EARNING A $50,000 EARNING A $50,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPCOLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

OR…. OR….

TEACH YOUR TEACH YOUR STUDENTS SUCCESS STUDENTS SUCCESS

THROUGH THROUGH SCIENCE FAIRSCIENCE FAIR

EXPERIEMENTAL DESIGN EXPERIEMENTAL DESIGN DIAGRAMDIAGRAM

Teach your students through hands Teach your students through hands on activities how to identify the basic on activities how to identify the basic concepts and use the experimental concepts and use the experimental design diagram.design diagram. HypothesisHypothesis Independent Variable (IV); Manipulated; Independent Variable (IV); Manipulated;

RangeRange Dependent Variable (DV); Responding; Dependent Variable (DV); Responding;

DomainDomain ConstantsConstants Control GroupControl Group Repeated TrialsRepeated Trials

““An effective method for An effective method for teaching students to teaching students to design experiments design experiments begins with concrete begins with concrete

investigations of investigations of phenomena that enable phenomena that enable

students to quickly students to quickly manipulate materials manipulate materials and see the results.”and see the results.”

Students and Research; Practical Strategies for Science Classrooms and Competitions, Cothron,Giese, Rezbz

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN DIAGRAMEXPERIMENTAL DESIGN DIAGRAMTITLETITLE: THE EFFECT OF THE IV ON THE DVHYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS: IFIF THE IV (describe change) thenthen the DV (describe change or action)

I V:the variable that is purposefully changed

Level of IV

(control)the standard for comparing

experimental eff ects

Level of IV (experimental

group A)

Level of IV (experimental

group B)

# of trials # of trials # of trials

DV: the variable that responds to the change

CC: constants; all factors that remain the same and have a fixed value

 

Luanda’s African violet plants never seemed to bloom. While visiting her friend Samantha, she noticed that Samantha’s African violet plants had the most beautiful flowers. After much coaxing, Samantha shared her secret with Luanda, once a week she water the plants with a few drops of liquid fertilizer mixed into the water.

Luanda stopped at the store and bought the liquid fertilizer. She wondered, if Samantha only gave the plants the fertilizer once a week, what would happen if she increased the number of times she administered the fertilizer to the plants.

She grouped her 20 African violet plants into 4 groups. One group would get the recommended amount of fertilizer, which was once/week. Another group would be given fertilizer every day. The third group was treated with the fertilizer solution every other day. And the last group was given fertilizer every three days (treatment-->then wait 2 days-->treatment). All other conditions for the African violets were the same. They were the same species, age, given the same amount of sunlight, and care.

Every day for 21 days Samantha would examine the plants and record the number of blooms.

 

Scenario Scenario

START with the START with the SCIENTIFIC SCIENTIFIC METHODMETHOD

An engaging place to start is at BRAIN POP

http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/beon.html

Review the ScientificReview the Scientific MethodMethod

A step by step tutorial

http://www.panpipes.net/edit6200/index.html

How about a little background on... data

Learn about graphing data by... putting data on a table choosing the proper graph type:

http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/main_pages/experiments/data/data.html

The Most DifficultThe Most Difficult Part of Any Science Part of Any Science

Fair ProjectFair Project

CHOOSING A CHOOSING A TOPIC; TOPIC;

A PROBLEM TO A PROBLEM TO INVESTIGATEINVESTIGATE

A Great Place to Start

http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/ScienceInternet/ScienceFair.html

WAYS TO FIND A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT IDEA

Look at lists of science categoriesPick one that you are interested in and

narrow it down…i.e. psychology

Do boys remember football pictures better than girls?Use your own experiences and turn it into

a project

Have you ever wondered is there a difference between SPF 15 and SPF 30?

Think about current events…

Flooding and sandbags; Drought and plants

As kids think about a Science Fair Project they sometime wonder if their idea is a good one. Here are some pointers, make sure:

1. You Are Interested In The Topic Why do mosquitoes always ‘bite’ me and not

my father or brother? HMMMMMMMMMMM You are able to turn your idea into an experiment

2. You Can Do A Test To Find An Answer To A Question. Don’t do a demonstration or just build

a model.

3. You Can Do It With Only A Little Help From Parents, Teachers, And Friends.

4. It Doesn’t Hurt Or Scare People Or Animals, Including You! Be careful, all vertebrate and microbiology

work needs lots of special forms!

5. It’s A Project That, Even When You Are Done With It, Makes You Think of New Things You Want to Know. Did doing the project, or reading or

seeing what happened make you think of other questions you are curious about?

Another Good Starting Point

http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/

The Internet Public LibraryIPL: Science Fair Project Resource Guide

Are you looking for some help with a science fair project?  If so, then you have come to the right place.  The IPL will guide you to a variety of web site resources, leading you through the necessary steps to successfully complete a science experiment. If you have never done a science fair project before, it has been a while, or you just want to be sure you do a really great job be sure and look at the following websites for tips on what makes a good project before doing anything else. This way you will know ahead of time what will be expected of you.

Understanding the Scientific Method.  It is important to understand the scientific method before beginning a project.

Choosing a topic is the next step. Here you will find a variety of websites some of which ask questions to give you ideas for your project. Others describe the projects step by step.

WHAT IS A SCIENCE PROJECT

http://www.selah.wednet.edu/JHS/Brown/SciProjComponets.html

Each section of the project journal contains a Each section of the project journal contains a description or definition, an example from a description or definition, an example from a mythical project on plant growth, and a section mythical project on plant growth, and a section with sentence starters and spaces for students to with sentence starters and spaces for students to write.write.

WHAT DOES A STUDENT HAVE TO WHAT DOES A STUDENT HAVE TO DO TO COMPLETE A PROJECTDO TO COMPLETE A PROJECT

WHAT DOES A STUDENT HAVE TO WHAT DOES A STUDENT HAVE TO DO TO COMPLETE A PROJECTDO TO COMPLETE A PROJECT

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/moreideas.htm#it

A List of Topics and Ideas

Intermediate Projects (Grades 7 Intermediate Projects (Grades 7 - 9)- 9)PHYSICS PHYSICS  Fire and Burning- what factors affect burning?  Fire and Burning- what factors affect burning?  Fuels and their efficiency in producing energy.  Fuels and their efficiency in producing energy.  Musical instruments- the scientific principles behind them  Musical instruments- the scientific principles behind them  Music vs Noise- difference  Music vs Noise- difference  Air Pressure- Water Pressure  Air Pressure- Water Pressure  Gears- compare efficiencies, effect of different lubricants  Gears- compare efficiencies, effect of different lubricants  Solar Furnace  Solar Furnace  Lenses- effects of curvature, materials on light beams  Lenses- effects of curvature, materials on light beams  Can eggs withstand a greater force from one direction than from Can eggs withstand a greater force from one direction than from

others?  others?  How strong are nylon fishing lines?  How strong are nylon fishing lines?  CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY  Effects of temperature on viscosity of oil, chemical reactions, Effects of temperature on viscosity of oil, chemical reactions,

Brownian movement, burning of different materials.  Brownian movement, burning of different materials.  Testing of consumer products- glues, stain removers, antiseptics, Testing of consumer products- glues, stain removers, antiseptics,

mouthwash, detergents, paper towels, making salt water potable, mouthwash, detergents, paper towels, making salt water potable, removal of pollutants  removal of pollutants 

Effects of sunlight on rubber, ink, paper  Effects of sunlight on rubber, ink, paper  Effects of increased concentrations on the rate of chemical reactions  Effects of increased concentrations on the rate of chemical reactions  Compare the pH levels in mouths of various animals and humans at Compare the pH levels in mouths of various animals and humans at

different times in the day  different times in the day  Compare the surface tension of various liquids  Compare the surface tension of various liquids  Dealing with chemical spills from industry  Dealing with chemical spills from industry  Analyzing snow and rain for pollutants; samples from different Analyzing snow and rain for pollutants; samples from different

locations locations  http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/intermed.html

Authentic Scientific Research Authentic Scientific Research for High School Studentsfor High School Students

Copyright © 2003 Environmental Inquiry, Cornell University and Penn State Universityhttp://ei.cornell.edu

Protocol Planning FormProtocol Planning FormName _________________________________Name _________________________________Date __________________________________Date __________________________________1.1. What is the name of the protocol you will be using?What is the name of the protocol you will be using?2.2. What is the purpose of this protocol? What is the purpose of this protocol? 3.3. Dose/response experimentDose/response experiment4.4. Bioassay on environmental samplesBioassay on environmental samples5.5. Solution purification using ion exchange and/or activated Solution purification using ion exchange and/or activated

charcoal charcoal Other:_____________________________________________________Other:_____________________________________________________

5.5. What question are you hoping to answer using this What question are you hoping to answer using this protocol?protocol?

6.6. What type of samples will you be testing?What type of samples will you be testing?Chemical name _____________________________________________Chemical name _____________________________________________Environmental samples from Environmental samples from ______________________________________________________________________

7.7. Describe the treatments you plan, such as the range of Describe the treatments you plan, such as the range of concentrations that you plan to test.concentrations that you plan to test.

8.8. Describe your replicates of each treatment. Describe your replicates of each treatment. 9.9. What will you be using for a control group?What will you be using for a control group?10.10.What factors will you hold constant? What factors will you hold constant?

Are you getting enough sleep?: AbstractProject TitleAre you getting enough sleep?Project SummaryThis project was designed to allow adolescents keep track of their sleep patterns. Data taken during a one week period (including one weekend) will provide information about not only how much they sleep but when they sleep the most.

http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum96/data.collections/datalibrary/

ScienzFair’s Topics/linksScienzFair’s Topics/linksone of personal favoritesone of personal favorites

http://members.aol.com/ScienzFair/ideas.htm

Project CategoriesJust pick your favorite science to see ideas and

sample projects: Anatomy Animals (Zoology

)Anthropology

Astronomy Behavioral Science

Chemistry

Competitions Computer Science

Consumer Science

Earth Science Economics Education & LearningElectricity &

Mag.Engineering

Environmental Sci.

Food Science

Health & Medicine

Mathematics

Microbiology

Plants (Botany) Physics

ScienzFair’s Link May Be Take youScienzFair’s Link May Be Take youto Useful Toolsto Useful Tools *links change so be careful*links change so be careful

Economics Project: Currency Exchange Rates

Botany Project: Determining Sugar Content of Different

Apples

ScienzFair’s Link May Take you to ScienzFair’s Link May Take you to SubtopicsSubtopics

Behavior

ScienzFair’s Link May Be to an ArticleScienzFair’s Link May Be to an ArticleConcerning One of the SubtopicsConcerning One of the Subtopics

ScienzFair’s Link May Be to ScienzFair’s Link May Be to an Abstractan Abstract

ScienzFair’s Link May Be to anScienzFair’s Link May Be to anExperimental DesignExperimental Design

Remember that these project ideas and outlines are meant to help you complete your own science fair project. But it is DISHONEST and UNETHICAL to copy someone else's project work samples and submit them as if they were your own. That's called plagiarism and it's a fast way to get a failing grade.

ScienzFair’s Has Links for OtherScienzFair’s Has Links for OtherTypes of Competitions AlsoTypes of Competitions Also

MakingMaking Your Science Fair Your Science Fair Project a Winner!Project a Winner!

1. Pick Something You're Interested In Don't pick a project just because you think

it looks easy, or because you have a friend that did the same project last year.

You don't have to do a highly sophisticated project in order to have a good one. A simple project can be a winner just as easily as a complex one.

What’s important is your ability to demonstrate that you understand your project and that you have researched the issues and are knowledgeable of the scientific and technical facts that relate to your project.

2. Don't wait until the last minute to start your project.

To have a winning project you have to spend quite a bit of time thinking about how it should work and planning out how to do it. Winning projects are NOTNOT ones you throw together at the last minute.

3. Do the Work Yourself.

When the judges are standing there, quizzing you, YOU have to know those answers, and the best way to learn them is to have done the work yourself.

4. Don't Get Upset If Your Hypothesis Is Incorrect.

It's more important to understand what DID happen in your experiment that to have had a hypothesis supported.

Alexander Fleming serendipitous discovery of penicillin

5. Keep Accurate Records From Beginning to End .

After your project is completed is NOTNOT the time to go back, relying on memory and trying to construct a project data book.

6. Prepare An Attractive, Informative Display.

Keep your display organized. It should be easy enough to read that that judges and visitors can quickly locate your title, hypothesis, experimental procedures, results and conclusions.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.htmlhttp://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html

http://www.scifair.org/

http://sciencepage.org/scifair.htm

http://mathscience.dadeschools.net/scifair02/default.htm

One Difference Between a Superior One Difference Between a Superior Project and a State Fair ProjectProject and a State Fair Project

STATISTICSSTATISTICS

http://science.northern.edu/scifair/projectfeedback/statistics.html

Takehome Message:  Graphs and averages are

both statistics.  Use them.

http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/

A GREAT PLACE TO A GREAT PLACE TO STARTSTART

http://www.businessbookmall.com/free-stuff-statistics.htm

Free STUFF to Help People Free STUFF to Help People Learn StatisticsLearn Statistics

Free Statistical ToolsFree Statistical Tools

http://www.webstatsoftware.com/

Understanding the Understanding the POWERPOWER of Statisticsof Statistics

Find a Local Statistician to HELPFind a Local Statistician to HELP

http://stat.fsu.edu/flasa/index.html

RemembeRemember it’s not r it’s not if you win if you win or loseor lose