St. Mary’s Catholic School Science Fair 2012-2013 Student Kickoff – 7 th and 8 th grade.

St. Mary’s Catholic School Science Fair

2012-2013Student Kickoff – 7th and 8th grade

St. Mary’s Science Fair

Resources you can call on Teachers (Mrs. Cwalina, Mrs. Voelker & Mrs.

Genth) Science Fair Coordinators

Mr. & Mrs. Grossbauer : (610-489-5598 / [email protected] )

Parents Guidebook

Take some time to read through it now, refer to it later

St. Mary’s Science Fair

CalendarCalendar GB pg-3

Research plans dueResearch plans due October 26, 2012October 26, 2012 Projects Due January 16, 2013 SMS Science Fair January 17, 2013

St. Mary’s Science Fair

What does it mean to go to Montco Fair? After our science fair is complete, we will be

selecting a handful of projects to compete at the Montgomery County Science Research Competition (MCSRC)

The MCSRC works very similar to ours Judges review the project Judges perform an oral interview of the scientist

MCSRC is held March 21st – 24th DVSF Fair is April 2nd – April 4th

St. Mary’s Science Fair

Certain kinds of experiments require approval from the MCSRC Science Committee before you are allowed to start Any experiment that involves animals or humans

This includes any experiment that involves surveys

We are asking that NO projects involve ingestion – eating or drinking of anything Done for safety reasons

St. Mary’s Science Fair

There are a forms to be filled out (GB pg-9) When you submit your research plan, there are a couple of forms (simple!)

for you to complete and submit Your package will include a Research plan, Form 1A & 1B Anything involving humans needs Form 4 too

Depending upon your particular project, there may be other forms required; we will contact you if needed

All forms are on the SMS Website

There are some instructions in the guidebook, if you

have any questions on the forms, just ask.

St. Mary’s Science Fair

Focus Areas…

St. Mary’s Science Fair Research Plans

Each student must submit a typed research plan (GB pg 8) Describes the experiment, the hypothesis being made along

with the description of the experimental procedure Should include a bibliography of the resources used for

researching the subject

Research plans must be approved by the teacher and science fair coordinator You will receive a feedback form approving or rejecting your

experiment, along with some suggestions (GB pg 10) You can update it as the experiment progresses

Example Research Plan

St. Mary’s Science Fair Spend time doing research

Books, Magazines, Internet sources, Experts

The more you know and understand the subject, the better you will be able to conduct the experiment, and then to be able to communicate it with others

Judges are looking for you to have understood your subject

A bibliography with 1 source is not sufficient research; MCSRC is looking for at least 5 sources

St. Mary’s Science Fair

Data Analysis What’s the difference between Data and Information?

Data raw facts no context just numbers and text

Information data with context processed data value-added to data

summarized organized analyzed

Data vs. InformationData 6.34 6.45 6.39 6.62 6.57 6.64 6.71 6.82 7.12 7.06

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Information

Data is raw material & unorganized facts that need to be processedWhen data are processed, organized, structured or presented in a given context so as to make them useful, they are called Information

Data InformationData

Information

Summarizing the data

Averaging the data

Selecting part of the data

Graphing the data

Adding context

Adding value

St. Mary’s Science Fair

Display (GB pg-11) Your display should show

all the major parts of doing the project.

Make it look good ! This is not an art project, but the fact is, the first impression on the judges is the display. Make sure everything is

spelled correctly!

Purpose

Hypothesis

Procedure

Project Title

Data Tables

Photos

Graphs

Abstract

Bibliography

Experimental Materials Journal

Typical Display Setup

Conclusion

St. Mary’s Science Fair

Display restrictions (GB pg-12) Displays can be no wider than 36” and no taller than 48” Do NOT place your name or the school name on your display Not allowed on/with your display :

Living things, including plants Food Chemicals including water Glass or glass objects

Take pictures and display the pictures Photographs of people other than yourself or your immediate

family are not allowed; add a citation of who took the photos

Use Metric units for all measurements and data

St. Mary’s Science Fair

Final Reminder NotesFinal Reminder Notes Do research – many sources are available; you should have at least

5 Research plans need to be typed Return the required forms, including parent signatures No ingestion experiments please Keep a journal – record everything you do Change only one variable at a time Do a sufficient number of trials Units on your display must be in metric It’s OK if your hypothesis was wrong

DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST WEEK TO WORK ON YOUR PROJECT!!

St. Mary’s Science Fair