It’s Science Project time!

It’s Science Project It’s Science Project time!time!

Tools to Get Your

Students Ready!

Training GuideSecondary Science

Clayton County Public Schools

The Science Fair is in the The Science Fair is in the air!air!

With proper With proper planning and planning and communicatiocommunication, Science Fair n, Science Fair time is not so time is not so bad!bad!

Science Project Science Project ExpectationsExpectations

•For each grade level, what are your expectations for your students?

•Are all students be expected to complete an individual science project? Will you allow group projects?

•Will all students need to share the same experience with science projects?

Where should I start?Where should I start?

Plan, Plan, and Plan again!Plan, Plan, and Plan again!– This should be done This should be done beforebefore students students

are given any information!are given any information!– Work with your department and Work with your department and

team to determine your course of team to determine your course of action.action.

– Decide on critical dates – library or Decide on critical dates – library or Internet research, laptop cart.Internet research, laptop cart.

– Be sure to consult with Connections Be sure to consult with Connections teachers for assistance.teachers for assistance.

Did I Did I say say

plan?plan?

Next Steps?Next Steps?

Students should begin to hear Students should begin to hear information about Science Projects as information about Science Projects as soon as possible. soon as possible.

Plan to set some time aside from your Plan to set some time aside from your daily lessons to formally introduce daily lessons to formally introduce science projects. Make it a big deal! science projects. Make it a big deal!

Be prepared to send home an official Be prepared to send home an official parent letter and calendar parent letter and calendar ((samples samples includedincluded).).

Full speed ahead!Full speed ahead!

Most students will become really Most students will become really anxious once they get information about anxious once they get information about the project. Many may already have an the project. Many may already have an idea (sometimes way off base) for what idea (sometimes way off base) for what they want to do.they want to do.

This is the best time to review with This is the best time to review with them the Scientific Method (using a them the Scientific Method (using a standards-based activity) and even standards-based activity) and even show a short video on choosing a show a short video on choosing a science project.science project.

You are going to do You are going to do what!what!

Regardless of the grade level or Regardless of the grade level or ability level, topics should be ability level, topics should be approved by you!approved by you!A list of “off-limit” project should A list of “off-limit” project should be established based on level and be established based on level and ISEF rules.ISEF rules.Have students include a brief Have students include a brief description of what they plan to do description of what they plan to do before you approve.before you approve.Be sure to explain the difference Be sure to explain the difference between a science project and a between a science project and a demonstration or activity. demonstration or activity.

ResearchResearch

Background research is a vital part of Background research is a vital part of a Science Project. a Science Project.

Teachers should walk students Teachers should walk students through this process.through this process.

Employ the assistance of your Literacy Employ the assistance of your Literacy teachers and your Media Specialist.teachers and your Media Specialist.

Be sure to allot sufficient time for Be sure to allot sufficient time for research. research.

Agree upon a response to “Agree upon a response to “I don’t I don’t have a computer at homehave a computer at home”.”.

ExperimentationExperimentation

All experimentation should be done at All experimentation should be done at home unless you have given student home unless you have given student permission to work after school. permission to work after school. (Refer to (Refer to ISEF Rules)ISEF Rules)Require students to submit their Require students to submit their Experimental Plan for approval before Experimental Plan for approval before experimentation phase begins.experimentation phase begins.All students who aspire to participate in All students who aspire to participate in regional fair must conduct an experiment regional fair must conduct an experiment and use a Log Bookand use a Log Book(per ISEF).(per ISEF).

Display BoardsDisplay BoardsStudents will need to see examples of how a Students will need to see examples of how a project display board should look. project display board should look.

If you do not have a previous student’s project to If you do not have a previous student’s project to display, create one that shows the components.display, create one that shows the components.

Work with your administration to assist students Work with your administration to assist students who are financially unable to purchase a display who are financially unable to purchase a display board. Title I funds can be used to purchase board. Title I funds can be used to purchase boards (boards (Principal’s discretionPrincipal’s discretion). ).

Consider recycling old boards.Consider recycling old boards.

Consider alternate methods to displays projects at Consider alternate methods to displays projects at the classroom level, i.e- glogster, prezi, etc. the classroom level, i.e- glogster, prezi, etc.

Presentation DayPresentation Day

As you teach using the GPS, allow As you teach using the GPS, allow students ample opportunities to speak students ample opportunities to speak in front of their peers. Although in front of their peers. Although students may still be nervous, they students may still be nervous, they would have had practice.would have had practice.

As students present, consider what As students present, consider what your other students are doing. Could your other students are doing. Could they possibly use a rubric to evaluate they possibly use a rubric to evaluate their peers projects?their peers projects?

Make a big deal out of it!Make a big deal out of it!

The School Science FairThe School Science Fair

Students whose projects Students whose projects are selected should be are selected should be notified ASAP.notified ASAP.

Your Science Fair Your Science Fair Coordinator will work Coordinator will work closely with you to closely with you to prepare your selected prepare your selected students for the School students for the School Fair.Fair.

Regional and State FairsRegional and State Fairs

Students should be encouraged to Students should be encouraged to strive to be selected to compete strive to be selected to compete on the Regional and State Level.on the Regional and State Level.

Consider showing examples of Consider showing examples of projects that have gone to these projects that have gone to these fairs.fairs.

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resourceshttp://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/science-projects.shtmlhttp://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.htmlcategory0.htmlhttp://school.discoveryeducation.com/http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/sciencefaircentral/http://www.elmers.com/products/sciencefair/http://www.elmers.com/products/sciencefair/index.aspindex.asphttp://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/pages/http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/pages/sciencefairzone/studenttips.aspsciencefairzone/studenttips.asphttp://www.scifair.org/http://www.scifair.org/dr.shawns4fundamentalrules.htmldr.shawns4fundamentalrules.htmlhttp://www.ri.net/schools/East_Greenwich/Cole/http://www.ri.net/schools/East_Greenwich/Cole/sciencefair.htmlsciencefair.htmlhttp://www.societyforscience.org/Page.aspx?pid=310http://www.societyforscience.org/Page.aspx?pid=310http://www.societyforscience.org/Page.aspx?pid=312http://www.societyforscience.org/Page.aspx?pid=312