qve science fair information packet

11/6/2010 Student/Parent

2009-2010 QVEScience Fair

Information PacketGrade 5


Quail Valley ElementaryPresents

2009-2010 Campus Science Fair!

12/1/2009

Dear Parents/Caregivers:

It is that time of year when we begin to turn our attention toward district-wideacademic challenges such as the annual FBISD Elementary Science Exposition. Inpreparation for this event, Quail Valley Elementary will host our own campus science fairfor Kindergarten-6th grade students during the week of January 19, 2010.

Participation for all 4th and 5th grade students at QVE is REQUIRED as part of ourcampus-wide effort to promote student achievement in science. Information on thecampus fair, including specific project criteria and guidelines, is included in this packet.Please read and discuss this information carefully with your child. It is critical thatstudents meet and follow all criteria and guidelines. It is also important for students tocreate projects that reflect their own interests and workmanship. (Parents are encouragedto support, but not participate in, their student’s project.)

Best of division winners from each FBISD elementary campus will have theopportunity to display their projects in the district Elementary Science Exposition onFebruary 9, 2010. This is a significant honor that will be memorable for years to come!Should your child’s project qualify for this exposition, you will be contacted in writing onor before January 28, 2010.

Please encourage your student(s) to begin thinking about possible topics forinvestigation. We are confident that the students at QVE are the best and brightest in FortBend! We look forward to seeing the wonderful, creative efforts that they will bring tothis year’s fair.

If you find that you have questions or concerns at any time during this process,please feel free to contact our campus science fair coordinators at:Mrs. Janelle Ranford (5th Grade) [[email protected]]Mrs. Debra Nork (4th Grade) [[email protected]]

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

Mrs. RanfordMrs. Nork


PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN:

I have reviewed the QVE Science Fair information with my child andunderstand that a project MUST be submitted on January 19, 2010(REQUIRED). I further acknowledge that my child understands his/herresponsibility to complete much of the work for his/her project at home,according to the enclosed timeline. I also understand that the presentationof this project may be counted as an ELA listening/speaking grade, anELA writing grade, and a science process skills grade.

____________________________________ _____________Parent/Guardian Signature Date

_______________________________ ___________Student Signature Date


SCIENCE FAIR OPPORTUNITIES

The Science Fair provides students an opportunity to:

� develop scientific and mathematical skills and processes;

� Experience learning through inquiry;

� experience the hands-on, minds-on approach to investigations; and

� develop a positive attitude about themselves and their work.

The Science Fair and Expo provides an opportunity for students to integrate reading, writing andstudy/research skills with science. Furthermore, these events provide a means by which theschool and community can work together toward a common goal of promoting science literacy.

PARENT’S ROLE

The parent:

• supports their child’s desire to participate in the science fair;

• encourages their child to investigate and/or illustrate a principle, concept, or phenomenonin a positive atmosphere; and

• ensures their child’s project adheres to the designated guidelines and timeline.


Guidelines for Elementary Projects

Fort Bend ISD does not require participation by students in any science fair. However,students are encouraged to participate and may be required to do so by their classroom teacherwith prior approval from the principal. This is a campus-based decision.

In order for a student's project to enter a fair, the project must meet all rules andguidelines, and must have prior approval from the student's teacher or the building's sciencefair chairperson. Students whose projects are selected to represent their school at the DistrictScience Exposition must turn in a completed district entry form to the building's sciencechairperson.

Specific Grade Level Requirements

Entrants:

Grades 4 and 5:• Students must work individually in Grade 5.• Students may work individually in Grade 4 –OR-• Pairs of students may work on projects together in 4th Grade, with teacher approval.

However, no more than two students may work on any one project.

Grading Procedures:

Grades 4 and 5:*Students may receive grades on the portion of the project completed at school (i.e. in-classpresentation), as determined by each teacher. At QVE, this project may be counted as an

ELA speaking/listening grade, an ELA writing grade, and/or a science process skillsgrade.


Criteria for Science Investigation Projects

Entries must illustrate clearly the steps of the scientific method:

A. Identify a problem for investigation (written as a question);B. Read, research and provide a journal of information gathered;C. State a hypothesis related to the problem (written as an “If-then” statement)

( Ex: If I give a plant more light, then it will grow taller.)D. Prepare a list of materials needed and procedures to follow for an investigation;E. Conduct the investigation;F. Collect, organize, and sequence data; (include graphs, charts, tables, photos, etc.)G. Determine results and state the conclusion;I. Design and construct a display reflecting research and the process of investigation

Examples of experiments:1. Does (wing design) (size) (type of paper) affect the flight (time) (distance) of a paper

airplane?2. Does filter material affect how well muddy water is cleaned?3. Does the packing material affect how well a raw egg is protected?

PLEASE NOTE:

The project MUST reflect the steps of the scientific method. Therefore,

Model/Report projects will NOT be accepted.

Examples of projects that will not be allowed include:

• Models of volcanoes, the solar system, etc., accompanied by reportson these topics

• Research reports on global warming, recycling, etc.

Students are expected to investigate and test a hypothesis—not just researchand report information. Thank you!


Student Guidelines for Project Displays

Your project display should be neat, well organized, and self-explanatory. The materialsused to construct your display may be hardboard, cardboard, thin sheets of plywood, corkboard, or a commercially bought display board. There is no minimum size for the display.However, you must strictly adhere to the restrictions placed on the maximum size of thedisplay.

Maximum display size (set up) must be limited to:

Display Restrictions:A. Liquids, food, accessible chemicals (including household products), gases, or open

flames may not be displayed. Wrappers may be used on displays instead.B. Controlled or illegal substances, including drugs, alcohol, or tobacco may not be

displayed.C. Animals and animal parts (exception: hair, nails and teeth) may not be displayed.

Pictures or student-made models may be used instead.D. Micro-organisms, molds, or fungi cultures may not be displayed. Pictures may be used

instead.E. Knives or any other sharp objects should not be displayed. Use plastic items instead of

glass ones when possible.F. Liquids MAY NOT be used as part of a display. They may be simulated by using blue

plastic wrap, etc.

Front to back – 30 inchesSide to side – 36 inchesTop to bottom – 36 inches


Guidelines for Investigations Involving Live Animals

Investigations involving live animals is acceptable if strict adherence to the guidelines setby the National Science Teachers Association (Science Teacher, September 1980) arefollowed:

A. Students who intend to conduct research involving animals must obtain written approvalof their teacher and the Science Mathematics Chairperson prior to beginning the project.

B. All aspects of animal care and treatment shall be supervised by a qualified individualwho will ensure proper standards are being maintained.

C. Supervisors and students should be familiar with appropriate literature on the care andhandling of living organisms. Practical training in learning these techniques isencouraged.

D. Of primary importance is the maintenance of good animal health and the provision ofoptimal care based on an understanding of the life habits of each species. Experimentalprocedures conducted on vertebrate animals shall include only those which do notinvolve pain or discomfort to the animal.

E. Project report must include documentation that experimentation on a living organism iswithin acceptable ranges that causes no harm to the organism. This documentation canbe as simple as a note verifying a phone conversation with a local veterinarian or awritten notation from a reference book.


QVE 2009-2010

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION PROJECT TIMELINE

TASK SuggestedCompletion Date

1. Select a problem to investigate.State the problem as a question.

DUE TO TEACHERBY 12/10/2009

Investigation topics mustbe turned in for approvalbefore continuing work athome.

2. Read and research. Record ALL notes andinformation (data) in a project journal(composition book, spiral notebook, student-created book, etc. ) that is dedicated ONLY to thisproject.

Learn as much as you can about your topic byreading books, magazines, Internet searches,interviews, etc. Write down the titles and authorsof all sources you use for later reference. Beneat, and label each page of your journal with atitle, date, etc. for easy reference.

Complete at homeduring the week of12/07/09-12/13/09

3. Write a hypothesis.This is an “educated guess.” What do you think

will happen? Write this as an “If—Then” statement.


4. List the procedures to follow.List all the steps you will take to complete yourinvestigation. Remember that it is important tocontrol variables. You should only change ONEthing in your experiment; everything else should bekept the same. Remember also to repeat trials atleast 3 times, if possible, to make your data morereliable.



5. List and gather material (s) needed. Complete at homeduring the week of12/14/09-12/20/09

6. Investigate and collect data.(Conduct your actual experiment.)Data can include photographs, drawings/sketches,measurements, observation tables/charts, othernumerical information, physical artifacts, etc. Writedown ALL of your observations and other dataneatly in your project journal. Remember that thejudges will not be with you while you are actuallydoing the project so you must keep careful records toshow us what happened.

Complete at homebetween

12/21/09 -1/5/10

(THIS ASSIGNMENTCONTINUES DURING

WINTER BREAK)

7. Organize and sequence data and results.Organize the data into charts, graphs, tables, etc. asappropriate. Look for patterns, unusual occurrences,and/or other evidence that helps you to make senseof what happened during your investigation.


1/5/10-1/10/10

8. Draw conclusions.Use the data to determine what happened duringyour investigation. Explain the data to theaudience—What does it all mean? Be sure to tell ifyour hypothesis was accepted (correct) or rejected(incorrect). WHY?


1/05/10-1/10/10

9. Design and construct a display using theresearch data.The display board IS your science fair report. Itshould tell the story of your project from beginning toend, clearly and neatly. Be sure to includethe project’s title, introduction/purpose, statement ofthe problem/question, hypothesis, list of materials,list of procedures, results/data (including graphs,charts, tables, photos, etc.), conclusions, andreferences. It is also a good idea to include astatement of significance (Why is this projectimportant to you? Why might it be important to otherpeople?), and a section on future studies (What othertopics/questions would you like to investigate in thefuture as a result of this project?)

NOTE: The final display MUST meet the sizerequirements listed in the project guide in order toqualify for a ribbon. Also, the project journal should bedisplayed with the board for maximum points.

Complete at homebetween 1/11/10-1/18/10

NOTE: ADDITIONALINFORMATION ON

HOW TOCONSTRUCT THEDISPLAY BOARD

WILL BE SENTHOME AFTER WE

RETURN FROMWINTER BREAK.


10. Develop and practice an oral presentation forClass

Be prepared to talk about your project in front ofyour classmates. You will need to explain the titleof your project, the problem/question you weretrying to answer, the materials you used, theprocedure you followed (basic), your data, and yourconclusion. It is important that you understandWHAT happened during your investigation andWHY. Class presentations should be no more than5 minutes in length. You should also be prepared toanswer 2-3 questions from your peers related to yourproject. Please PREPARE CAREFULLY! Youworked hard on your project. This is your chance toshow off your wonderful achievement!

Complete between1/11/10-1/18/10

NOTE: Students willreceive an ELA

Listening/Speakinggrade on the

presentation portion oftheir project. This is animportant step. Please

practice at home!Thank you. ☺

11. Present the project in class and CELEBRATE ajob well-done! ☺

ALL PROJECTS DUEat 8:00 a.m. on

1/19/2010

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PROJECTS AREDUE BY 8:00 A.M. ON JANUARY 19, 2010.

**REQUIRED**

(LATE PROJECTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARDS AND WILL HAVE POINTSDEDUCTED FROM THE OVERALL SCORE.)

THANK YOU FOR BEING PREPARED, ON TIME! ☺


STUDENT PLANNING WORKSHEET(To Help You Get Started!)

Steps in Developing a Science Investigation Project

1. Select a problem to investigate.

Problem: _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Write the problem as a question.

_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________?

2. What do you already know about this problem? __________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3. Read, research, and interview someone (in a related field) to obtain moreinformation about your problem.

List the books and magazines you used and the people you interviewed.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

4. Develop a hypothesis (your statement about what you think will happen).Write your hypothesis._________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

5. Decide on the procedures you will use.

List your procedures.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________


Steps in Developing aScience Investigation Project

(Continued)

6. Make a list of materials you will need and list where you will find them.

Materials Where I will Get Them_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

7. Conduct your investigation. Take plenty of notes in your journal.

8. Organize and sequence your data and results.

9. Summarize your results.

10. Draw a conclusion about your hypothesis.

State your conclusion.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

11. Design and construct a display. (Follow the guidelines.)

12. Prepare and practice your oral presentation for class.

13.. Turn in your project on time. Share with fellow students.


DEFINITIONS

1. Background Information/Research: Any essential information (e.g. definitions) that maybe necessary to begin your investigation or is necessary to develop your hypothesis.

2. Bibliography: A list of references consulted during your project.

3. Conclusion: A statement telling what was learned as a result of the investigation.

4. Further Research: Ideas for further investigation.

5. Hypothesis: A scientific guess about the relationship between the manipulated variableand the responding variable. The hypothesis provides guidance for the student (theinvestigator) about what data to collect.

6. Manipulated Variable: A variable that is intentionally changed in a situation (e.g. differentamounts of water or brand of paper towel used).

7. Materials: Any items needed to conduct the investigation.

8. Procedures: A complete list of steps followed during an investigation.

9. Recording Data: A complete record of all observations and measurements gatheredduring an investigation. Keep notes, charts, ideas, etc. in a journal of your project.

10. Responding Variable: A variable that is possibly changed as a result of the manipulatedvariable (e.g. height of plant growth or winning the game every time).

11. Results: A statement telling the outcome of the investigation.

12. Statement of the Problem (Question): A simple question that can be answered throughan investigation.

13. Variable: A condition that varies or changes in a situation.


-SAMPLE-QUAIL VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCIENCE FAIR

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION DIVISIONPROJECT JUDGING FORM

GRADE _________ PROJECT NUMBER _________ TOTAL SCORE _________

DESCRIPTION/TITLE____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

I. CREATIVE ABILITY: POOR EXCELLENT

A. Does the project show originality 1 2 3 4 5in the selection of the problemand the use of equipment/materials?

II. SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT:

A. Is there a clearly stated problem/ 1 2 3 4 5question?

B. Is there a clearly stated hypothesis? 1 2 3 4 5

C. Is there evidence of a manipulated 1 2 3 4 5and controlled variable?

D. Is the method of data 1 2 3 4 5acquisition and analysis explained?

III. THOROUGHNESS:

A. Does the display board effectivelyrelate execution of the project frombeginning to end? 1 2 3 4 5

B. Is there an observation log or journal? 1 2 3 4 5

C. Is the conclusion reflective of theinvestigation? 1 2 3 4 5


IV. DISPLAY: POOR EXCELLENT

A. Is the visual display presentingthe topic neat and free of obvious errorsin spelling, grammar, etc. 1 2 3 4 5

B. Does the visual display presentthe topic in an understandable andappropriate manner for the gradelevel of the student? 1 2 3 4 5

V. COMMENTS (optional):

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Total score (50 possible): ______________________________________

_____________________________________Judge’s Name

qve science fair information packet

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