Science Fair Project What does that mean anyway

Science Fair Project What does that mean anyway? 2009

What is my Purpose? Purpose: The reason why you are conducting this research and doing this experiment. Why you want to do this experiment and why the results might be important. Who would want to know about the results of your experiment?

Every Project Must Have A Purpose → Once you have chosen a topic, try to explain the purpose of the experimentation in one to three sentences. → Scientists use an experiment to search for cause and effect relationships in nature. →You can start this way: "The purpose of this project is _____. " Your purpose may include any hypotheses (scientific guesses) that you have as to the outcome of your experimentation. →Here is an example of one student's purpose: The purpose of this project is to determine if earthworms affect soil nutrients. →In one sentence, the student has described what he is attempting to find out experimentally and what his test subjects are going to be.

What is my Problem? Problem: The question the research answers. In question format- the scientific question to be solved. It should be an open-ended question that is answered with a statement, not a yes or no. Ex: “How does the color of light affect the growth of a plant? ”

Problem Examples Once you have an idea about what you want your experiment to be, then you need to phrase it as a question – a question that you need to do an experiment answer. How does the size of ato sponge affect the amount of water absorbed? How does the size of the holes in a sponge change the amount of water it can absorb? How does the material from which a sponge is made affect the amount of water absorbed? Is the amount absorbed by a sponge affected by the type of fluid being absorbed? How is the cost of a plastic garbage bag related to its strength? How is the strength of a plastic garbage bag affected by exposure to sunlight? How is the strength of a plastic garbage bag affected by freezing?

Research (Background Information): A summary in paragraph format of all of the information the student has gathered from reference materials. Report of all information related to the subject telling what was learned about the problem, using reference materials (books, magazines articles, personal communication, internet, etc) before and during the experiment. TAKEN FROM PACKET

Research- What should I research? What topics should I research? SPF- What does it stand for? Why do we need to know it? UVA- What does it mean? UVB- What does it mean? Skin protection from the sun- Why and how?

Research • . org, . gov, . edu are acceptable • Our webpage has articles and search engines for you! https: //5 thgrademathscienceresources. wordp ress. com/

Bibliography: Properly formatted list of all sources and reference materials the student has used. TAKEN FROM PACKET

What is a bibliography (bib-li-og-ra-phy)? A bibliography is a list of the books of a specific author or publisher, or on a specific subject.

Why do I need to make a bibliography? A bibliography helps you know where you got your information from and it lets your teacher know you are giving proper credit for your sources of information.

What do I include in a bibliography? You should list every source you use such as a book, a movie, a website, an interview or any information that did not come from you

Where do I put the bibliography for my assignment? The bibliography goes at the end of your assignment. The title of this page should be Bibliography or Works Cited

Bibliography- Sample Page "Battery. " Encyclopedia Britannica. 1990. "Best Batteries. " Consumer Reports Magazine 32 Dec. 1994: 71 -72. Brain, Marshall. "How Batteries Work. " howstuffworks. 1 Aug. 2006 <http: //home. howstuffworks. com/battery. htm>. "Cells and Batteries. " The DK Science Encyclopedia. 1993. Dell, R. M. , and D. A. J. Rand. Understanding Batteries. Cambridge, UK: The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001. "Learning Center. " Energizer. Eveready Battery Company, Inc. 1 Aug. 2006 <http: //www. energizer. com/learning/default. asp>. "Learning Centre. " Duracell. The Gillette Company. 31 July 2006 <http: //www. duracell. com/au/main/pages/learning-centre-what-is-abattery. asp>.

Hypothesis: The ‘educated guess’ that is the answer to the problem. It is statement with a reason. The experiment is designed to test this hypothesis. The hypothesis does not change even if the results are different. Ex: “I believe that all plants need regular white light to grow. I base this hypothesis on the information I learned in my background research that showed me how plants convert light energy into food. ” The format can be: I think…; It is my opinion that…; I believe…because or based upon…. (the reason) or a cause and effect statement: If________________________(what you plan to test), then _____________________________ (what you think will happen).

Hypothesis Finish the statement with why you think that will happen. Back up your statement with facts from your research. This section should be at least 3 sentences.

Materials • A bulleted list of any supplies necessary to complete your study of the problem and testing of your hypothesis. Be sure to include the quantity of any items listed. • Be VERY specific. Someone should be able to read your list and purchase the same materials without asking you any questions. • No need to list the store. • Your first draft will have to be revised after you complete the experiment. As the experiment is conducted, you will find some things you need to add or even adjust amounts. • NON COMPETITVE- BE SURE TO TAKE NOTES AS WE DISCUSS OUR MATERIALS!!!

Procedure • Step-by-step process used to carry out the experiment. The experiment must be done at least three times to increase the validity of the results. • It should be detailed so that someone would be able to repeat the experiment. • Number the steps • Do not use pronouns in listing the steps (I, me, etc. ) • It is highly recommended to use the metric system (ex. centimeters vs. inches)

Variables • The items that have an effect on the experiment. The variable or item that the student changes purposely that will yield different results. Example: Project- Will the hardness of candle’s wax has an effect on the candle’s burning time? • The manipulated variable was the hardness of candle wax. • The responding variable was the amount of time each candle burned. What about our experiment?

Constants • The parameters you keep the same so that the experiment is valid. The items that do not change during the experiment that test the hypothesis. Example: The constants in this study were: • The size of the candle made • The lighting device • The place where each candle is kept • The air movement in the room during testing • The air temperature • Method for making the candles • What could we write for our experiment?

Data Notebook • • • When you do an experiment, you make observations. You may record changes in your subjects, make notes about possible influences in your experiment that you didn’t anticipate, or draw pictures of results along the way. All scientists are constantly recording relevant observations. A data notebook is a journal that may be set up to reflect observations by the week, day, hour or minute, depending on the type of experiment. You could organize it by putting a day’s observation on each page. A student’s data notebook could also contain any other notes he/she may have made from the research, such as article summaries, important phone numbers or even possible contacts. Entries should be neat, dated, and orderly. It should be a complete and accurate record of the student’s project from start to finish. It shows all the time and effort that went into the project. Suggestions: ½ inch binder, composition book of journal, notebook, and folder. This book should have a combination of numbers and descriptions.

Data Notebook- Example

Data Notebook. Example

Data Notebook. Example

Data Notebook. Example

Results • A breakdown, in summary form, of what happened in your experiment. Just give the facts not the interpretation (that is in your conclusion section). Example: Plant A grew 5 cm higher than Plant B after 2 weeks. Basically, look at your data table and type it up into word form. This needs to be in paragraph format. • Each trial should be a separate paragraph

Conclusion Specifically summarizes what the student has discovered, how the results compare to the hypothesis and why the hypothesis was correct or incorrect. Review how the data related to any information the student has learned while doing his/her background research. This is more in depth than your results. This is also in paragraph form. 4 sentence min.

Data (Tables, graphs, diagrams or charts) • You have collected your data now what do you do? o Display your data in a clear organized graph, table, diagram or chart. You must have at least one. Two or more is best!

Data (Tables, graphs, diagrams or charts)

Application • A summary about how the project relates to real world problems or situations. o Why should people care? o How will your results help people? o This should be in paragraph form.

Recommendations • Indicate any changes or improvements to the experimental design o If someone were to duplicate your experiment, what would you suggest they do differently? o Change the materials? o Try a different fruit? o This should be in paragraph form.

Science Fair- Final Project Reminders Competitive Non Competitive Data Notebook Display Board – Including Research. Bibliography should be the last page of the research. It should be a separate page though. OR Oral Presentation) -You do not need to turn in something in writing. Oral Presentation (Handbook page 10) Just be ready we asked to present. -You do not need to turn in your presentation in writing. Just be ready we asked to present when asked. You MUST have some sort of visual aid. AND RESEARCH PAPER with bibliography *All items must be turned in on 1/5/16! *Make eye contact during the oral presentation!

Display Board Examples Keep in mind that these pictures are from previous years. This is the first year the display board is set up a little differently. These pictures are just to help students see examples of the color and neatness.

Display Board Examples Keep in mind that these pictures are from previous years. This is the first year the display board is set up a little differently. These pictures are just to help students see examples of the color and neatness.

Display Board Examples Keep in mind that these pictures are from previous years. This is the first year the display board is set up a little differently. These pictures are just to help students see examples of the color and neatness.