Science Fair Projects

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Science Fair Projects

• 2011-2012

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School Districts Requirements

• Grades K-2 Emphasis is on providing initial
  instruction in the Science Project processes.
  Doing at least one Whole Class Science Project
  is required.
• Grades 3-6Emphasis is two-fold
• Teaching the Science Project processes in greater
  depth.
• Completion of individual science projects in
  class.

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Teacher Approval of Projects

• Teachers should approve and help develop project
  questions early in the process. They will
  consider safety, student ability, content
  complexity, availability of resources, and
  appropriateness.
• If the project is initially disapproved, they
  will explain why and guide the student to a more
  suitable project on the same topic, if possible.
• Avoid projects that are beyond the students
  understanding. We want to see that the child
  completed the project with your help not vice
  versa.

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Guidelines

• Students are NOT allowed to do projects that are
  clearly or potentially dangerous.
• No firearms, knives, or other items that could be
  considered as weapons. This includes paintball
  guns.
• Projects involving testing with controlled
  substances, alcohol, tobacco, etcare not
  allowed.
• The use of any potentially dangerous chemicals,
  devices, and activities require direct
  supervision by a Designated Supervisor.

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Guidelines

• Projects involving microbial experimentation
  should only be done with expert supervision.
• This includes, but is not limited to, projects
  involving blood, growing mold, bacteria , fungi,
  etc
• Samples should NOT be collected from the
  environment.
• Instead, all samples should be obtained from a
  science supplier/ company.
• Students and parents must fill out and sign a
  BSL-1 Checklist, Qualified Scientist Form, and
  Designated Supervisor Form. (obtain from
  teacher)
• NO project without the appropriate forms will be
  accepted.

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Forms

• Elementary Science Project Research Plan and
  Approval Form (MANDATORY FOR ALL)
• Qualified Scientist Form
• This is a medical doctor, nurse, veterinarian, or
  someone with relevant science credentials
• Designated Supervisor Form
• Must be trained by the Qualified Scientist if
  he/she is not able to directly supervise
  experimentation
• BSL-1 Checklist Form
• If doing microbial experimentation

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Guidelines

• Projects involving invertebrates (worms,
  daphnia, fruit flies, snails, insects, etc) must
  have a clear purpose that has scientific
  significance. No form needed.
• Invertebrates must be treated humanely.

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Guidelines

• Projects involving non-human vertebrates
  (including embryos, eggs, tadpoles, etc) are
  held to a higher standard.
• Vertebrates must be treated humanely.
• A project with a mortality rate of 30 or greater
  is not permitted even if the deaths were
  unintentional or accidental.
• If you are changing their environment, then you
  must have a Qualified Scientist Form and a
  Designated Supervisor Form.

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So what kind of a project is required?

• Allowable Projects Experimental type projects
  that use the scientific method with a testable
  question.
• Ex. How Does caffeine affect the growth rate of
  roses?
• Projects Not Allowed
• Research projects
  (What is a hurricane?)
• Models
  (a paper mache' volcano).
• As fun and educational as they may be, these do
  not involve testing!

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Science Project Categories

• Physical Projects related to the physical
  sciences such as physics, chemistry and astronomy
  that deal primarily with non-living materials.

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Science Project Categories

• Biological Projects that deal with the vital
  processes of living organisms and how these
  processes are affected as a result of
  manipulating a variable. No animals may be
  harmed intentionally OR accidentally.

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Science Project Categories

• Environmental Projects dealing with humans
  relationship with the earth and humans effect on
  the earth. The student should show clearly the
  connection between humans and their environment
  both in the written and oral presentation.

2 main types how humans affect the environment,
and how the environment affects humans.
Very tough to do, but very easy to win if done
right!
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Project Overview
Question

• Two preferred formats
• How does ______ affect the ______ of _______?
• What are the effects of ____ on the ____ of____?

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Project Overview
Variables

• Independent Variable The variable you are
  testing.
• Dependent Variable The variable that you will
  record and measure. Its changes depend on the
  independent variable.
• Control Variable All aspects of the experiment
  that remain constant (unchanged).
• How Does Caffeine Affect the Growth Rate of
  Roses?
• What is the Effect of Coke on the Decay of
  Teeth?

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Project Overview
Research

• After Question, before Hypothesis
• Become an expert on your topic
• Internet, reference books, professionals, etc
• Include in Daily Log
• 5th/6th grade required Bibliography
• http//www.easybib.com/

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Project Overview
Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a statement about what you think
  will happen in the experiment. It is stated in a
  positive manner. Avoid statements like I think
  and I predict. The hypothesis should be in the
  form of If ___, then___. Examples
• If I measure the bouncing height of a new
  basketball with three different pressures, then
  the ball with the highest pressure will bounce
  10 higher.
• If I feed my dog four different dog foods, then
  he will like Alpo the best.
• If I survey all students in my kindergarten class
  about their favorite color gummy bear, then most
  students will choose green.

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Project Overview
Materials

• The materials section is a detailed list of
  everything used in the experiment. Include what,
  how much, and what kind of things used. They are
  typically measured in metrics.

• Non-Example
• Water
• Flower pots
• Seeds
• Dirt

• Example
• 5 liters of rain water
• Six 4 cm. clay pots
• 12 bush bean seeds
• 10 liters of potting soil

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Project Overview
Procedure

• The procedure is a listing of steps that must be
  done to complete the experiment. It does not
  only say what should be done, but HOW it should
  be done.
• It should be much like a recipe.

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Project Overview
Analyzing the Results

• Results include both data and observations.
• Look at measurements recorded in the Data Section
  of the Daily Log.
• Think about the data and observations and decide
  what those results mean.
• Try to use mathematical calculations such as
  mean, median, mode, and range.
• Construct graphs or tables that will show results
  clearly.

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Project Overview
Writing the Conclusion

• Look at the data. The conclusion can be written
  in two paragraphs.
• Did the data support the hypothesis? If not, why
  do you think it did not? What would be done
  differently the next time?
• Do not worry about negative results, or results
  that come out differently than expected. Just
  explain why you think you got those results. If
  the results turned out as expected, explain why
  you think it turned out this way.

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Project Overview
Writing the Summary

• The summary is a wrap-up of the entire project.
  It should be very comprehensive and complete. It
  can be written in 5 paragraphs.
• See Science Project Handbook (turquoise booklet)
  for examples and step by step instructions on how
  to write a summary.

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Project Overview
Writing the Summary

• Paragraph 1 Tell what the question was and why
  you chose this topic.
• My problem is _______? I decided on this
  project because_______. I started asking
  questions and found out that_____________

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Project Overview
Writing the Summary

• Paragraph 2 Tell the hypothesis and explain why
  you thought this would happen.
• My hypothesis was ____________. I thought this
  would be true because_________.

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Project Overview
Writing the Summary

• Paragraph 3 Tell how you tested the hypothesis.
  Do not tell the step-by-step procedures, just
  explain the experiment. Tell how many times you
  repeated the tests. Mention the variables you
  controlled to make sure the testing was fair.
  Describe the difference between the control group
  and experimental group.
• I tested my hypothesis by ________________. To
  make sure the experiment was fair, I _________.

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Project Overview
Writing the Summary

• Paragraph 4 Tell about your results. Include
  some of the most important data such as totals
  and averages of measurements. You should also
  mention one or two of your most important or
  unusual observations.
• While doing my science project, I observed that
  _______. Also _______. Another interesting
  thing that happened was _______.

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Project Overview
Writing the Summary

• Paragraph 5 Tell about your conclusions. Say
  whether or not the data supported the evidence.
  Tell about the most important thing you learned.
  Tell how people in general (or scientists) might
  apply this information to everyday life. If you
  could do this project over again, what would you
  do different?.
• My data (did or did not) support my hypothesis.
  The most important thing I learned was ____. My
  results show _____. This information can be used
  by _____. If I were to do this project over
  again, I would _____.

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Science Project Display Board
Hypothesis
Results
Problem (Title) The question that asks what you
want to find out

• Materials
• _____
• _____
• _____

Conclusion I found out that ______
Research/Data pictures, charts, graphs or drawings
Procedure 1. _____ 2. _____ 3.______
Summary My project was ______
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References

• DiscoverySchool.com
• http//school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/
• Discovery Channels guide to projects. Includes
  project ideas, questions answers, tip sheets,
  and a Parents-Get Involved section.
• All Science Fair Projects
• http//www.all-science-fair-projects.com/
• Browse ideas by topic or grade level. You can
  also search if you know your topic. Be sure to
  look at the grade level of the project.
• United States Department of Agriculture
• http//www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.ht
  m
• Agricultural project ideas dealing with
  Chemistry, Botany, Environmental Science,
  Nutrition, Microbiology, and Zoology.

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References

• Bug Info
• http//www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/buginfo/scifai
  r.htm
• Projects related to insects.
• Charts and Graphs
• http//nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/
• ?You can always use a search engine with the
  topic science project ideas. Be sure to find
  an appropriate project, not one that is just
  copied off of the internet.

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Important Dates

• November 9, 2011 Science Fair Workshop
• November 16, 2011 Science Fair Workshop
• December 2011 ALL Science Projects Completed
• December 14, 2011 Westside Science Fair Judging

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