Science Fair!

Science Fair!

Everything you need to know. . .

What is a science fair project?

Student groups design & perform an experiment following the scientific method.

Each group member will prepare a written scientific method.

The group will create an informative display about the experiment.

These projects allow students to experiment, make decisions, form and reform hypothesis, test and examine ideas, seek solutions, and most important learn more about themselves and their world.

Guidelines

5. Groups must contain 2-3 students. All partners must contribute—individual grades will be assigned for individual contributions. Each group member will be responsible for his/her own information (scientific method). All members’ reports will be displayed at the fair.

6. Each entry must have a display which may not take up more than ½ table.

7. All safety precautions must be followed.

1. All projects must follow the experimental format.

2. All projects must be approved by the classroom teacher.

3. No experiments or demonstrations may be conducted that will endanger humans or animals.

4. All supplies must be supplied by the students and their parents if they are not available from the science room.

Choosing a topic

Pick a topic that you have a question about

It will be directly related to your class (i.e. Biology students choose a biology topic)

Most importantly: Pick something you ENJOY!

Steps of the scientific method

1. Stating the problem2. Gather information on the problem3. Forming a Hypothesis4. Perform experiment to test the

hypothesis (procedure)5. Record and analyze data (results)6. State a conclusion7. Repeating the work

State the Problem

What do you want to find out?

State the general area of study—no specifics yet

Usually no more than one sentence

Research

Search for all important information related to the problem and write as a research paper.

You may use a combin-ation of the following: Internet, CD Roms, books, magazines, museums, & experts.

Keep accurate notes of all sources of information. These will be included at the end of your research paper.

Research Rubric

Keep working Almost there Great! Information given Add new ideas

about the general topic

Add other uses or information about topic

Sufficient topics covered

Depth of information

Dig much deeper into information discussed

Give more details about topics

Topics thoroughly covered

Sources Needs to cite sources

Gather information from more sources

Enough sources, cited all

Conventions Rework sentence or paragraph structure

Fix misspellings and punctuation errors

No errors

Make a Hypothesis

Make an intelligent guess

What do you think will happen?

You will build your research around this statement

Procedure

Select the best method in designing your experiment. Possibilities include: survey, observation, comparison, and controlled.

Test only one variable Keep a detailed log of

all steps—someone should be able to copy your steps and perform the exact same experiment

Record and Analyze Data (Results)

Data will be recorded and displayed in a logical manner

Recording results: Use the metric

system for all measurements

Locate & properly use the right lab equipment

Displaying results: Use chart or graph

when possible Create on the

computer

State a Conclusion At the end of your testing, review the results. What happened? Include the following:

Was your hypothesis correct? Why did these results happen? Are your results accurate? Why? What would you do differently next time? Why? What did you learn by conducting this experiment? What are the real-life applications of this experiment?

Repeat the Work

Repeat work to prove the evidence is accurate

May perform multiple tests at once or repeat the work at the completion of the initial testing

Repeat if time allows

Presenting your Project All steps of the scientific

method and display materials will be typed

Your area for display will be ½ table (4’ in length, 16” in depth—exceptions may be made)

Your display must begin with an appropriate “attention getter” such as a catchy title, a question, comment, or quotation

Your display must incorporate 2+ illustrations or models. Illustrations may include

graphs, tables, charts, maps, pictures, etc.

Models may include something you have created using your new knowledge, or your testing materials themselves.

Examples of Displays

Examples of displays (Health Science Meet)

Evaluation

Individual rubric—will be different for each group member; relies on individual scientific methods

Group rubric—will be the same for all group members; is used by judges the night of the science fair and grades presentation

You will be evaluated using 2 scoring rubrics. Individual Group

These grades will be averaged together

Individual RubricTitle of project: Class: Name: PeeWee Herman A Zoom kid Bill Nye Einstein! Deadlines met 0 to 2 deadlines met 3 to 4 deadlines met 5 to 6 deadlines met 7 to 8 deadlines met

Application/de-monstration of the scientific method

Did not use the sequence of the sci. method.

Incorrectly uses the steps in the sci. method or is missing steps.

Correctly uses all steps in the sci. method out of sequence.

Correctly uses all steps in the sci. method in sequence.

Quality of work Steps have insufficient amounts of material or are inaccurate.

Steps have incomplete amounts of material or have major errors.

Steps are devoid of details or have minor errors.

All steps are complete and accurate.

Comments:

Individual grade: __________ = % 300

Group Rubric

Title of project: Class: Group members: Back to the

drawing board Try repeating your work

Team players Next Nobel team

Audience appeal

No ‘attention getter.’ Does not involve audience OR audience cannot relate to presentation.

‘Attention getter’ is present but not effective. Audience is involved but it is meaning-less OR audience has difficulty relating to presentation.

‘Attention getter’ is present. Audience has limited participation OR audience has a lack of interest in presentation.

Appropriate and effective ‘attention getter.’ Audience is involved OR audience has a vested interest in presentation.

Process used Information and process are completely inaccurate.

Information and process lack vital information.

Information and process has minor errors.

Information and process are accurate.

Knowledge Students cannot explain the process used. Students could not answer any questions.

Students attempted to explain the process used. Students attempted to answer questions.

Students explain the process used but have doubts about explana-tions. Students provide plausible answers to questions.

Students are able to explain the process used. Students correctly answer questions.

Appearance Visual displays are distracting or ineffective. Students are dressed inappropriately for a presentation.

Visual displays are neatly done, but do not add to presentation. Students dressed casually.

Visual displays add to presentation. Students dressed nicely.

Overall high effect of visual displays. Students dressed appropriately for a presentation.

Comments:

Group grade: __________ = % 400

Dress RubricHighest

High

Low

Lowest

What to wearIdentities have been hidden to

protect those involved.

7 pm

8 pm

9 pm

And what NOT to wear

Science Fair Night

Science Fair Night

CalendarJanuary 2011

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 Groups & topics approved

12 13 Problem Due Student Form Due

14WORK DAYResearch

15

16 17 18WORK DAYResearch

19 20 21Research DueForm Hypothesis

22

23 24 25 26 27 28Hypothesis Due

29

30 31

CalendarFebruary 2011

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3WORK DAYTesting

4 No School

5

6 71:00 OutSLC

8 9 10WORK DAYTesting

11 12

13 14 15 16WORK DAYTesting

17 18No School

19

20 21 22 23WORK DAYProcedure

24Procedure Due

25 26

27 28No School

CalendarMarch 2011

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3Data Analysis Due

4No School

5

6 7 Health Science Meet

8 9 10 11No School

12

13 14 15 16Conclusion Due

17 18WORK DAYVisuals

19

20 21 22 23Visual Display Due

24 25Completed Projects Due

26

27 28 29 30 31 7-9 pm

SCIENCE FAIR