Science Fair GuidelinesScience Fair allows students the opportunity to investigate a science topic they are interested in and hopefully have some fun while doing so. All students in grades 5-8 are required to participate in science fair and will receive grades for both their research paper and their experimental project.

Projects may be done alone or with one partner. That partner must be a student from the same grade (preferably from the same class). Since all of science fair except the final presentation will be done outside of school, partners must be able to meet a number of times to do the project and prepare the presentation. Therefore, in order to work together, permission from a parent of each partner will be required. Each partner will write his/her own research paper on the science topic most closely related to their experiment.

All science fair projects must be experimental projects that follow the

scientific method. The following pages provide detailed guidelines and expectations

for completing each step.

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Steps to Successfully Completing Science Fair

The scientific method is an orderly sequence of steps that scientists use to find the answers to questions. The steps for science fair are built upon and incorporate the steps of the scientific method. The steps that must be followed to successfully complete a science fair project include:

1. Obtain a composition notebook into which you must record everything relating to your project

2. Choose a topic/project3. Research the topic finding at least four references, with at

least one not on-line4. Write a 3-5 page research paper 5. State a problem6. Propose a hypothesis7. Design an experiment to test the hypothesis8. Run the experiment and collect data9. Analyze the data and draw conclusion(s) 10.Write a final report11.Prepare presentation

The following pages provide additional details for each of these steps. Due dates for various steps will be provided by your science teacher.

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1. Composition NotebookYou must have a composition notebook to keep as a journal from the beginning of your project. This notebook should be written in every time you do anything relating to your science fair project. Each time you write in it you should begin by writing that day’s date. It is very important that you do not wait until the end of the project and then try to make up your journal. The teacher will ask to see your journal periodically. The journal must also be available during the science fair for judges to examine. If you work with a partner you only need to keep one journal. Neatness counts.

2. Choose a topic/projectThis first thing to remember about choosing a topic is to try and choose something you are interested in. Is there something you always wondered about? Perhaps you can come up with an experiment to answer your question. Is there a particular area of science that you find more interesting than other areas? Look for a project that relates to your interest. Do you have absolutely no idea what you want to do? There are many resources available to help you select a topic/project including websites (see Online Resources in Appendix A) and books (visit the library). Once your topic is selected record it in your composition notebook, including notes about where the idea came from. Get approval from your teacher for your topic/project. If you make changes be sure to record them in your journal.

************************************************************************The diocese also has the following guidelines that must be followed when choosing your research project:

The Science Fair project may not involve any of the following: Blood products Carcinogenic or mutagenic chemicals Compressed gas Controlled substances* Explosive chemicals Hazardous substances or devices High voltage equipment Highly toxic chemicals Ionizing radiation, X-rays or nuclear energy Lasers Nonhuman vertebrate animals Pathogenic agents (including, but not limited to viruses, bacteria, fungi)** Radioactive materials Recombinant DNA

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*Controlled Substances: Controlled substances include DEA-classed substances, prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco are not allowed.

**Pathogenic Agents: A. Pathogenic agents are disease-causing or potential disease-causing organisms

such as bacteria, viruses, viroids, prions, rickettsia, fungi, mold, and others. Organisms collected, isolated and/or cultured from any environmental sources (e.g. air, soil) are considered potentially pathogenic and experiments using these procedures will not be allowed. Raw or partially processed human/animal waste is considered to contain potentially pathogenic agents. Baker and brewer’s yeast are not considered pathogens.

B. Purchased microorganisms must be identified and certified as non-pathogenic by the supply house with full name of the microorganism, source of purchase and catalogue number.

C. A qualified teacher or scientist MUST supervise all projects with non-pathogenic microorganisms.

Human or Animal Tissue:Projects involving human or non-human animal tissue are not allowed. The following types of tissue are exempt and do not require prior approval; plant tissue, meat or meat by-products obtained from stores, restaurants or packing houses and hair. In addition, any potentially dangerous procedure (e.g. heating, dissection of organs) should be done under the direct supervision of an adult.

Projects in which subjects are required to ingest or smell substances are NOT allowed.************************************************************************

3. Research the topicResearching your chosen topic is essential for understanding what you plan to do and then for interpreting the results you eventually get. If you have a general topic but haven’t decided on your exact experiment then researching your topic will also help you decide on and state the problem, formulate a hypothesis and design an experiment to test that hypothesis.

In researching your topic you must use at least four different resources. They may be websites, books, journals, magazines, encyclopedia articles, interviews with professionals, etc. At least one must be something other than an Internet resource. If you interview someone the interview should be

written in your journal. Don’t forget to include the date of the interview, the correct spelling of the name of the person you

interviewed and what their position is. You should also keep account of all resources read or investigated in depth, even if they are not

used later to write the research paper. In your journal include a reference (title, author, and enough information to relocate the source if necessary) and a brief summary of what

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information was found. Do not be afraid to READ! The more you read about your topic the better you will understand it and the easier it will be to write about it. Reading many resources will also give you new ideas and help you to choose the best sources to use for writing your paper.

Once you have selected the resources that you will use you are ready to begin taking notes. It is recommended that you use 3 X 5 note cards for taking notes in order to make it easier to organize your information when it is time to write your report. For a detailed explanation on how to use note cards see: “The Note Card System” at http://www.gallaudet.edu/TIP/English_Works/Writing/Pre-Writing_Writing_and_Revising/Note_Card_System.html or “Making Note Cards: Tip Sheet:” at http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/12_Making_Note_Cards.asp Remember, no matter what method you use to take notes, always put notes in your own words when you take them. This will save you work later and help you to avoid the pitfall of copying someone else’s words exactly. Place quotation marks around anything copied directly so you remember that it is a direct quote.

4. Write a Research reportEveryone must write their own research report, even if you will have a partner for your project. Partners may use some or all of the same references, but each must write his/her own report.

Appendix A lists several sites with detailed instructions on how to write a research paper. Look at the sites to find the ones that are most helpful to you and follow the advice given. To organize your information it is recommended that you create an outline. If note cards were used this is easily done by grouping the cards by subtopics.

Make sure you follow the guidelines given below:

Length: The body of the research report must be three to five pages long (Times New Roman, 12 pt, double-line spaced, left and right margins 1.25 and top and bottom margins 1.0). The title page (title, name, class and date) and references are in addition to the three page minimum.

Organization: Your report should include an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction states what your paper is about. The introduction should capture

the interest of the reader so that he/she wants to read the rest of the paper to learn about your topic.

The body of the paper is divided into paragraphs. Each paragraph should be about one aspect of your topic. Individual paragraphs should not have subtitles above them. If the report is significantly longer than 3 pages it is it may be useful to divide it into sections with subtitles, but individual sections should be composed of multiple paragraphs.

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The conclusion is a paragraph that closes or ends the report. There is no one correct way to write a conclusion. It might refer back to a statement in the introduction and discuss it further, it might talk about the impact of your topic on society, it might include opinions of the author, etc. (see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/04/). You might use the conclusion to propose experimentation that could be carried out on your topic (a tie-in to your science fair project).

Use of Quotations: It is very important that your paper is written in your own words. Anything that is copied word for word must be in quotation marks, but direct quotes should not be more than a small part of the paper. If too much quoting is used you will be required to rewrite your paper. Copying word for word without quotation marks will result in an automatic failing grade (more than ½ copied will earn a zero).

Plagiarism: “Changing the words of an original source is not sufficient to prevent plagiarism. If you have retained the essential idea of an original source, and have not cited it, then no matter how drastically you may have altered its context or presentation, you have still plagiarized.” - From Plagiarism.org

Since you are writing a science research paper most or all of the content will come from the resources you use. To avoid plagiarism you must therefore indicate where the information came from. To do this, your paper must: A. Include a bibliography or “Works Cited” page. (For further explanation/instructions

see Appendix B: Science Fair References.) B. Second, you must also include where specific information came from. This can be

done using footnotes or a parenthetical style of referencing. a. Footnotes are easily created in Microsoft Word by using the Footnote

command found under Insert, Reference, and they should include enough information for the reader to know which of your references the information came from, usually author and/or title of the work.

b. In the parenthetical style of referencing that same information (title and/or author) is included in parenthesis immediately after the information, or the name of the author(s) is(area) used within the sentence (e.g. According to Dr. Doe... ; Smith and Jones discovered that…).

Research papers that do not include a bibliography and referencing of information will receive a failing grade.

To learn all about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it visit: http://www.plagiarism.org/

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Your Experiment

5. State the Problem The problem is the scientific question that you will be trying to answer through your experimentation. The question should not be one that can be answered by yes or no. For example, rather than “Does light affect the germination of bean seeds?” you would ask “How does light affect the germination of bean seeds?” Remember to ask a question that can be answered experimentally. Also limit your problem to specifically what you plan on testing. For example in the previous question you would only be investigating bean seeds, not all seeds. Write your problem in your journal.

6. Propose a HypothesisA hypothesis is your best, educated “guess” as to the answer to the problem. Based on the research you have done, a hypothesis is what you think the solution is to your stated problem. Write your hypothesis as an if/then statement. (If [we do this]…then [this will happen].)The experiment that you do must be designed to test your hypothesis therefore you must write your hypothesis in your journal before doing your experiment(s). Even if your experiment later proves your hypothesis incorrect you do not change it.

For more information about hypotheses and samples to look at check out:http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_hypothesis.shtml

7. Design an Experiment to Test Your HypothesisYou must write out a plan for your experiment prior to performing it. That plan must be submitted to your teacher for review by completing the form “Science Fair Experiment Plan” on pages 12-13. (If you cannot print pages 12-13, your teacher will provide a copy.) The teacher may then approve it as is, make suggestions to help you improve upon your plan or ask you to change your plan entirely if it does not test your hypothesis. The plan should also be detailed in your journal. Partners need only submit one plan.

Remember in your plan to include what data you are going to collect and how you are going to collect it.

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8. Run the Experiment(s) and Collect DataRun the planned experiment and collect the data. Remember you must keep detailed notes in your journal, both of the experiment and of all data collected. In many experiments you will be collecting some type of numerical data. That data should be organized into one or more tables.

If possible it is important to run your experiment more than once in order to show that the results can be repeated. If time does not allow for repeating an experiment (for example needing to grow plants for a lengthy time) then try to incorporate repetition within the initial setup (for example experiment on numerous plants at the same time).

9. Analyze the Data and Draw ConclusionsUse collected data to create graphs if possible to help you understand the results you obtained. Look at the data to determine if it proves or disproves your hypothesis.

If the results of your experiment lead you to want to investigate further you may do additional experiments if time permits.

10. Write a Final Report A final written report must be submitted as part of the experiment project grade. A second copy of the paper will be needed for the science fair. If the project was done with a partner only one report needs to be written and both students will receive the same grade for it. Much of the content of the paper can come from your journal. The final written report must include the following:

1. Title page 2. Table of contents3. Abstract (summary of the project, written last)4. Problem5. Hypothesis6. Materials list7. Detailed procedure 8. Results9. Discussion or Conclusion10. Acknowledgements

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1. The title page for the research paper submitted to your teacher should include the title, your name(s) and date completed. The title page on the paper at the science fair should only have the title on it. Your title should be attention getting and while it should capture the theme of the project it should not be the same as the problem question.

2. Table of Contents – on a separate page following the title page; a list of everything that follows after the Table of contents

3. The abstract should be no more than a page long. It should include:a. the project title b. a statement of the purpose c. the hypothesis d. a brief description of the proceduree. the results f. any conclusions drawn

The abstract should be written last, even though it goes write after the table of contents.

4. Problem (see page 7) – Remember to word it as a question.

5. Hypothesis (see page 7) – Remember to use an if/then statement.

6. Your materials list should be as complete as possible and typed up as a list in column form.

7. Detailed procedure - Your plan needs to be detailed enough that someone else could take it and perform exactly the same experiment as you did.

8. Results – Your results should be detailed in paragraph form as well as including tables and graphs as appropriate. If you are not sure what type of graph would best represent your data, you should ask your teacher about it. Your graphs can be hand drawn or created on the computer using a spreadsheet program or created using Create A Graph online (http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx ).

9. Discussion or Conclusion – Do not restate your results here; rather tell what you learned about your problem from those results. Be sure to restate the hypothesis and discuss whether or not it was correct. You may suggest reasons why what you observed happened but do not state your reasons as conclusions if they were not actually tested by your experiment. You may also discuss any ideas for further experiments. Your conclusion is very important since it is where you show what you learned from your experiment(s).

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10. Acknowledgements – This is where you thank anyone who helped you complete your project.

11. Prepare PresentationYour presentation consists of two equally important parts, the display and the oral presentation.

For your oral presentation you must prepare a talk about your project. You should be able to talk about what you did and what you learned, without reading your report. You may wish to use note cards to remind you of what to talk about, but you should not read your talk from those cards. You should include some background information from your research report in your talk. If you worked with a partner, both partners should participate in the presentation. Your talk should last between 5 and 10 minutes. You will present your project to your class first and then to the judges at the science fair.

Your display must have a tri-fold poster board display that includes:

Title Problem Hypothesis Experiment (materials and procedure) Data (in Table form if possible) Results including graphs and/or pictures Conclusion Next Time (suggestion for further experiments)

In addition to the poster, your display must also include a copy of your research report(s), the report on your experiment, your journal and something that represents your experiment (models, apparatus or materials used, etc.). You do not perform the actual experiment during science fair.

An example of a well designed project display (from Elmer’s Science Fair Central):

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From Janice VanCleave's Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects, Janice VanCleave (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997)

For a discussion of what makes a good display go to http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Science-Fair-Presentations/How-to-Create-a-Winning-Science-Fair-Display-Board.html and make sure you click on the Helpful Hints and Do’s and Don’ts links.

In addition you must follow the “Project Display Guidelines” of the diocese that follow:

1. Projects must fit into a 40” X 26” table space.2. Wall space for posters is not available so plan the exhibit so that all posters, charts

and displays are free standing.3. Access to electrical outlets is limited. Please bring a heavy duty three-pronged

extension cord. 4. Anything that could be hazardous is PROHIBITED from display at the Science

Fair including the following:a. Live animals and poisonous plantsb. Pathogenic microbial agentsc. Microbial agents used in recombinant DNA experimentsd. Hypodermic needles, syringes, razor blades and other sharp itemse. Display of all chemical substances except water and salinef. Instruments containing mercury (e.g. thermometers)g. Glass bottles and lab ware, either empty or containing any substance, are

prohibited and must be replaced by break-resistant containers or placed in secondary containers

h. Drugs, over-the-counter medications, antibiotics, and vitamins may not be displayed

i. Pressure vessels and pressurized systemsj. Vacuum systemsk. Microwavesl. Radio waves

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5. All power driven parts must be suitable guarded to prevent unauthorized or accidental access

6. All exhibits that require an external source of electricity for operation must be designed for a standard 110-125 volt AC supply

7. All wiring, switches, power cords and metal parts carrying current in an AC circuit must be properly selected for load requirements and soldered or fixed under approved connectors with insulated connecting wires. No exposed wires, switches, joints or uninsulated fasteners will be permitted.

8. The power supply cord for the electrical apparatus must terminate in a three-prong grounded outlet. All power supplies and electrical equipment must be grounded.

9. Bare wire and exposed knife-type switches are permitted on 12-volt DC circuits or less. Approved standard enclosed switches are required for all other electrical installations.

10. Wet-cell batteries with open tops are not permitted. Closed-cell or dry-cell batteries are permissible.

11. Any exhibit producing temperatures exceeding 100°C must be adequately insulated from its surroundings. Asbestos-free insulation materials must be used.

12. No open flame, torch or burner in the display area.13. Robotics projects should have interlocks or other controls.

Finally, to be sure you are prepared check out the grading sheets that will be used and the judging form for the HRS Science Fair in Appendices C & D.

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Name(s)____________________________________________________

Science Fair Experiment PlanProblem (In the form of a question):

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Hypothesis (If …then statement):

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Variables:Independent Variable

(What you will be changing in the experiment. Note: There should only

be one item listed here.)

Dependent Variables(What you will be measuring or

observing.)

Controlled Variables(What you will be keeping the same

during the experiment)

Procedure (Detailed, Step-by-Step, Numbered):

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________Continue on back

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_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Does your procedure include exact instructions for how you will be recording the results of your experiment? If not, your procedure is incomplete and you need to go back and finish it.

Now that your plan is finished write a complete list of materials you need.

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

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Appendix A:Online Resources

Science Fair Sites:Super Science Fair Projects: Ideas, Topics & Experiments http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/ (This site provides great ideas and links to many other sites, but be aware that they are also marketing various science fair related products.)

Free Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers & Tools for Serious Students http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

Science Fair Project Ideas http://www.cool-science-projects.com/Science-Fair-Project-Ideas.html Great site if you just don’t know how to go about choosing a project

Elmer’s Science Fair Centralhttp://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/

Internet Public Library – Links to many sites about science fair projectshttp://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide/

Science Fair from Dragonfly TV on PBS http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html

Science Fair Project on the web http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/

How to Write a Research Report Sites:Gallaudet University’s English Works! Process of Doing a Research Paperhttp://www.gallaudet.edu/TIP/English_Works/Writing/Research_Paper_The_Process.html Ten Steps to a Good Research Paper http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills/en/17.asp

How to Write a Research Paper http://www.infoplease.com/homework/t1termpaper1.html

Cambridge Rindge & Latin School’s Research Guide http://www.crlsresearchguide.org/00_Introduction.asp

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Appendix B: Science Fair References

References should be typed using single-line spacing, with a blank line between each reference hanging indent alphabetical order not numbered Times New Roman, font size 12

Either References or Works Cited should be typed as a heading above them.

You have the choice of two methods for creating your references. You may type them up by using the format given below (pay close

attention to punctuation) You may use the website Son of Citation Machine

(http://citationmachine.net/?resize=1), using the MLA format. They will be punctuated automatically but you will still have to format them correctly after creating them. (The punctuation will be different than that below.)

Basic Format for Web Pages:

Structure:

Author's Last name, First name. "Title of Document." Page or Site name. Document date. Protocol and Internet address (Date of access).

Example:

Frank, Peter. "Yoko Ono As An Artist." The Fluxus Home Page. Sept. 20, 1997. http://www.artcommotion.com/Issue2/VisualArts/#Fluxus (Aug. 1, 2000).

Notes on dates:Date of Access is the date you used the web page or printed information from it.

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The document date is the date the page was last updated or the date the page was created or a copyright date. (Include month and day if given, otherwise use just the year)Basic Format for Books:

Structure:

Author's Last name, First name. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Date of Publication.

Example:

McCullagh, James C. Cycling for Heath, Fitness, and Well-being. New York: Dell Publishing, 1995.

Basic Form for Encyclopedias:

Structure:

Author's Last name, First name.(if given) “Title of Article.” Name of the Encyclopedia. Year of Publication ed.

Example:

Shepherd, Ron. “Cycling.” Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present. 1996 ed.

Basic Form for Magazines:

Structure:

Author's Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Name of Magazine. Date of Issue: First and last page numbers of the article.

Note: if there’s a break between the first and last pages, list only the first page number and a plus sign.

Example:

Rathbun, Mickey. “Play It Safe! What Is the Best Armor Against Kid’s Sports Injuries? An Informed Parent.” Sports Illustrated for Kids. May 1, 1998: 10+.

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Appendix C:Science Fair Project Grading Rubric

Presentation (20%)

Spoke loud and clear, no mumbling, no rushing…[2 points]…………………_________

Spoke without reading……[2 points]…………………………………………_________

Gave background information about topic…[4 points]………………………._________

Explained what experiment(s) was/were done…[4 points]……………………_________

Discussed what was learned from the experiment(s)…[4 points]…………….. _________

Referred to graphs/charts on the display where appropriate…[2 points]………_________

Showed clear understanding; could answer simple questions..[2 points]………_________

Total points (20 possible)…………………………………………………… _________

Display (20%)

Neat and easy to read [up to 4 points]……………………………………...… _________

Attractive arrangement of components……[up to 4 points]………………….._________

Includes [2 points each]:

Problem………………………………………………………………..._________

Hypothesis…………………………………………………………….._________

Experiment……………………………………………………………._________

Results…………………………………………………………………_________

Discussion/conclusion…………………………………………………_________

Supporting materials (have or describe what they will be)…………… _________

Total Points (20 possible)…………………………….………………...…….._________

Journal (10%)Neat and easy to read …[up to 4 points]………………………………………__________

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Complete content …[up to 6 points]……………………………………….….__________

Total Points (10 possible)……………………………………………………._________

Report (50%)

Title page with title and name……..[2 points]..………………………………._________

Table of contents……..[2 points]..……………………………………………._________

Abstract………………....………………………………………………………_________

Brief (not more than 1 page), states the problem, hypothesis,

summarizes the experiment(s), results, and conclusions [up to 8 points]

Problem and Hypothesis………………………………………………………._________

Problem written in the form of a question. Hypothesis written as

if/then statement and directly relates to problem [up to 8 points]

Experiment and Data………………….…………………………………….…_________

Clearly describes what was done, includes list of materials, data is

described in paragraph form as well as included in table/graph form or

pictures [up to 8 points]

Discussion/Conclusion………………………………………………………..._________

Discussion explains the results obtained, either what they mean or why

the experiment didn’t work as expected. Discusses the hypothesis. [up

to 8 points]

Presentation of paper………………………………………………………….._________

Paper neat, typed, double-line spaced, in Times New Roman [up to 8

points]

Total points (40 possible)……………………………………………………. _________

Presentation __________ Display _____________Journal___________

Total Points (Final Grade) ________________________

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Appendix DHRS Science Fair Judging Sheet

I. Scientific ApproachWas there a clearly stated problem and hypothesis? Was there an orderly and logical procedure used to test the hypothesis? Was the data carefully recorded and organized to allow conclusions to be drawn? Were the student’s conclusions consistent with the data collected?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ___________II. Knowledge of the Project AreaDoes the student(s) demonstrate a good understanding and knowledge of the topic? Was the explanation clear and precise? Could the student(s) answer simple questions relating to the project? Does each student have a 3-5 page background research paper relating to their topic?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ___________III. ThoroughnessDid the student(s) conduct sufficient background research? Was thorough use made of data and observations? Does the discussion/conclusion show thoughtfulness?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ___________IV. Written Records and ReportIs there an accurate report containing an Introduction with Problem, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure, Results, Discussion or Conclusion and References? Is there an original, bound log-book containing all plans, procedures, and data?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ___________V. Visual PresentationWas the project displayed in a logical and organized manner? Did the display and poster board effectively present the project in an understandable manner? Is the poster board neat and attractive?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ___________VI. Ingenuity and Creativity Did the student present any new or unique ideas? How well did the student(s) use his or her materials in the solution of problems?

Points Given

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ___________

Total Points ______________

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