Science Fair Handbook

2016-2017

Liberty Pines Academy

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Students:

Get ready to investigate, explore, and experiment! It is time to begin working on science

projects! Your goal in completing a project should be to investigate an area of interest and

to discover new things about the area you choose. This handbook contains guidelines to

assist you with completing a successful project. The following dates have also been

established to keep you “on track”. The required forms are available through your teacher’s

website.

Sep 6

Topic Selection Form Due – Does not need to be typed.

Sep 23

Research and 5 Sources Due – These must be typed

Sep 30 All official paperwork due (Form 1, Form 1A (with research plan), Form 1B)

Oct 7 Hypothesis, Statement of Purpose Due – These must be typed

Oct 28

Journal Check – Experimental Notes

Nov 4

Rough Draft of Abstract

Nov 10

Final Report and Display Boards Due

Nov 18 Judging of Finalists Dec 13

Night of the Arts and Sciences (all boards displayed)

TBD

Regional Science Fair

While there will be limited class time devoted to helping you with your project, this time will

not be sufficient to complete the entire project. The majority of the time spent on the project

will be on your own time.

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Table of Contents

Timeline with Due Dates…………………………………………………………….. 2

Getting Started (Overview)………………………………………………............ 4

Step 1 (Choosing a Topic)……………………………………………………………. 5

Competing………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Topic Selection Form……...……………………………………………….…………. 7

Step 2 (Conducting Your Research)…………………………………………….. 8

Step 3 (Completing The Forms)………………………………………………..... 9

Step 4 (Designing Your Experiment)…………………………………..……... 10

Step 5 (Conducting the Experiment)………………………..………………… 11

Step 6 (Analyzing the Data)…………………………………………….……….…. 12

Step 7 (Putting Together the Final Report)………………………..…....... 13

Step 8 (Display Board)……………………………………………………….………. 17

Sample Display Board……………………………….………………………..….. 18

Appendix 1 (Data Notebook)….…………...…………..…………..………...... 19

Appendix 2 (Grading Rubric)…………..………...……………………………... 21

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GETTING STARTED! – An overview of your science fair project

You will be accomplishing the following:

1. Choosing a topic: Get an idea of what you want to study. Ideas might come from hobbies

or problems you see that need solutions. There are also books and Internet sites

available with ideas on possible topics. See “Step 1 – Choosing a Topic” for guidelines on

choosing an appropriate topic to study. A good rule is that if you can Google your topic

and answer the question, it most likely isn’t a very good topic.

2. Conducting your research: Go to the Library and Internet and learn everything you can

about your topic. Gather information on your topic.

3. Completing the Forms: All students are required to fill out the appropriate forms to

ensure the safe conduct of your experiment. Every needs to complete Form 1, Form 1A

(with a research plan), and Form 1B.

4. Plan your experiment: Give careful thought to experimental design. Once you have a

feasible project idea, write a detailed plan to explain how you will do your experiment

and exactly what it will involve.

5. Conduct your experiment: During experimentation, keep detailed notes of each trial

including measurement data and observations in your data notebook. Do not rely on

your memory. Remember to change only one variable when experimenting. All other

factors must remain unchanged to ensure you have a controlled experiment. Make sure

you conduct at least 3 trials to make your data statistically valid. Record your data using

metric measurements!

6. Analyze your results: When you complete your experiment, examine and organize your

findings. What were the results of your experiment? Did your experiment give you the

expected results? Why or why not? Was your experiment performed with the exact

same steps each time? Are there other explanations that you had not considered or

observed? Were there errors in your observations?

7. Draw conclusions: Keep an open mind and never alter results to fit your original

hypothesis. If your results do not support your hypothesis, you still have accomplished a

successful project if you followed the steps of the scientific method. You will NOT get

points deducted if your hypothesis was not supported.

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STEP 1 – Choosing a topic

1. Choosing your topic is an extremely important step in your project. If you choose a

topic that you find uninteresting, you are in for a long few months!! Try to find

something that you find interesting, but also that meets the following criteria (at a

minimum!!):

• Is it a problem you are interested in – You will be working on this over a long period

of time, so make sure it is something that interests you.

• It can be finished in the time given – Often, projects that involve growing things take

a long time. Make sure that you can finish the experimenting (including 3 or more

trials) with enough time left to put together your project

• Is there something to be learned from doing this project?

• There is one measurable dependent variable – Remember, you can only have one

dependent variable. And, you have to be able to measure it – color changes, for

example, can be difficult to measure.

Your results should be quantitative, not qualitative.

• You can obtain the materials you need – You need to determine this right away so

that you will have time to change topics if there are materials you cannot obtain.

• It should be grade level appropriate and fit into one of the categories listed on the

form on the next page – Be careful about choosing something to simple or too hard.

• Projects that will NOT be approved include, but are not limited to, the following:

• mold and/or harmful bacteria

• weapons/explosives

• pathogenic and potentially pathogenic agents

• controlled or hazardous substances

• vertebrate animals

• humans aside from yourself

2. Once you have chosen a topic, you need to determine how you will investigate this

topic and what the question is that you are trying to answer. Then, you need to fill

out the topic selection form that is included in this document. This form must be

signed by your parent or guardian and then by your science teacher before you begin

your project!!!

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Competing

You have the option to compete or not to compete. This is to lessen the work required for those

students who are not interested in trying to be selected to move on to the district science fair.

If you choose not to compete:

• You will need to fill out the paperwork and complete a science fair project.

• You will need to complete the Science Fair Final Report.

• You will NOT be required to complete a display board at the end.

• You will NOT be eligible to be selected to compete in the district and/or state science

fairs.

If you choose to compete:

• You will need to fill out the paperwork and complete a science fair project.

• You will need to complete the Science Fair Final Report.

• You will be required to complete a display board at the end.

• You will be eligible to be selected to compete in the district and/or state science fairs.

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Science Fair Project - Topic Selection Form

Due September 6, 2015

Name(s): ________________________________________________________ Last First _________________________________________________________ Last First Individual or Team (circle one) Science Teacher: _____________________ *Special Note for Team Projects! Requires teacher & parent approval form; only 2 students per group.

1. Briefly explain what your project is. ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

2. The question that I will try to answer from my project is: ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the independent variable in your experiment? (Remember, you should only have one

independent variable? ______________________________________________________________________________

4. What is your dependent variable and how will you measure your results to find the answer to your

question? ______________________________________________________________________________

5. Are you planning on competing? YES or NO (circle one)

APPROVED BY PARENT: _______________________________________________ This form must have a parent signature before submitting it to your Science teacher!

APPROVED BY SCIENCE TEACHER: ________________________________ Date Approved by Science Teacher: ________________________________

*REMEMBER! YOU CAN’T START YOUR PROJECT UNTIL AFTER IT’S BEEN APPROVED BY YOUR SCIENCE TEACHER!!

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Step 2 – Conducting Your Research

1. Once you have chosen a topic, you will need to come up with a hypothesis to test. To

do this, you will need to research the problem.

2. Your research will be demonstrated in written form in your final science fair project

report. You must have a minimum of 1 full page of research and 5 sources. Your

sources can be books, reputable websites, or other valid sources.

3. Through your research, you should learn enough about your topic to develop a

thorough hypothesis.

How to Conduct Research:

Your research will most likely begin in the library. But where do you begin in the library?

1. Start with a general source and use key words from your problem to search for

background information.

2. Check your Science book and other Science textbooks/books for information; read

and take notes.

3. Talk to experts. Interviews are a good source of information. Have planned questions

before you talk to anyone and take notes as you listen.

4. Check the internet. Make sure that the websites you use are reputable. Do NOT use

Wikipedia as a source! Read and take notes. Make sure that you keep track of the

sites you use as sources.

Find out everything you can as you research. If possible, use other libraries besides the

school’s library and write agencies for information. Be resourceful and thorough! You will

have to search out the information you need. Many times you may read references that will

not provide the information for which you were looking. Don’t expect to find everything you

need in the first book you select. The information is out there, but you will have to search for

what you need! Remember, you are collecting information relevant to your problem. You

need background information about your problem, information about your actual

experiment, and information about the expected outcome to help you form a good

hypothesis.

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Step 3 – Completing the Forms

1. At this point, you need to fill out the required forms and submit them to your teacher.

You will be required to complete the following forms:

• Form 1 – Checklist for Adult Sponsor

• Form 1A – Student Checklist

• Research Plan – This is a required part of Form 1A. Directions on completing

the research plan are included with Form 1A and explained below.

• Form 1B – Approval Form

The forms listed above must be completed and approved prior to beginning any

experimentation.

2. If you are competing, your abstract must be included on your display board. It must

be on the following form:

• 2016-2017 Abstract Form (this is an editable PDF form online)

Directions for completing the research plan that goes with form 1A (directions can also be found with

Form 1A online):

The research plan is intended to be a brief summary of your project, including why you did this project,

what question was being answered, your experimental procedures, assessment of any risks involved,

and the sources you used for your research. The research plan must be typed and attached to Form

1A. It needs to include the following sections:

RATIONALE – This should be a short summary of why you are conducting this experiment and why it

is important.

HYPOTHESIS, RESEARCH QUESTION, and EXPECTED OUTCOMES – You need to include what question

you are trying to answer, what your hypothesis is, and what results you expect.

RESEARCH METHODS AND CONCLUSIONS – You must include a brief summary of your procedures,

including any precautions you are taking to avoid risks. You must also include the procedures you

intend to use to analyze your data.

BIBLIOGRAPHY – This is your “Works Cited” where you must include at least 5 sources. Use MLA

formatting for this section.

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Step 4 – Designing Your Experiment

1. Once you have finished researching, you are ready to begin designing your

experiment.

2. The first thing you need to do is to come up with a hypothesis. What do you think will

happen? And, why? It is a good idea to phrase your hypothesis using the

If…Then….Because format. For example:

“If fertilizer is added to a plant, then the plant will grow higher than a plant which is

not given fertilizer, because the fertilizer provides nutrients to the plant that helps it

grow quicker.”

3. Once you have your hypothesis (it will be submitted to, and checked by, your teacher),

you can design the actual experiment. You should develop your materials and

procedures. Your “Materials” section should be specific and list everything you use

and the quantities. The procedures should be very specific – another person should

be able to replicate your experiment from them.

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Step 5 – Conducting the Experiment

1. You are finally ready to begin conducting the experiment!! This is when you get

to actually test your hypothesis.

2. You must repeat your experiment with each experimental group in at least 3

separate trials. This is so your data will be reliable. The more trials you conduct,

the more likely that someone else repeating your experiment will get the same

results.

3. Make sure you have a control and/or controlled conditions in your experiment to

compare the results of what you’re testing.

4. Make sure you measure as carefully as you can and use the most precise (smallest)

units possible. This makes your measurement data more accurate. Again,

remember to use metric units!

5. Set up your data table. Remember to have a title and label the variable and what

measurements you used.

6. Systematically record all data in your data notebook. Data should include

numerical measurements, personal observations, photographs, drawings, etc.

The date of all observations should also be recorded.

7. Details on how to complete the Data Notebook can be found in Appendix 1.

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Step 6 – Analyzing the Data

1. Once you have finished conducting your experiment and recording the data in your

data notebook, it is time to analyze the data. This will help you determine whether

or not the data supported your hypothesis.

2. Data -- Your data needs to be displayed in table and graphical format. Your data

tables should already be in your data notebook. You should create at least one graph

of your data. Graphs may be circle, line, and/or bar graphs.

• Bar graphs are appropriate when the independent variable is not continuous and

is used to show comparisons.

• Circle graphs are also used to show comparisons but are used when it’s

appropriate to show percentages.

• Line graphs show change and are generally used when the independent variable

IS continuous.

3. Analysis and Discussion of Data – You will evaluate your results and try to explain

why the results were what they were.

4. Conclusion -- At this time, a conclusion must be reached.

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Step 7 – Putting Together the Science Fair Final Report

1. The Research Report is a typed, “formal” report in which you go into detail about

your project and organize your data. The Research Report will contain the following

elements in the following order:

o Title Page

o Abstract

o Table of Contents

o Statement of Purpose

o Background Research

o Hypothesis

o Experimentation:

Materials and Procedures

Data: (includes: graphs, data tables, and observations)

o Analysis and Discussion of Data

o Conclusion

o Application

o Recommendations

o Works Cited

o Acknowledgements

o An appendix is optional and will include any information about your

project that does not fit in any of the above sections

Failure to include all elements of the report (with the exception of the appendix) in the order

stated above will result in points being deducted from your project’s grade.

2. Most of these elements have been completed as you have done your project. The

following sections will help you put together this report. You can start each new

section on a new page or you may continue from the end of the preceding section.

Just make sure that each section is clearly labeled.

Title Page – Your title page must contain your title, name, grade, block, and date. You

may include pictures, graphics, etc., but it is not required.

Abstract

The purpose of an abstract is to provide a 250 word summary of your project. It should be

written AFTER the project is completed, therefore, it should be written in past tense. The

abstract should be placed on the “Official Abstract and Certification” form. This form should

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also be placed on your display board. This form is available through the SSEF’s website

(http://www.ssefflorida.com/).

The body of the abstract will summarize the following information. It should be written in the

same order listed below, but NOT separated into sections.

• Purpose: The purpose is a statement about what you are attempting to find out by

doing the experiment. A good format is to start out with “The purpose of my project

was to answer the question……….” And then restate the problem.

• Hypothesis: State your hypothesis.

• Experimentation: Summarize your procedures; explain how you kept the conditions

controlled; identify the variable and control; explain how data was collected and

measured; state how many trials were conducted; and identify any safety precautions

taken.

• Results: The results should explain your data and observations.

• Conclusion: The conclusion should compare your hypothesis and results. State your

conclusion then restate the hypothesis and whether or not it was supported.

Sample Abstract

Brand of Fertilizer vs. Height of Bean Plants Doe, John Botany

The purpose of my project was to answer the question, “Do bean plants grow taller with ACME or Generic brand fertilizer?” I predicted that bean plants given ACME fertilizer will grow taller than bean plants give Generic brand fertilizer. I tested each brand of fertilizer on a group of 5 bean plants. I also tested a control group of 5 bean plants that received no fertilizer. The amount of fertilizer, amount of sunlight, amount of water, type of soil, temperature, type of plant and starting size of plants were all kept the same for all 15 plants. The only factor that was changed on purpose was the type of fertilizer. The height of each plant was measured in centimeters using a ruler and recorded every other day for 28 days. My results showed that on average the ACME group grew the tallest at 26 cm, while the Generic group grew 23 cm and the control group only 20 cm. My conclusion was that I had correctly predicted that ACME fertilizer would make the plants grow the tallest. The ACME group grew an average of 3 cm taller than the Generic and an average of 6 cm taller than the control group.

Table of Contents -- This page must include the appropriate sections with their respective

page numbers.

Statement of Purpose – The statement of purpose should be a brief explanation of why

you are conducting this experiment and what you hope to learn from it.

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Background Research – The purpose of conducting research is to help you come up with

a valid hypothesis. You research should be a minimum of 1 full page. You are also

required to have at least 5 sources. You need to use MLA format to cite your sources in

your research.

Hypothesis – Your hypothesis need to contain 3 parts – how you are manipulating your

independent variable, what outcome you expect from your dependent variable, and why

you expect this outcome. The easiest way to write your hypothesis is using the

If…Then…Because method.

Experimentation – You need to conduct your experiment following sound scientific

principles. Make sure that you are completing at least three (3) trials. Also, make sure

that you are using SI units. Your data should recorded in your data notebook and then

copied into your Science Fair Final Report.

Materials – You need to list the materials that you used when conducting your

experiment. You should list everything and include quantities and sizes when appropriate.

Procedures – The procedure is the step-by-step description of how to perform the

experiment. Your steps should be numbered and very specific. All quantities and the

number of trials should be indicated. When writing your procedure, you should start each

step with a verb.

Explain all of the following that apply to your project:

How you will keep the controlled conditions the same?

What device will you use to measure the data with and in what units?

How will you measure the data using the device?

When will you measure the data?

How many trials will you perform?

What safety precautions will you take?

Example:

Step 1: Obtain 15 bean plants that are 10 cm tall and are in 5 cm clay pots with potting

soil.

Step 2: Label bean plants as follows: ACME 1-5, GENERIC 6-10, and NO FERTILIZER 11-15.

Step 3: While wearing safety goggles and gloves, give 1 gram of ACME fertilizer to bean

plants 1-5, 1 gram of GENERIC fertilizer to bean plants 6-10, and no fertilizer to bean plants

11-15.

Step 4: Place all 15 bean plants on the same table near a sunny window.

Step 5: Water each of the 15 bean plants with 100 mL of tap water.

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Step 6: Measure the height from the dirt to the highest leaf of each bean plant with a ruler

in centimeters and record in data table.

Step 7: Repeat steps 5 and 6 every other day for 14 days.

Data – Your data must be shown in table and graphical form. You may also include

observations if applicable.

Analysis and Discussion of Data – This section is provided to give foundation to your

conclusion. Remember to record things that happen even if the results are different than

what was expected. This section should be well thought out and explain the results of

your experiment.

Conclusion – The technique of drawing conclusions from a set of data is rarely as obvious

as it may seem at first. No matter how carefully the conditions are controlled, variations

might occur and lead to errors in the conclusion. Be sure and state what variations

occurred that you weren’t expecting. When you state your conclusion, ensure you answer

whether or not your hypothesis was supported!

Application -- In this section, explain how this experiment can have practical value. For

example, how can the knowledge obtained from this experiment be applied to everyday

life?

Recommendations – At this point, look back over the project and consider the following

questions:

What new ideas have come from the project?

What aspects of the project could be continued to add to the

significance of the research?

What, if any, new problems have arisen related to the topic?

Works Cited – This should be the same as the one you used for your research paper.

However, if you used additional sources for the experimental portion of the project,

include them here with the sources from your paper.

Acknowledgements – On this page, identify those individuals or organizations who

offered special assistance with the project. After a brief general statement of

appreciation, each individual should be listed by title, full name, affiliation and a specific

comment about the type of assistance provided.

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Step 8 - Display Board

Try to design a display which is simple, yet thorough, and easy to set up. The display items

should be typed and neatly organized. It also should be able to stand by itself. The average

viewer should be able to quickly grasp what it is all about without needing you to be present

to answer questions or provide explanations.

Display Board checklist:

_____ Title

_____ Background Research (can be a summary if your research is too long)

_____ Question Being Answered

_____ Hypothesis

_____ Materials

_____ Procedures

_____ Results (Data Tables/Graphs)

_____ Conclusion

_____ Abstract on Official Abstract and Certification Form

_____ Future Direction (Recommendations for furthering the project)

_____ Back of the board: Your name, Science Teacher’s name, and class period. (It’s a good

idea to attach a copy of your final report to the back)

The next page provides a sample display board design. There is only one placement

requirement for the display board:

*The Abstract must be placed in the lower left hand corner of the board (when facing

the display)! Other than this one requirement, you can be creative with the layout of

your display board!

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Sample Display Board

This is just one possible layout. Yours may vary.

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Appendix 1 – Data Notebook

You are required to keep a data notebook which is very much like a diary. Spiral-bound

notebooks or composition books are generally used for this purpose. The data notebook is a

workbook and should not be typed! It is not meant to be neat yet it should be organized. The

information you keep in this notebook will eventually be transferred to your more formal,

typed Research Paper.

Use the following format to organize your data:

Write the title of your experiment on the first page of your notebook.

On the second page, write the purpose, problem, and hypothesis.

On the third page, list your materials, where you will obtain your materials and

any precautions you will need to take with dangerous items.

Finally, it will be time for you to begin. Write the date in the upper right-hand

corner of the page each time you begin a new entry. Describe everything you do

relating to your project from the time you begin until you are finished. Write very

clear, detailed observations and record any problems you encounter along the

way.

The notes for your research paper can also be included in your data notebook.

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Appendix 2 – Grading Rubric

The following rubric sets forth the guidelines for grading your science fair final report. You should

use this to check your report prior to turning it in.

Liberty Pines Academy Science Fair Final Report Grading Rubric

Student’s Name _________________________ Title of Project __________________________

Circle the score next to each category.

0 = no evidence 1 = weak 2 = fair 3 = good 4 = excellent

Title Page

Creative and neatly presented.

0

1

2

3

4

Table of Contents

Format and order followed and all pages listed

0

1

2

3

4

Abstract

Contains Statement of Purpose, Procedures, Results

Conclusion

0

1

2

3

4

Approximately 250 words and well written 0 1 2 3 4

Statement of Problem/Purpose

Appropriate/grade level problem that could be

answered through experimentation

0

1

2

3

4

Research

Does the research pertain to the topic?

Is the research complete and thorough?

Does it follow the non-negotiables?

0

0

0

1

1

1

2

2

2

3

3

3

4

4

4

Hypothesis

Well-written and testable (if… then… because)

0

1

2

3

4

Data

Data/Observation using data tables

Data collected in quantitative metric units

Replication used (multiple trials)

Graphs and/or charts used, complete & well chosen

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

3

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

Analysis

Clear analysis and explanation of results

0

1

2

3

4

Conclusion

Data analysis supports conclusion

Hypothesis is accepted or rejected

0

0

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

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Recommendations

Shows understanding of how study could be

continued or improved

0

1

2

3

4

Bibliography

Formatted correctly MLA style, min. 5 sources cited

0

1

2

3

4

Overall Quality of Project

Presented as a “Final Project”, neat and organized

0

1

2

3

4

Final Grade = ______________