Science Fair Information Night

Presented by:Ms. Sanjudo and Ms. Coolidge

GREAT WEBSITE:

Science Buddies: Provides free science fair project ideas, answers, and tools for serious students.

Visit online: www.sciencebuddies.org.

What is a science fair?

A journey of scientific inquiry

– Investigation

Students answer a scientific question by conducting an experiment.

Student Benefits

Inquiry and Experiential– This is their own learning

adventure.– They might explore topics

such as:Timing ocean tidesHow gears workHow light affect plants

Student Benefits, continued

Integrates skills they’ve learned in other classes: – Math skills– Computer skills– Research skills– Writing and

presentation skills

Student Benefits, continued

Furthers students’ interest in science– Serves as a basis for

future science fairs, which present opportunities for scholarships, awards, and prestige

– Promotes interest in a science career

Project Planning

Our planning involves breaking the science project into small, manageable assignments that are spread out over time.

We will provide students with detailed guides to explain exactly what needs to be done at each step of the project.

Partnership

Students

• Work

• Responsibility

Parents

• Encourage

• Answer questions

• Supervise safety

• Come to the fair!

Teachers

• Step-by-step assignments

• Checkpoints graded along the way

Science Fair

Success

Partnership, continued

Students

• Work

• Responsibility

Parents

• Encourage

• Answer questions

• Supervise safety

• Come to the fair!

Teachers

• Step-by-step assignments

• Checkpoints graded along the way

Science Fair

Success

Partnership, continued

Students

• Work

• Responsibility

Parents

• Encourage

• Answer questions

• Supervise safety

• Come to the fair!

Teachers

• Step-by-step assignments

• Checkpoints graded along the way

Science Fair

Success

A schedule of assignments outlines the due dates for every assignment.

Students will receive a grade for each assignment as well as a grade at the end for the completed project, report, and presentation.

We encourage parents to guide and assist their children with the project, but allow them to do most of the work on their own!

Assignments

Monday, March 21, 2011 Science Fair Packets Go Home with Students

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 Science Fair Parent Workshop6:30 to 8:00

School CafeteriaFriday, April 1, 2011 Student Contract and Experiment

topic dueThursday, April 7, 2011 Title, Problem Statement, and

Materials list dueThursday, April 14, 2011 Research and Bibliography due

Thursday, April 21, 2011 Hypothesis, Controls, Independent, and Dependent Variables due

Monday, April 25, 2011 Procedures, Data (qualitative and quantitative) Results, Observation and Application due

Thursday, April 28, 2011 Abstract, Acknowledgements, and Report with a Table of Content due

Monday, May 2, 2011 PROJECTS ARE DUEMay 2 – 6, 2011 In-class presentations of science projectsWednesday, May 11, 2011 Set-up projects in the cafeteria. Teacher will select top two

projects from each class.

Thursday, May 12, 2011 Judging of science fair projects

Thursday, May 12, 2011 Science Fair Night6:30-8:00 pm

School Cafeteria

Overview

6 Science Fair Project Steps1. Ask a question.2. Do background research.3. Construct a hypothesis.4. Test the hypothesis by doing an

experiment.5. Analyze the data and draw a

conclusion.6. Communicate the results.

Ask a question.

This is the foundation. If your child identifies a

question that is safe and can be answered through experimentation, the rest of the project will follow.

Be sure this is NOT a demonstration. It MUST test data.

Problem Statement

Select a topic from the list of Project Ideas included in the Science Fair handbook or a teacher approved topic

The problem statement is written in the form of a question.

A good topic can be investigated (tested) and contains variables.

A poor topic is merely a demonstration or is too general.

Problem statement must be approved by the teacher before continuing with the project.

Background Information

Research information on the topic by reading: Books, Magazine articles, Internet articles, Interviewing someone knowledgeable about the

topic, After researching the information, write a

paragraph that summarizes the information that was found.

Students CANNOT turn in copies of the articles. They must summarize the information in their own words.

Bibliography

Make a list of all the references used for the Background Information.

Students MUST use the correct format: Located in Science Fair handbook

Students should have at least 3 references.

Title

Elementary Science Fair Title

Pick a title that tells what the project is about.

Should be “catchy” and catch the viewer’s attention.

The title is NOT the same as the problem statement.

Hypothesis

The student will predict what is going to be the results of the investigation.

The hypothesis should not be changed if it is incorrect. The hypothesis is just an educated guess.

Must be stated using “if” and “then” statement. Example: “If Brawny, Viva, and Bounty paper

towels are tested for their absorbency, then Bounty will absorb the most water.

Materials

List all of the materials used to conduct the investigation.

The size and quantity MUST be included.

Measurements MUST be written using metric units.

Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment.

Process– Part 1: Design an experimental procedure.

Steps and materials should be spelled out.

– Part 2: Do an experiment. Actual testing of hypothesis occurs, answering the

question.

Procedures

List the steps taken to conduct the investigation. Each step must begin with an action verb. Do not use words such as “I” or “me”.

Must be written in the form of instructions as though someone were going to follow them.

Variables

These are all the factors that affect the investigation.

There are three types of variables: Manipulated Variable: what changes, Responding Variable: what happens by itself, Variables Held Constant: what stays the same.

The variables MUST be placed on the display board.

Data

Students will gather information during the investigation.

Data MUST be quantifiable.

Students may keep a log of their information that includes specific details of the progress of the project (include dates, measurements, etc…).

The information MUST be displayed in a graph.

Analyze the data and draw a conclusion.

Example of a graph that draws a conclusion:How wind generator power changes with wind speed.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 100

10

20

30

40

50

60

Wind Speed (m/sec)

Pow

er (

kW)

Results

Students will write what happened at the end of their investigation.

Results must be quantifiable.

Conclusion

Students write about the results of the investigation Ask yourself these questions before writing your

conclusion1. Did you get the results you expected to get? If not – how

were the results different?

2. Were there any unexpected problems or occurrences that may have affected the results of your investigation?

3. Do you think you collected sufficient data? (Were there enough trials? Samples?)

4. Do I need to revise my original hypothesis? (If you write a revised hypothesis, DO NOT use it to replace your original hypothesis for this project!

Elementary Abstract

The abstract consists of three paragraphs: Paragraph 1: Purpose and Hypothesis, Paragraph 2: Procedures, Paragraph 3: Results and Conclusion.

No more than 150 words.

Ask a question

Here’s a helpful resource to find a great project idea.Visit the Science Buddies website at www.sciencebuddies.org

to utilize these tools:

– The Topic Selection Wizard This brief online survey recommends project ideas that are best for your child, based on his or her interests.

– Project Ideas Pick from a huge selection of project ideas, organized by difficulty level, and featuring safety guidelines, materials lists, and required time for each project.

Do an experiment.

Expectations– It’s ok if the first experiment goes wrong and your

child has to modify the procedure.– It’s ok if the experiment disproves the hypothesis.– Safety, safety, safety!– It takes time!

Communicate results

Oral Presentations

During the week that the Display Board is due, students will be required to present their projects orally to the class.

It is important that students follow the guidelines in the handbook to ensure that they meet all of the requirements for this assignment.

Students MUST NOT read the information from the board. They need to address their classmates and maintain eye contact to demonstrate their knowledge of their project.

Exhibits For Parents

Parents are invited to view the Science Fair Projects in the school cafeteria Thursday, May 12 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm.

Questions???

Thank You