Mentor Training Session

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Mentor Training Session 2

• Science Fair Project Overview

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Key Point 1

• ALL email between mentor and buddy parent are
  sent to the communications committee. Likewise
  any specific problems/concerns regarding mentors
  or buddies may be directed to the following
• communications_at_mvsciencealliance.org
• ALL project questions ALSO get sent to YOUR
  MENTOR TRAINER __________________and Mrs.
  Carothers p.carothers_at_mvsciencealliance.org

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Review Point 2

• Come to the commons at 330 Friday to get your
  Buddy contact information and his/her photograph.
  Check in at the communications desks by alphabet.
• You will find your buddy underneath his/her
  school sign. Bring a photograph of yourself to
  give to the buddy.
• At this first meeting bond with your buddy and
  the buddy parent!!

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Project Overview

• Remember to ask your buddies about the due date
  for their science fair project if it is for
  school
• Remind your buddies to keep a research journal to
  take notes at the meetings and when conducting
  their experiment

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• Between Nov 6 and December 7 You will help your
  buddy
• Set up a research notebook Choose a topic.
• Create a testable question about the topic.
• Research background information on the topic.
• Create a hypothesis.
• Thats as far as we expect you to get from
  November 6 - Dec 7. At the next mentor training
  November 18th youll get training on the next
  steps

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• Things to remember
• Most of these students have never done a science
  fair project before- so be patient with them!
• If the buddies have done experiments, they were
  done under their teachers supervision- This may
  be their very first project without teacher
  supervision
• Your primary responsibility will be to help them
  through the process from beginning to end.
• You are like a teacher who GUIDES the students
  project.

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• DONT simply give your buddies the answers ask
  them questions that will make them think.
• It is really important that you make it clear to
  the buddys parent that your role is not to
  conduct the experiment for the buddy. You are
  their Mentor not their partner.
• Do NOT procrastinate with deadlines!
• The buddy may need more time to work on something
  than you would.

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Scientific Method
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REVIEW OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• The scientific method is a process for
  experimentation that is used to explore
  observations and answer questions.
• Use the scientific method to search for cause and
  effect relationships
• Your buddy and you will design an experiment so
  that changes to one item cause something else to
  vary in a predictable way.
• The scientific method will help you to focus your
  science fair project question, construct a
  hypothesis, design, execute, and evaluate your
  experiment.

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Steps in Designing and Performing Your Experiment

• Form a testable question, devise an experiment to
  find a possible answer
• Conduct a thorough background research on the
  topic
• Make a hypothesis in the If .... then ...
  because format
• Example If green tea extract is applied to a
  growing culture of E.coli, then the bacteria will
  not grow because green tea extract stops
  bacterial reproduction.

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• Complete the experiment be safe, use multiple
  trials, and record data
• Analyze the data and form a conclusion
• Include a statement about any additional
  questions that arose during the experiment that
  could be used for future research.

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Buddies must not use any hazardous chemicals or
microbes other than those approved by Mrs.
Carothers. Check with your mentor trainer and
with Mrs. Carothers if unsure. Refer to RULES
handout.
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Safety Rules

• Buddies must wear proper protective gloves,
  apron, and goggles if using any approved
  chemicals. Your buddy may borrow goggles from
  Mrs. Carothers
• If you are taking pictures of your buddies- make
  sure they are wearing gloves!
• If the project requires any special equipment,
  check with Mrs. Carothers to borrow/ check-out
  the necessary supplies from her lab.

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A really good information site about Science Fair
http//www.sciencebuddies.org/
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Now for some important information about the
Fun Activity that you and your buddies will be
doing at Fridays meeting!Lastly, please
remember to be prompt- 330 in the
commons!!Thanks have a nice day )