Steps to a Successful Science Steps to a Successful Science Fair ProjectFair Project

ByBy

Gary MarcellusGary Marcellus

Why Do a Science Fair Project?Why Do a Science Fair Project?Teacher’s perspectiveTeacher’s perspective

Mandated to teach science content Mandated to teach science content Need to remember the Need to remember the intent intent of the Science of the Science

curriculumcurriculum “Children have a natural curiosity about their

surroundings—a desire to explore and investigate, see inside things, find out how things work and find answers to their questions.”

Why Do a Science Fair Project?Why Do a Science Fair Project?Student’s perspectiveStudent’s perspective

To learn to think scientifically and see what it is like to be a To learn to think scientifically and see what it is like to be a scientist.scientist.

To make your own observations about the world.To make your own observations about the world. Provide an opportunity to take the initiative in my learning.Provide an opportunity to take the initiative in my learning. To improve my use of science processes to solve To improve my use of science processes to solve

problems.problems. To become actively involved in learning and participating in To become actively involved in learning and participating in

science.science. To learn how to organize and finish a long-term project.To learn how to organize and finish a long-term project.

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

A Science Fair project is an opportunity to A Science Fair project is an opportunity to investigate some event or phenomena in the investigate some event or phenomena in the same way a scientist would investigate it.same way a scientist would investigate it.

Scientific Method StepsScientific Method Steps

HypothesisHypothesis ExperimentingExperimenting Data CollectionData Collection ConclusionConclusion

Safety (Part 1)Safety (Part 1) 1. Exhibit is no more than 0.8 m deep, 1. Exhibit is no more than 0.8 m deep, 1.2 m wide and 2.4 m high.1.2 m wide and 2.4 m high. 2. No chemicals are on display.2. No chemicals are on display. 3. No open flames are on display.3. No open flames are on display. 4. No live animals are on display.4. No live animals are on display. 5. Experiments using vertebrates must be 5. Experiments using vertebrates must be supervised by a vet or performed in asupervised by a vet or performed in a qualified lab. An Ethics form must bequalified lab. An Ethics form must be filled out prior to starting ANY animalfilled out prior to starting ANY animal researchresearch

Safety (Part 2)Safety (Part 2)

6. Electrical power cords have 3-wire6. Electrical power cords have 3-wire

grounded connections.grounded connections. 7. Electrical connections are insulated.7. Electrical connections are insulated. 8. Non-current carrying metal parts are 8. Non-current carrying metal parts are

connected to the ground lead.connected to the ground lead. 9. Lasers will not be operated during public9. Lasers will not be operated during public

display. display.

Safety (Part 3)Safety (Part 3)

10. No biological toxins are on display.10. No biological toxins are on display. 11. All microbial cultures are sealed.11. All microbial cultures are sealed. 12. No organisms pathogenic are on12. No organisms pathogenic are on display.display. 13. Maximum of two students may work on13. Maximum of two students may work on the project.the project. 14. For projects involving humans, check14. For projects involving humans, check

the website: the website: www.wbrsf.ca/forms.html

Levels of Science Fair ProjectsLevels of Science Fair Projects

Level 1Level 1 A diagram, copy, illustration, table or display of A diagram, copy, illustration, table or display of

science information already available. science information already available.

Level 2Level 2

A chart, illustration, model, collection, specimen, A chart, illustration, model, collection, specimen, or chart based on first-hand investigation by the or chart based on first-hand investigation by the student.student.

Levels of Science Fair ProjectsLevels of Science Fair Projects Level 3Level 3

A working model based on an understanding of A working model based on an understanding of a scientific principle.a scientific principle.

Level 4Level 4

An attempt to answer a question by designing An attempt to answer a question by designing and conducting an experiment or a correlational and conducting an experiment or a correlational model in which one or more variables were model in which one or more variables were tested, but for which circumstances or lack of tested, but for which circumstances or lack of knowledge prevented adequate control of knowledge prevented adequate control of significant independent variables.significant independent variables.

Levels of Science Fair ProjectsLevels of Science Fair Projects

Level 5Level 5 An attempt to answer a question by designing An attempt to answer a question by designing

and conducting an experiment or correlation and conducting an experiment or correlation study in which all the important variables are study in which all the important variables are controlled.controlled.

Ladder of SuccessLadder of Success

LogbookLogbook

All students need to keep a logbook to All students need to keep a logbook to record all of their Science Fair project work.record all of their Science Fair project work.

Choosing a TopicChoosing a Topic

A good topic will:A good topic will:– Be specificBe specific– Be of interest to youBe of interest to you– Be stated as a questionBe stated as a question– Involve experimentation if possibleInvolve experimentation if possible– Be something you can successfully complete.Be something you can successfully complete.

Good TopicGood Topic

For example:For example:

“ “What are the effects of fertilizers on bean What are the effects of fertilizers on bean plants?plants?

Develop Your PurposeDevelop Your Purpose Try to explain the purpose of the project in Try to explain the purpose of the project in

two or three sentences. A possible way of two or three sentences. A possible way of starting is: “The purpose of the project is to . starting is: “The purpose of the project is to . . .” The purpose may include the hypothesis. .” The purpose may include the hypothesis

For example:For example:

The purpose of the project is to determine if The purpose of the project is to determine if Brand A fertilizer is better then Brand B in Brand A fertilizer is better then Brand B in causing bean plants to grow quickly.causing bean plants to grow quickly.

ResearchResearch

Begin your research by using the library, Begin your research by using the library, internet or professionals.internet or professionals.

Make sure you keep your notes in your Make sure you keep your notes in your logbook.logbook.

Use proper bibliographic style.Use proper bibliographic style.

Gather Your MaterialsGather Your Materials

Make a list of specific materials.Make a list of specific materials. If you need seeds, they could be difficult to If you need seeds, they could be difficult to

find in January or February.find in January or February.

ExperimentingExperimenting

Experiments need to include controls:Experiments need to include controls:– Independent variable—the experimenter Independent variable—the experimenter

changes something to observe what will happenchanges something to observe what will happen

– Dependent variable—the experimenter changes Dependent variable—the experimenter changes something to observe what will happen. These something to observe what will happen. These changes produce a response that can be changes produce a response that can be measured in some way (i.e. your experimental measured in some way (i.e. your experimental plants grow higher). This response is the plants grow higher). This response is the dependant variable. dependant variable.

ExperimentingExperimenting

– Control the variables - in a fertilizer experiment, Control the variables - in a fertilizer experiment, the experimenter would ensure that the plants the experimenter would ensure that the plants grow in the same size container, receive the grow in the same size container, receive the same amount of light and water, and the same same amount of light and water, and the same amounts of and type of soilamounts of and type of soil

– (Negative) Control group - in a fertilizer (Negative) Control group - in a fertilizer experiment, these are seeds that do not receive experiment, these are seeds that do not receive any fertilizerany fertilizer

Organize Your ResultsOrganize Your Results

Observations of your experiment need to be Observations of your experiment need to be organized. organized.

A graph is the best way to do this.A graph is the best way to do this.

Draw Your ConclusionsDraw Your Conclusions

You have done the experiment, and have You have done the experiment, and have collected data. Now you must interpret that collected data. Now you must interpret that data.data.

The data will either support or disprove your The data will either support or disprove your original hypothesis.original hypothesis.

Write Your Research PaperWrite Your Research Paper

The parts of the research paperThe parts of the research paper– Title pageTitle page– PurposePurpose– AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments– Material and methodsMaterial and methods– ConclusionConclusion– Further study and applicationFurther study and application– BibliographyBibliography

Construct Your BackboardConstruct Your Backboard

Your backboard is like an advertisement for Your backboard is like an advertisement for your project! It shows your teacher, your project! It shows your teacher, classmates, and fair judges the hard work classmates, and fair judges the hard work you put into your project. You want your you put into your project. You want your backboard to be neat, professional, and backboard to be neat, professional, and interesting. interesting.

Parts of a BackboardParts of a Backboard

Be sure to include all of the following items Be sure to include all of the following items on your science fair display board: on your science fair display board:

the titlethe title a purpose statementa purpose statement your hypothesisyour hypothesis the procedurethe procedure data and results - charts, graphs, analysisdata and results - charts, graphs, analysis your conclusionsyour conclusions

Present Your ProjectPresent Your Project

Practice your presentation before presenting Practice your presentation before presenting to your class or judges.to your class or judges.

Everybody who completes a Everybody who completes a project is a winner!project is a winner!