Science Fair Project Idea using The Scientific Method

Due 9/19/2016: Problem – What are you trying to figure out? Write this in the form of a question.
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Due 9/19/2016: Hypothesis – What do you think you are going to find out?
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Materials – List the materials you will use in the experiment.
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Procedures – Make a detailed list of the steps in your experiment.
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Results – What did you observe when you performed the experiment?
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Conclusion – From what you observed, how would you answer your original question?
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August 22, 2016

Dear Parents:

Neshoba Central Elementary School will hold its science fair on November 29, 2016. Students in 5th grade are required to participate in this important learning experience to help prepare them for the MST in May. We are also required by the State to cover the objectives that students will learn while they are completing their projects. The 5th grade MST is the first in a series of three State science tests that our students are required to take, the next will be in 8th grade and the last in High School – Biology. Please help us give your child the building blocks needed to succeed in Science.

Students may enter one of the following projects:

  • Experiment - a display and an explanation of an experiment which follows the scientific method. Volcanoes, solar systems or any other type models, collections or demonstrations will notbe accepted.
  • Invention – a working model which solves a specific problem or makes a job easier to do. An invention should test a variable and follow the scientific method.

Students are required to select a project that requires experimentation and the use of scientific method and critical thinking skills. This is a major project and will represent two test grades. We are asking you to assist your child in preparing his/her project by guiding students, but not building the project for the student. Any help given to a student must be documented. Student projects are to be completed at home. Group projects are not allowed. Remember, a good project is planned and developed over a period of time. Start planning now! All projects are to be brought to the school for display on November 28, 2016. The 3 best projects in each category will be given ribbons and selected to represent the school at the District V Science Fair at Mississippi State University in the spring of 2017.

The science teachers will discuss possible projects, guidelines, and rules governing the competition. We will assist your child as much as possible during class. This assistance is limited to answering questions, steering him/her to resources, offering encouragement, and keeping the student on track. However, students must complete their projects at home.

Biological and Zoological projects are accepted at the discretion of the student’s teacher. However, live and/or preserved specimens may not be displayed at the science fair, pictures only.

A science fair project is not an experiment or demonstration that is done one time knowing what the results will be before it is completed. It must be an explanation of a series of experiments, which follows the scientific method. A science fair project will be accompanied by a journal with a log of dates and results of the experiments performed and will be presented on a display board with an oral presentation of the project and its results at the science fair. Prior approval must be granted before you use any human, animal, or insect in your project. Ms. Seward will approve all project ideas.

A list of Science Fair categories, guidelines, and project ideas has been included in this packet. Please take a moment to review these with your child in order to generate topic ideas. Please review our school websites for more helpful information. Science Fair Proposals will be due for review on 9/19/2016, and thenfollow up on 9/26/2016 and final project idea due 10/3/2016.

Thank you,

5th grade Science teachers and Ms. Seward

Student Timeline for Science Fair

This may be the first time you have attempted a long range project so it is very important to prepare a schedule and stay organized. Science fair projects often require several weeks for completion. Don’t let a due date that is many weeks away throw your planning off; there are many things to do. Here is a suggested schedule that provides ample time to complete all phases of the project:

CHECK OFF / WEEKS / WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING
1 - 2 / Identify your topic and establish a purpose.
3 - 4 / Use the library to research your topic.
3 - 4 / Plan experiment and collect supplies.
5 - 6 / Conduct experiment and collect data/results.
7 / Analyze results and establish conclusion.
8 / Write the research paper and abstract.
9 - 10 / Build your display and practice presentation.

Adapted from: How to Prepare a Science Project [United Learning 1993

Science Fair Do’s and Don’ts

Do………..

  1. Make sure your project is an experiment – Not a Model, Demonstration or Collection.
  2. Be neat, creative, and thorough.
  3. Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
  4. Ask and adult to help, but be sure it is obvious that YOU did the project.
  5. Use graphs, charts, samples, pictures, etc to show your data.
  6. Keep the backboard and entire exhibit the right size (72” maximum height from floor and 42 “ wide)
  7. Make sure you can discuss your experiment with the judges.
  8. Have an eye-catching title and display board.
  9. HAVE FUN! Pick a project that you are interested in.

Don’t……….

  1. Make models of volcanoes or the solar system. These are not experiments!
  2. Have food, plants, chemicals, mold, or anything living with your display. You may only bring pictures of these.
  3. Have sharp items.
  4. Have fire or highly flammable materials.
  5. Have combustible liquids or gases.
  6. Have machinery.
  7. Have lasers.
  8. Have any heat that is above 100 degrees.
  9. Have electricity in excess of 12 volts.
  10. Have wet cell batteries (ex. Car batteries)
  11. Have soil or waste materials.
  12. Have sensitive photographs (surgical tech., dissections)
  13. Have dry ice.
  14. Have glass objects.
  15. Have photos of faces.

Useful websites:

Neshoba Central Elementary

2017 Science Fair

This packet belongs to:______

Important Dates:

Monday, August29Information packet sent home

Monday, September 19Science Fair Project Idea due (problem and hypothesis)

Monday, September 26Follow-up to Science Fair Project Idea due (problem and hypothesis)

Monday, October 3Final Science Fair Project Idea due

Monday, November 28Completed Science Fair Project and paper due

Tuesday, November 29Judging of Projects

Tuesday, Novermber 29Family Science Night (4pm to 6 pm)

*****Projects are Mandatory for 5th grade*********