table.

Example of a Data Summary:

The rocket with the rectangular fins flew an average of 25 meters high. The rocket with fins shaped as a parallelogram flew and average of 20 meters high. The rocket with the oval shaped fins flew an average of 10 meters high.

Conclusion

The conclusion is a few short paragraphs that summarize the experiment and relates it to the background information and the hypothesis. In addition, it should describe how the experiment might be improved upon. Before writing a rough draft of your conclusion, fill in the information in each area below. These are the things that you will then organize and summarize in the conclusion.

What was the hypothesis? ______

Was the hypothesis supported by the data or not?______

When theindependent variable was applied, what happened to the dependent variable? ______

______

Is there anything else that could have caused the change in the dependent variable? ______

______

Write a brief summary of the result. ______

______

Did the results make sense? ______

Are the results valid (Did the experiment follow the requirements of controlled experimental design with just one manipulated variable and other possible variables kept constant?) ______

Are the results consistent and reliable (Were the results accurate because several trials were run obtaining similar results each time?)______

List data averages that will support the experiment’s answers to validity and reliability. ______

______

List at least two errors that might have happened during the experiment and explain how they may

have effected the results. These might be controlled variables that could not be controlled.

______

What could be done differently if the experiment was repeated (either to minimize errors or help

clarify the results)? ______

______

How could the hypothesis be refined or improved based on the data that was collected?

______

How were the results different from what was expected? ______

______

What is the importance of this experiment? What impact could the results have? ______

______

What other questions remain now that the experiment is finished? ______

______

What new question(s) could be asked as the basis of a new experiment based on the results of the

experiment? ______

______

Abstract: (COMPLETE THIS AT THE VERY END OF THE PROJECT)

An abstract is a short summary of your science fair project.It should contain approximately 250 words and include the following:

Introduction: This is where the purpose for doing the science fair project is explained. Explain why the science fair project is important, not just to you, but to others.Motivate the reader to finish the abstract and read the entire paper or display board.

Hypothesis: Identify the hypothesis that was investigated without using personal pronouns.

Procedures:Explainthe approach for investigating the problem, but do not go into detail about materials. Briefly describe the most important variables - if room is available.

Results:Did the data support the hypothesis? Did the data collected make sense? Be specific and use numbers to describe the results. Try to avoid using vague terms like "most" or "some."

Conclusions: State what the science fair project contributes to the selected topic and what future research might be based on the experiment.

Display Board

It is important for scientists to communicate the findings of their research. One of the ways this is done is on a display board like the one you will create for your experiment.

Your display board must include the following:

Title
Problem Statement (Question)
Background Information
Hypothesis
Manipulated (Dependent) and Responding (Independent) Variable
Materials
Procedure
Data—Includes a table, a graph, and a data summary
Conclusion
Bibliography (References)
Pictures, if you have any (must not provide identify of students ex: names/faces)
Future Research

The most important objective for your board is to effectively communicate the facts about your project. It can only achieve that objective if it's easy to read. Here are some suggestions for fonts and font size.

Stick with traditional fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, or similar typefaces.
Use italics or bold for emphasis, not for all the text.
Place captions below the pictures. If they are on top of a picture; they will be difficult to read.
USING ALL CAPS MAKES WRITING MUCH HARDER TO READ. Please use upper and lower case letters (called “sentence case” in MS Word)
Don't use reverse type (white text on a dark background).It is hard to read.
Use black characters on a white (or pastel) background.
Artistic Fonts are also very difficult to read.
Use no more than two or three different fonts on your board. Times New Roman for body copy and Arial for headings makes for a nice combination.

Text Size Suggestions for a Typical Science Project Display Board

Title 150+ / You want your title to be visible from across a room!
Headings 32+ / Should be easily readable from five feet away by someone just walking by.
Subheadings 20+ / This text is smaller than headings, but more noticeable than main text size.
Main Text 16 – 18 / This is a comfortable text size for someone who comes closer to read more.
Captions 12 – 16 / It's OK to make these a bit smaller than the body text if necessary.

PJHS SCIENCE FAIR DISPLAY BOARD SET-UP

Before you attach anything permanently to your board, remember your sections should be in order of the scientific method. Once you are satisfied, attach them neatly to the board.

Your poster should be eye-catching, but not so overdone as to detract from your experiment and its results.

Keep in mind, your grade is not based on the beauty and color of your board. Actual projects cannot accompany the science fair board (plants, rocks, etc.). If you want to show what happened to your experiment, you may take pictures or attach small pieces of the experiment (nails, rocks) to your board.

Display Board Checklist