Science Project Guidelines/Rubric 2015-2016

Problem/Question

Be sure the topic of your selected problem is reasonable enough to actually be tested by you.

You MAY NOT do projects involving consumer science (which product works better).

Research

Research your topic. Find at least 3 sources. Remember sources must be reliable, no google.

Write at least one paragraph summarizing your research.

Bibliography

Please note three sources you used in gathering information about your topic.

Hypothesis

After researching their chosen topic of study, scientists are ready to formulate their hypothesis. This is an educated guess of what they think will be the solution to their problem. They also make sure that they properly control the variables of their experiment, being sure to test only one at a time.

Write a hypothesis for your chosen problem. It must be in the form of an If . . . then statement. (ex. If a plant is given fertilizer, then it will grow faster.)

DO NOTwrite a hypothesis that begins with “I think. . .”

Variables

Independent Variable- This is the variable you are testing. You will have only 1 independent variable.

Dependent Variable - This is the variable that responds to the change of your manipulated variable and is represented by the data you are collecting. You will have only 1 dependent variable.

Constants- These are any factors that are not being tested. For example, if you were testing the effect of fertilizer on plant growth, you would use the same type of plants, the same soil, give the same amount of water and sunlight, etc. These would be your controls. You will have several constants.

Materials

List the materials you will need to complete your procedure, being very specific about each item.

With each item, be sure to include the amount you will need, using metric units where appropriate (ex: 3 ivy plants, 3-15cm. pots, etc.)

If you are using potting soil, you MUST indicate on your material list that it is commercially prepared soil (the kind you buy at a garden center).

Procedure

List the steps in the procedure you will use to complete your experiment.

Each step should be written in a complete sentence and numbered.

Your procedure needs to be VERY DETAILED!! Let someone else read your procedure and see if they follow each step exactly how you would. If they do not, your procedures need to be more detailed.

Be sure to include instructions to repeat the experiment several times to get accurate data.

If there are any safety precautions that need to be taken when doing your experiment, these should also be included.

Data Collection

Draw the data table you will use to record the data you collect during your experiment.

The data table should be neatly drawn with a ruler.

Remember that the first column contains the manipulated variable and the remaining columns are the responding variable.

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FINAL PROJECT DUE FRIDAY DECEMBER 4!

CONTINUE READING ON BACK… SIGN AND RETURN BOTTOM PORTION.

Experiment and Analysis

While you are conducting your experiment, you should record your data in your data table that you created. Then, after you have conducted your experiment, you need to graph your data.

Your graph should be done neatly! You can do it by hand or create a graph on your computer.

Be sure to include a title, appropriate labels, and a key, if needed.

Conclusions

Write a concluding paragraph stating what you have found. The conclusion should be written in complete sentences (at least 5).

In your paragraph, be sure to summarize your results, tell whether your hypothesis was proven or not and why, and explain anything that went wrong or needed to be changed.

Discovery Education Board – DUE FRIDAY, DECEMEBER 4

Create a discovery education board of your project.

Create a heading for each part of your experiment. Be sure to include everything form the rubric below (Problem, Research, Hypothesis, Variables, Materials, Procedures, Experiment/Data, Conclusion)

School Science Fair- Optional to enter. Fair is beginning of January. Must create a tri-fold board display. Extra credit for entering (extra major grade 100!)

Science Fair Project Rubric

Points Each
Problem/Research/Hypothesis / 1. Reasonable and Testable / 5
2. Research and bibliography / 15
3. Clear statement of hypothesis in an “If.. then…because..” statement / 5
Variables, Materials, and Procedure / 4. IV, DV, and Constants Stated / 15
5. Materials are all listed / 5
6. Procedures clearly stated. Easy to follow. / 10
Experiment/Data / 7. Thoroughness of experimentation or development used to reach objectives; proper recording of data in a data table and/or graph. / 15
Conclusion / 8. Conclusions consist with the data obtained and with the relevant principles of science (if not, is there an adequate explanation of the inconsistency) / 15
Project Presentation – Discovery Education Board / 9. Quality and clarity of the display, including the organization and presentation of data / 15
TOTAL SCORE (max = 100) / 100

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Name ______Class Period ______

I am signing that I have read the project guidelines, I understand that this is to be completed outside of school, and is a major grade due Friday, December 4th.

______

Student SignatureParent Signature

Are you working with a partner (circle) Yes or No If yes, who? ______

Do you plan to enter the school fair? (circle) Yes or No