Brewbaker’s “How To” Booklet

It’s Time for Oak Knoll’s Science Fair!

Cool!

OAK KNOLL SCIENCE FAIR:

Key Dates:

REGISTRATION DATES_____________________________________________________________

SCIENCE FAIR PRESENTATION BOARDS AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE ON_____________

SCIENCE FAIR DATES - Grades 2/3: __________________________________________________

SCIENCE FAIR DATES – Grades 4/5 _____________________________________ For More information…

o Go to Brewbaker’s Website under “MORE”

o Go to Oak Knoll’s Website… Look for Science Fair! (Lots of good info for you!)

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The Scientific MethodFor Brewbaker’s Fourth Graders!

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Your teacher said that she wanted to encourage you to do the Science Fair… “COOL!” many of you shouted. She loved your excitement to be a part of Oak Knoll’s Science Fair.

But you have probably started wondering… “Can I really do this? Isn’t it hard?”

Well, Mrs. Brewbaker enthusiastically says, “YES! It’s hard… What good thing in life (that’s worth anything) isn’t worth a bit of a struggle?”

Do you know, that by the time you have survived Science Fair Night, you will have used your Reading, Writing, Math, Investigative Skills, Logic, and Performing Arts Skills? There are other skills that you will be learning, but they are too numerous to mention. Wow! From beginning to end, doing the Science Fair is a wonderful package of “COOL!”So, let’s get going! I’ve made up a packet to help guide you through the steps of performing a real experiment, taking data, and then explaining it in a way that your classmates will understand what you have discovered. Not only will you be learning about your own interesting experiment… you will also have a chance to learn about all the other science that your fellow classmates have found so interesting. “COOL!”I will provide you with a big envelope to hold all your Science Fair questions, ideas, notes, research… whatever feels “right.” This envelope is a depository of all your “Science Fair Stuff.” Keep THIS “How To” packet in there too!

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ASK A QUESTIONLearning to ask questions is the most important thing in Science. We will never find out answers without questions! We ask questions based on our observations.

Let’s practice. Write down three questions that you could do an experiment about.

√ Choose from the following words to begin each question. Try to start your questions with a different word each time.

Who, What, When, Where, How, Why√ Remember to end with a question mark!!

1. _________________________________________________

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Name___________________6

Turn this paper in to Mrs. Brewbaker. Please tear it out carefully.

The Question for my Science Fair experiment is:

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I will hand this paper back to you after I review it. This (or a copy of this), will be put on your tri-fold for display. You can make an attractive copy as we get close to “show-time.”

RESEARCH THE QUESTIONI have told Ms. Bennion (our wonderful librarian) that you will be researching your topics of interest. She will teach you how to search for “Key Words,” and show you where to

find books of information.

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Write down notes to remember what you already know about this question. Remember your specific question.

I already know this about my question:

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My teachers, parents, and other grown-ups have told me this information about my question:

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I have found out the following information from books, the Internet, encyclopedias, and other places: Hint… If you use the internet, you will find information really quickly if you Google phrases such as: Why do plants need light? or Why do some things float?

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___________________________________________________If you need more space, write on the back of this paper, or staple in some more pages.

Name____________RESEARCH

(HERE’S SOME PAPER FOR YOUR ROUGH DRAFT)… Turn this page in to Mrs. Brewbaker

I will hand this paper back to you after I review it. This, or a copy of this, will be put on your tri-fold for display. You can make an attractive copy as we get close to “show-time.”

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√ Your research is written up in paragraph form and will hold key “real estate” on your tri-fold. Everyone likes to read your research (Remember to indent each paragraph).

√ Make sure the following statements are true before turning in your rough draft. “This research is interesting to read, and it is easy to read because I have used proper conventions (punctuation, spelling, capitalization, grammar, etc.) I have also avoided using the same words over and over again (“and then…” is boring to read, and is to be avoided as much as possible!)”

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WRITE A HYPOTHESIS… Turn this page in to Mrs. Brewbaker

I will hand this paper back to you after I review it. This, or a copy of this, will be put on your tri-fold for display. You can make an attractive copy as we get close to “show-time.”

What is a Hypothesis? It is three things:1. Your best guess about what will happen based on your

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2. Must be testable by making an experiment

3. A STATEMENT about what will happen and WHY

MY HYPOTHESIS FOR MY PROJECT“IF” ____________________________________________________

“THEN”____________________________________________________

EXPERIMENT

1. TEST TO SEE WHETHER YOUR HYPOTHESIS IS RIGHT OR WRONG.2. MUST BE FAIR.3. ONLY ONE FACTOR SHOULD BE CHANGED. EVERYTHING ELSE MUST STAY

THE SAME.4. THE FACTOR YOU CHANGE IS CALLED THE VARIABLE.5. THE FACTORS YOU DON’T CHANGE ARE THE CONTROLS.6. REPEAT THE EXPERIMENT OVER AND OVER TO MAKE SURE THE RESULTS ARE

NOT A MISTAKE.

Know What Your Variables Are. Control your experiment.My Variable(s)

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Think of your Experiment as a recipe card. Divide it into two parts… (1) MATERIALS (2) PROCEDURE

It’s good to take lots of pictures, or draw pictures to put on your tri-fold presentation board. Materials Needed: Procedure:

COLLECT DATA1. KEEP A SCIENCE JOURNAL WITH ALL THE

DETAILS OF YOUR EXPERIMENT (You can display this at the Science Fair)

2. WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

3. MAKE ALL MEASUREMENTS AND RECORD THEM

**ANALYZE DATA** then…

MAKE A CONCLUSION12

Compare your results to your hypothesisDoes your hypothesis match your results?

YES?Your experiment is ready to be repeated by other scientists and yourself

NO?Your experiment needs to be modified to see if you can get the hypothesis and result to match. For our Science Fair, modification is not required for second grade, but they should be encouraged to problem solve and report on their thoughts.

Communicate your results in a final paper or project.Display “Conclusion” on your Tri-Fold.

COMMUNICATE RESULTS

IT’S SHOW TIME!!Many people will be looking at your science experiment results on your tri-fold, and will want to know all about your project. Plan a memorized, 20 to 30 second speech, telling a little about your experiment. Then encourage guests to ask questions. Your project will be reviewed by a panel of experts. They will give you important, written input about your project.

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EXHIBITING YOUR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTThe display board is very important because it is the first thing

people see.

The boards will be provided by the Science Fair Committee if you signed up. If you did not sign up, you will need to supply your own for this classroom project.

The display' board should be eye-catching and attractive. You want it to quickly capture the attention of the audience so they will stop and take a closer look at your science fair project.

You state the problem you investigated in the form of a question, your hypothesis, the methods you used, the results you obtained, and the conclusion you reached. Attached to the display board are pictures, graphs or charts that help you tell the story of your science fair project.

EVERYTHING ABOUT THE DISPLAY BOARD MUST BE NEAT AND ATTRACTIVE.

This is just one possible way of many, to set up your Science Board.14

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Here is a nice, colorful science board!16

I know that you are going to enjoy the Science Fair. I hope to see you

participate in it every year.Science is COOL!

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