Science Fair Idea Pitch One Paragraph Idea Synopsis

Science Fair Idea Pitch One Paragraph Idea Synopsis

� In order to satisfy the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair requirements our science fair projects need to meet the following guidelines: ◦ Be original science – something that hasn’t been done before, that moves our understanding of your chosen field forward – why is this useful to other scientists/the public interested in this area? ◦ Your project must consist of a series of experiments that result in enough quantitative data (something you can measure!) to provide sufficient evidence for an outside audience to believe your results (lots of trials!) ◦ The experiments must result in evidence that supports/disproves your hypothesis about the way something works Science Fair Project Must Haves

�A hypothesis is a claim about the way something works. For example: ◦ The bubbles float on top of the dry ice in the fish tank because warm air rises and cold air sinks. As the bubbles cool down, they become more dense and they sink to the bottom of the tank. What is a hypothesis?

� In order to test your hypothesis you must be able to generate a testable question that will provide evidence that either supports it or disproves it. ◦ In my bubbles example, I know that if something gets colder it gets denser – a balloon in a freezer will shrink - in which case, my bubbles must shrink in size as they sink to the bottom of the tank. Using this well known scientific principle I can set up a testable question for my experiment: �What happens to the size of my bubbles as they sink closer to the dry ice? ◦ In this case, if my bubbles shrink in size I will have found some evidence in support of my hypothesis that the bubbles are cooling down, becoming more dense, and sinking ◦ Note I have also set up an experiment where I can measure something. I can collect quantitative data by measuring the diameter of my bubbles at different heights in the tank Setting up a testable question

� Your pitch paragraph must include the following: ◦ Your hypothesis ◦ Your testable question and what measurable data you plan to collect ◦ How you plan to measure your measurable data (ruler? Temperature? Barometer? Etc. . ) ◦ Why your project will move existing research in this field forward (be very detailed and specific – do your research here), why is it important? ◦ How you determined that this has not been done before Your Pitch Paragraph