JISD Science Fair2014

5th Grade

What is a Science Fair?

• Your chance to explore – Areas of science you like – Areas you want to know more about– You could be the person that discovers a cure for cancer, or the

person that creates a better tasting broccoli!

• The experience to teach others about your topic – You are the teacher

• Teach adults • Teach your class

• Your chance to learn from others• A Competition

– Compete against your class and grade– Compete against others in 5th grade

• The “Fear Factor” – Helps you overcome fears of talking and presenting your work to

people

The Project• 5th graders must turn in Participation Agreement• Perform an Experiment

Demonstration: Show how a volcano worksExperiment: Test different forces to see which makes a volcano

explode 20 feet high• Be Creative

Don’t do the same ole, same ole• Entry/Proposal forms are due for ALL participants• Must get approval before you begin your project• Weekly assignments

Each scientific method section will be typedOne or two sections due each weekHow to write each assignment given each weekBy the end, your report will be finished

• Projects due December 1, 2014

5th Grade Project Categories

• Life Science – Botany• Life Science – Animal & Human• Chemistry

• Earth Science – – Including geology, mineralogy, oceanography, meteorology,

climatology, seismology, geography, etc.

• Environmental Sciences – – Could include studies that address issues involving pollution of the

environment (air, water and land), sources of pollution, and the control of polluting sources and other areas of ecology

• Physics –– Including areas of force, motion, magnetism, etc.

• Space Science

Mandatory Criteria• Weekly assignments turned in on time • Must be an experiment

– Multiple trials: 3 or more • You may need to perform all trials at the same time if doing a project that involves plants,

traveling, or expensive equipment

• Displaying project– No live plants, animals, human or animal body parts or body fluids– No chemicals or hazardous materials (poisons, knives, dry ice ,etc.)– Final report in front of board– Make an Impression - use fabric or things from experiment

• Project board – 36”x48”– Purchased through school $3.00– All Scientific Method steps displayed in order– Data graphs/charts and Pictures – No name or your face on board

• Typed Report:– Includes all scientific method steps– Includes variable and controls stated– Data graphs/charts and Pictures– Must tell when the experiment will start and end– Acknowledgements and References

Judging• Creative Ability (30 points)

– Focus is on what the student contributed and how creative the approach was to solving the problem

• Scientific Thought/Engineering Goals (30 points)– Is problem clearly stated? – Are variables recognized and defined? Were controls necessary, and if so, were they correctly

used?– Are limitations of the data recognized?– What further research is indicated?

• Thoroughness (15 points)– How completely has the problem been covered?– Are conclusions based on a single experiment or on replication?

• Skill (15 points)– Does the project exhibit evidence of the student her/himself having the requisite skills necessary

to design, implement, and complete the project? Is there evidence the student worked largely on her or his own?

– What assistance was received?• Clarity (10 points)

– Can the student explain the purpose, procedure, and conclusions?– Does the presentation suggest evidence of the student having prepared the report by her/himself?

So Why Should You Participate?

• You have the unique opportunity to:– Compete against other students in your class and in your

grade• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place award for each category

– Compete against other students in 5th grade• Overall winner will be selected in each category• Overall winner goes on to district fair

– Compete in the JISD District Science Fair in December• Competing against other 5th graders from Caddo Elementary, Elder

Elementary, Plum Creek Elementary, North Joshua Elementary and Staples Elementary

Are Are youyou going to going to participate in the participate in the

Science Fair?Science Fair?

Remember: Parent Remember: Parent Permission Form and Permission Form and

Category Selection are Category Selection are due September 15due September 15thth