Science Fair

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Science Fair
Ready, Set, Go!
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Timeline and Dates
Jefferson County Schools has formed a partnership
with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative for the
Science Fair.

• February 28   Entry Forms due for Southern
  Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair
• April 7    Southern Appalachian Science and
  Engineering Fair (SASEF) project setup and
  judging
• April 9 SASEF Awards Ceremony

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Encourage Students and Parents to Utilize the Web
Page
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Forms

• Entry form
• Junior Research
• Plan
• Entry Fee

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Role of the Teacher

• You are an advisor.
• Recognize the need for active student
  involvement.
• Respect student ideas and help steer them in the
  correct direction.
• Praise and encourage students.
• Advise students of resources available.

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Tips for the Students

• A Science Fair project is an investigation not
  a demonstration. There is a question that must
  be answered.
• If they have a demonstration in mind, help them
  to alter the thought process to asking a
  question What is in _______? Why does this
  happen? Can I do this a better way? How does
  temperature change the behavior?

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Components of a Project

• Question or Problem
• Hypothesis If then format
• Methods
• Materials
• Results drawings, pictures, graphs, tables
• Conclusion

DO NOT use I, we, you!
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Variables

• The independent variable is the one that is
  changed by the scientist. In an experiment there
  is only one independent variable.
• The dependent variable changes in response to the
  change the scientist. Experiments also have
  controlled variables.
• There should be a Control. No experimental
  treatment is applied.
• Constants are conditions that remain the same for
  all parts of the experiment, such as measuring
  the water, always by a window, same position in
  the room, etc.

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Display Board

• Arrange information so that it is easy to read
  and flows in a logical order.
• Top to bottom and left to right.
• Presentation boards (32 x 48), awards, etc. may
  be ordered from EPI. (800-426-2737 or
  www.epidisplays.com)

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Examples
No living or dead organisms in the display
(plants or animals).
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Sample Materials List( From Science Buddies)

• CD player a CD (low drain device)
• Three identical flashlights (medium drain device)
  
• Camera flash (high drain device)
• AA size Duracell and Energizer batteries
• AA size of a "heavy-duty" (non-alkaline) battery
  (I used Panasonic)
• Voltmeter a AA battery holder
• Kitchen timer

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Sample Procedure( From Science Buddies)

• Number each battery so you can tell them apart.
• Measure each battery's voltage by using the
  voltmeter.
• Put the same battery into one of the devices and
  turn it on.
• Let the device run for thirty minutes before
  measuring its voltage again. (Record the voltage
  in a table every time it is measured.)
• Repeat 4 until the battery is at 0.9 volts or
  until the device stops.
• Do steps 15 again, three trials for each brand
  of battery in each experimental group.
• For the camera flash push the flash button every
  30 seconds and measure the voltage every 5
  minutes.
• For the flashlights rotate each battery brand so
  each one has a turn in each flashlight.
• For the CD player repeat the same song at the
  same volume throughout the tests.

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Board Titles

• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND
• PROBLEM
• HYPOTHESIS
• PROCEDURE
• DATA
• RESULTS
• MATERIALS
• CONCLUSION
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS