hilltopchristianschool.com · Web viewGrade 7 and 8Experiments may be in any chosen field of science: Chemistry, physics, earth science, environmental science, computer science, mathematics,

Science Project Due Dates7th & 8th (2017-2018)

Monday, November 13 Problem Selection Worksheet due (Project must be approved by 11/20)

Wednesday, December 6 Log Book needs to be in class

Tuesday, December 12 Background Paper Rough Draft

Wednesday, December 13 First Log Book check

Wednesday, January 10 Log Book Check

Wednesday January 24 Log Book Check

Wednesday, January 31 Experimental Paper Rough Draft

Wednesday, February 14 Experimental Paper Final

Monday, March 5 Abstract

Monday, March 12 Display Boards due

Tuesday, March 13 Science Fair

Science Project Due Dates9th & 10th

(2017-2018)

Wednesday, August 30 Log Book needs to be in class & Problem Selection Worksheet due (Project must be approved by 09/01)

Wednesday, September 13 Forms A & B Due

Friday, September 15 Bibliography cards

Tuesday, September 19 Outline

Tuesday, September 26 Logbook Check

Monday, October 2 Notecard check

Monday, October 9 Notecard check

Wednesday, October 18 Final Notecard check

Monday, October 30 Log Book Check & first half of the Library Research Paper Rough Draft

Wednesday, November 8 Complete typed rough draft

Wednesday, November 29 Final copy of Library Research paper

Wednesday, December 6 Log Book Check

Wednesday, January 17 Log Book Check

Wednesday, January 24 Research Paper Rough Draft (experiment portion only)

Wednesday, February 7 Final copy of Research paper due

Wednesday, February 28 Abstract

Monday, March 12 Display Boards due

Tuesday, March 13 Science Fair

Science Fair ManualTable of Contents

Introduction

Picking a Topic

Choosing a Control and Variable

Logbook

Research Paper

Conducting the Experiment

Experimental Paper

Abstract

Graph

Display Board

Forms A and B

IntroductionStudents in grades 7-10 will complete projects that will be displayed at our annual

Science Fair in the spring. The project begins the beginning of the school year and ends

in the spring on the date of the science fair.

The general order for the progression of the science fair assignments is as follows (See

the “HCS Science Fair Due Dates” that each student will receive at the beginning of the

year for the exact dates.):

Aug/Sep Chose a topic

Sep Problem Selection Worksheet

Sep Forms A & B and any misc. forms (your teacher will let

you know what additional forms are necessary)

Sep Record basic information about experiment in logbook:

General overview of experiment, planned steps, control,

variable, problem statement, hypothesis (if the student has

enough information to formulate a hypothesis at this point),

and how/why the experiment was chosen

Grades 9/10 Sep-Nov Write the research paper

Grades 7/8 Dec Write the background paper

Jan Conduct the experiment. The experiment may be

conducted at any time but needs to be completed by

January.

Sep-Jan Logbook entries

Jan/Feb Experimental paper

Feb/March Abstract

March Display board

Choosing an ExperimentExperiment Approval

Students are to submit several experiment ideas at the beginning of the year.

The experiment must be able to be completed by the student with little to minimal

help only. Parents may advise but the student should be able to conduct the

experiment themselves with only minimal supervision if necessary. If more than

oversight is required than the experiment is too difficult for the grade/skill level of

the student.

All experiments require approval from parents and their science teacher.

Generally teachers do not approve more than one of the same experiment per

grade

Students are prohibited from choosing topic ideas that siblings have done in the

past or they have done in prior years

The following experiments will not be approved: Ice melting or freezing or what

woods burn best

Requirements for Field of Science by Grade

Grade 7 and 8 Experiments may be in any chosen field of science: Chemistry, physics,

earth science, environmental science, computer science, mathematics, or

the life sciences.

Grade 9 Experiments should be in the physical sciences: Chemistry or physics

Grade 10 Experiments should be in life sciences: Biology, biochemistry, etc.

General Information About Experiment Selection

Experiments must answer a scientific statement: Must be observable and in the present.

Experiments must produce numeral (quantifiable) results or can be translated into

numerical results per standard for the field of study

Consumer reports are prohibited

Original ideas that the student has come up with themselves are encouraged. Judges in

particular want to see fresh ideas and new ways of solving a practical problem

Students should observe the world around them for general ideas. For example, why is

this insect more energetic? What factors causes gases to constrict or expand? Do

different foods help with concentration?

Students may also use the internet for experiment ideas or help with designing and

creating an original experiment.

Experiment should benefit society or mankind.

Experiments that offer practical solutions to everyday problems make excellent

experiments

All experiments must be repeatable

Grade 7 and 8: Experiments involving living organisms are restricted to invertebrates

only

Grades 9 and 10: Experiments may include vertebrates and human test subjects.

o Requirements for approval for human test subjects (behavioral and social science

experiments):

The student must seek approval from a supervising adult (if dealing

minors) or each test subject prior to final approval.

The student must submit a plan for dealing with the different variables

involved when performing tests on humans such as researcher bias.

Cost should be a consideration when choosing an experiment

Control and VariableStudents should identify the control and variable in order to properly conduct their

experiment. This is vital to performing a proper scientific experiment.

Control

The control is the factor or variable that is not changed or tested on in the experiment. It

provides the baseline to determine if the variable that you are testing is producing the

results or not.

Variable

The variable is the fact that is tested. It is what is manipulated during the course of the

experiment.

Independent Variable: The variable that is not changed by the factors you are

trying to measure. It is often a period of time or a person’s age.

Dependent Variable: The variable that is the factor actually being tested or

measured.

Both variables are measured.

For example, if you are testing the effects of concentration of fertilizer (the variable) on

plants, the plant that does not receive fertilizer would be the control. The concentration

of fertilizer would represent the independent variable and the dependent variable would

be the plant height or change in its mass.

LogbookThe logbook is legal, handwritten documentation of the entire project. It is the most

extensive portion of the science fair project. It should include every detail of the project

as well as the thought processes on why the project was chosen. It should be so detailed

that any reader should be able to replicate the experiment and get the same results using

the logbook without the help of the student. Pictures should be taken throughout the

process and are not included in the logbook. They should be placed in a separate folder.

Logbook

It should be a thread-bound composition notebook as the binding does not allow for easy

tampering.

Entries

Every entry must include a date and an approximate time (9:10 am). Only blue or black

ink is permitted. No erasures or “white-out” is allowed. If a mistake is made one line

through the information should be made. If an entire page needs to be cross out, a single

line through the entire page is permitted and the page may be folded back. Pages should

be numbered. The logbook is not checked for spelling, grammar, etc. It is a working

document of the scientific process. It should, however, be organized and understandable.

It should be clear what is being done and why.

Identification

The first two pages should be left blank. The first page will be the title page and should

contain the title of the project, the name of the student, the name of the student’s science

teacher, and the name of the student’s school. The second page is the table of contents.

The front of the book should have the student’s name and may be decorated.

Length

Length will vary depending on the complexity of the information.

Logbook Sample

Research PaperThe typed research paper should contain only background scientific information about

the topic. It should not contain any details about the actual experiment itself as this is

reserved for the experimental paper.

High School

Format

MLA. Purdue Owl is an excellent resource for up-to-date formatting

Length

Four to six pages maximum

Junior High

Format

ABEKA. The best resource is their ABEKA English book.

Length

One to two pages maximum

Sample Research Paper

Note: 1 inch margins all around

Note: MLA date format is day, month, and year (no punctuation)

Conducting the ExperimentStudents are to be preferably conduct all experimenting by themselves. Parents may

assist when extra hands are necessary but students should be the ones primarily

responsible for the experiment and analysis of the data. Parents should act in a supervisor

role overseeing safety and assisting. Again the primary experimenter should be the

student.

Safety

Parents are to supervise for safety and if necessary the student may be required to have a

qualified supervisor (someone familiar with the type of experiment the student is

conducting) per the discretion of the teacher.

Experimental PaperThe experimental paper should contain only information pertinent to the actual

experiment. Reminder only proper SI/metric units should be used (centimeters, grams,

milliliters, etc.). It should contain the following:

Synopsis of the experiment

Why the experiment was chosen

The purpose of the experiment

Hypothesis

Control and variable

Experimental procedure

Averaged results (individual results should be omitted)

Analysis of data

Was the hypothesis proven or disproven?

Why these results were achieved

Conclusions

Any possible flaws or causes of error in the experimentation

Suggestions for further research/experimentation

How the project can benefit society (practical application)

Format

9th & 10th Grades: MLA

7th & 8th Grades: ABEKA

Length

Two to three pages maximum

Sample Experimental Paper

AbstractThe abstract summarizes your experiment in 200-250 words and on one sheet of paper. Its purpose is to put the best face on the project and “sell” it. It should be on your display board and should follow the table of contents in the research paper. The document should be in 12-point font with one inch margins all around.

Format

It should be titled in the following manner single spaced and flush with the left-hand margin:

AbstractName of ProjectStudent’s nameStudent’s school name

Information to Include

The summary of your project should single spaced and include the following information:

Problem statement Hypothesis Control Variable Materials Summary of the process Summary of the results Conclusion

Abstract Sample

GraphEvery display board must include a graph. A graph is a visual representation of the

results and should allow any reader to quickly see any relationship or trends in the data.

If no graph can be produced it is likely the experiment chosen is not empiric or scientific

in nature. All results should be quantifiable (numerical) thus allowing the data to be

represented in a visual way.

Format

The style of graph chosen will depend on what data is being graphed. A pie chart is

excellent for showing relationships between parts of a whole (percentages) but would not

be a good choice for showing which car traveled the fastest (car type vs time graph). The

latter could be represented using a simple bar graph.

Required Information to Include

Each graph must contain the following:

Title

X and Y-axes must be labeled

SI/metric units used to measure the data should be clearly labeled, along with its

abbreviation in parenthesis, on the proper corresponding axis.

Graph Sample

Display Board The maximum dimensions for the display board are 64” by 48” The display board should be a threefold board (these are available at most school and

office supply stores) The title should be 1.5”- 3.0” tall Subtitles should be 1” tall All information must be typed.  (Use an 18-24 point font.  The goal is to be able to read it

from a distance of ten feet. Abstracts should remain in 12-point font.)Require Subtitles

Problem:  A statement of the question or problem you investigated. Hypothesis:  What you thought the solution to your question or problem would

be before you began the experiment. Procedure:  A step-by-step explanation of the process you followed to perform

your investigation.  You need to include your materials, control, and variable in this section or make them separate sections on the own. 

Results:  A mathematical statement of the outcome represented by a graph. Conclusion:  A statement of the conclusion based on the mathematical data, an

explanation of the support or lack of support for your hypothesis, and the practical application of your project.

Abstract. An apparatus or any items that can be practically and safely displayed should accompany

the display board.  If nothing fits those criteria then photographs may be displayed instead. 

A project ID card should be placed on the top right hand corner of the back of the board.  It should include the following:

Title Student name Student’s school and state Classification (for example, Senior High Biological Science or Junior High Earth

Science) 

Your logbook, research paper, forms and addenda notebooks should be displayed.

Display Board Samples

Sample Forms A and B