Science Fair 2011-2012

•Timeline•First Assignment

•How to Choose a Topic

Science Fair TimelineProject Activity Due Date

* Laboratory Planning Sheet Draft* Background Information Draft

Tuesday, Sept. 6

* Laboratory Planning Sheet FINAL* Project Endorsements (if applicable)* Mini-Grant Materials (if applicable)* Safety Sheet

Tuesday, Sept. 20

* Complete Review of Literature* Complete Detailed Bibliography (Reference List) with five different valid sources

* Final Science Fair Paper

* Class Fair (5 minute maximum presentation)

Get Your Parents Involved!

Please take home the “Parent’s Guide to Science Projects” handout so your parent(s) know what they can do to help you with your project.

Keep in mind that this is YOUR project, so you choose the topic, conduct the experiment, analyze your data, and create your board. Your parents can be really helpful with getting resources for you and being an audience, but this is YOUR project.

First Project Assignment

• Choose a topic!• Complete Laboratory Planning Sheet• Find resources (you will need at least 5 for the

final paper)• Complete a 1-2 page double spaced

Background Information paper with your sources on an attached sheet

Laboratory Planning FormatProblem/Purpose

*Why are you doing the experiment?*What question are you trying to

answer?Hypothesis—based on your

research*To be completed BEFORE you do

the experimentMaterials

*List all materials you need and safety precautions

(list those that do not fit on back)

Independent Variable Dependent Variable Controlled Variables

Procedure—list in steps(only basic here, more detailed in

official lab report)Data Table/ Collection*How are you going to

organize and present your data?

Note: after Data collection is complete, you should transform your data into a graph or chart if possible

Analysis and Conclusion*Explanation of data; what does the

data mean?*Write in complete sentences

*Did you accomplish the purpose of the experiment?

*Does your data support your hypothesis?

To Be Completed AFTER Data Collection!

Name:________ ______________ __________Date:_____ ____Per.___________

Due September 6th (Draft) and September 20th for resubmission (final)

IV/DV Refresher…

In your Laboratory Planning Sheet, you will need to list your independent variable & dependent variable.

Remember, your Independent Variable (IV) is the variable you are testing and changing in the experiment. It is the cause of whatever changes you measure.

Your Dependent Variable (DV) is the responding variable that you are measuring. It is the effect of whatever IV changes you make.

Background Information Paper

Your draft of this paper is due at the same time as your Laboratory Planning sheet, Tuesday September 6 in class.

Make sure to include a sheet with the sources you used, which may include professional references (nurses, doctors, scientists, etc).

How to Choose a Topic…

At www.sciencebuddies.org , fill out the Topic Selection Wizard for recommendations based on your preferences.

Or use the following guide/breakdown by subject area to help you out. Write down the ideas that seem most interesting to you right now, and make sure to ask me questions if you have them…

Topics in Physics

Topics in Chemistry• Substance and pos./neg. result on blood test• Water/borax solution concentration and crystal size• Colored ink and pigments (chromatography)• Temperature or tablet size on Alka-Seltzer & water reaction time• Substance dissolved in water and boiling point• pH and copper corrosion on pennies• Temperature of a balloon with gas and balloon volume• Sand/salt on ice and melting time• Soap concentration in water and surface tension (drops on a penny)• Baking soda + vinegar ratio and height of rocket launch• Orange juice vs. sports drink and electrolyte concentration• Sunscreen SPF and UV rays getting through• Iodine concentration and iodine clock reaction time• Orange juice type and amount of vitamin C present

Topics in Engineering

• Build your own crystal radio• Build your own electric motor• Build your own dance pad• Design your own roller coaster (marble

coaster) and determine what height you need to release from in order to loop the loop

• Test the bearing capacity of different types of soil

Topics in Life Science

• Time of day and UV index• Time of day and reaction time• Time of day and body temperature• Time of day and heart rate• Orientation of plant (stem up vs. stem down)

and growth

Topics in Behavioral and Social Science

• Lying and physical signs (do as a double-blind experiment)

• Mnemonics and memory• Chromatic adaptation• Photo lineup bias

Other Topics

• Tube length and pitch (like a flute)• String length and pitch