Pick up iyour tools, nscientists!

Science Fair 2014

Information Packet for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd

Science Fair Day: Friday May 9th, 2014

Contents
- tips, timeline & Check-off List - How to Choose a Topic Designing the Experiment Research, Hypothesis, Materials Procedure, Make a Fair Experiment - How to Conduct the Experiment Analyze Results, Conclusion Recommendations, Report & Display Rules for Display Judging Criteria List of topics Experiment Proposal Sheet

Crescent Heights Language Arts and Social Justice Magnet School

Tips: Making Your Project a Winner!

1. Foremost, you should have fun! Pick something you're interested in. 2. Keep it simple, but well-organized. What's important to the judges is your ability to conduct an experiment: plan, observe very closely, record exactly what your observed step by step, clearly present your data (results), and conclude based on your results. You have researched later your topic. Finally, you are ready to answer questions about the scientific method and your project. 3. Don't wait until the last minute to start your project You are NOT going to win if you throw it together at the last minute. How long a project should take depends on the project itself. You need to have plenty of time to plan and do your experiments, and even some extra time just in case you need to repeat experiments that get ruined. Even after the research and experimentation is over, you need time to prepare both your written report and your display. Do not procrastinate! 4. Do the Work Yourself - Other people can certainly share resources with you, advise you about how to set up the experiment, even show you how to complete some tests. But make sure that you do the work yourself, and write your own reports. If you dont, you wont be able to answer the judges questions. Do not download/copy texts or pictures from the internet. Well know. (If you found it, so can we.) 5. It is OK If Your Hypothesis Is Incorrect! The whole purpose of an experimental science fair project is to see IF a certain hypothesis is correct, not to prove that you were right. Some of the most important discoveries are made because a hypothesis was wrong. Most important: record very well and understand what DID happen. 6. Keep Accurate Records from Beginning to End - After your project is completed is NOT the time to go back and rely on memory. Get yourself a set of 3x5 cards or a spiral notebook and keep accurate notes from the very first day. 7. Prepare a Well-Organized, Informative Display - A neat display makes it easy to judge your project. Your presentation should follow your step by step procedure. Pictures shouldnt take the whole space. On the other hand, data displays (tables, graphs or pie charts) should be clear and large as well as your conclusion. Displays should not be flimsy and prone to collapsing or falling over. (Extra decorations do not bring more points. They could even lower your score if they are too distracting.)

Welcome to the Crescent Heights 2014 Science Fair!

Students in grades K-3 will conduct an experiment using the scientific method.

Project Timeline & Check-off List

Week 1: Choose & Design Your Project

_____ Choose Your Project (see pages 8-9 for ideas) _____ Hypothesis: Educated guess about what will happen _____ Materials: What youll need _____ Procedure: List the steps Tell your measuring tool. _____ Creating a Fair Experiment (Independent Variable, etc.) _____ Submit Project Form for Teacher Approval. Due date: Friday, April 4th, 2014

Week 2 until Friday, May 9th: Experiment and Conclude!

______ Conduct Your Experiment ______ Collect and Organize Data (information) ______ Explain What the Data Mean (interpret). Make Tables & Graphs ______ Write A) a Summary About What You Learned & B) Your Conclusion. ______ Optional: Make Recommendations for Future Experiments.

Final Week: Create Your Presentation

______ Complete your Display Board / Model ______ Write Outline of 2 3 Minute Oral Explanation ______ Bring Your Project to School. Due date: Friday, May 9th, 2014 8:05am

How to Create a Science Fair Project

Use the scientific method to create a great experiment!

1. Choose a topic that interests you (the question.)

Select a topic (investigation) where you: Write the topic as a question. It must be measurable. - Think cause and effect. Example: Does the color of light affect the growth of pea plants? Bad Example: Which light is better for a plant? (You cant measure better)

Create an experiment to answer the question.

You need to test an idea. Do not report on a subject (e.g. no volcanoes!). Stay away from Internet experiments that already tell you the answers. Do not buy experimental kits (using a kit will disqualify your project).

Use a concrete measuring tool (ruler, stopwatch, etc.) to measure results.

You need to observe changes that you can measure. Good Example: How light affects height of a plant? Bad Example: Which light is better for a plant? (You cant measure better)

Check out our list of topic ideas! (See last pages)

2. Design the experiment using the scientific method.

A. Clearly State your Question (see above.) B. Hypothesis: predict the results of the experiment (an educated guess)
Your hypothesis should relate to the experimental question. Example: White light will make the plant grow faster because green light) For full points, explain why you made that prediction (research? experience?). If you do not include a hypothesis, you will need to explain why.

C. Materials: list all of the supplies, equipment, and ingredients.

D. Procedure: Write step-by-step instructions on how to do your experiment.

Your procedure should be clear so someone else can repeat the experiment. Make sure your steps keep all conditions the same except for one (see Must tell) Be sure to number each step. Do not leave ANYTHING out! Example: 1) Measure the height of 3 identical plants and record data.
2) Place one plant near red light, one in green, and one in white. 3) Water each plant with 250 mL of water every 2 days. 4) Turn on lights for 12 hours a day and then off for 12 hours. 5) Record height of each plant every 7 days 6) Repeat to confirm results. Dont worry if different! Try to figure out why like a scientist would! (This might bring you more points.)

E. Create a Fair Experiment!

Lets say you are testing your prediction that white light makes plants grow taller. You only change the color of light: one plant gets white light and the other gets green. Important: What else might make a plant grow faster? (Water? Air quality?...) Identify those conditions and control them so that they stay the same!

Must tell: What I changed (Independent variable): the condition you change on purpose (e.g. each plant gets a different color of light) What I measured (Dependent): the changes. (e.g. height of plant is affected by different light)

What I kept the same (Controlled): everything else in your experiment must be kept the same. e.g. plant type, plants age, soil, watering, exposure, measuring, etc.

Repeated Trials and Large Samplings: To make the experiment fair, repeat the
procedure or have two experiments side by side (plants.) You need a large sampling if testing human responses (like 20-30 people). Verify that your measurements are accurate and youre following each step correctly.

3. Submit your Experiment Proposal to Your Teacher (last page) 4. Conduct your experiment!
Follow the step-by-step directions in your procedure. Keep careful records of what happens during your experiment by recording everything as though it was a journal. Remember to date each entry (for experiments that take weeks). Repeat the experiment three times to confirm results. Do not worry if those results are different. Youll try to explain why. This thinking would bring you more points! Make sure to use safety precautions and adult supervision if needed.

5. When the experiment is complete, graph, and analyze the results.

Results: Look at your observations and measurements; this is your data. What did you find out from your data? Do you see a clear cause & effect? Bring your measurement data together in a table and graphs so you can better understand and explain what happened in your experiment. Computers are great for this! If drawing by hand, use a ruler!
Examples:

graph title

Pea Plant Growth (Height) Time Start Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Red light 12 cm 12.6 cm 13.1 cm 13.6 cm Green light 12.2 cm 12.5 cm 12.8 cm 13.2 cm White light 12 cm 12.9 cm 13.7 cm 14.8 cm

Height (cm)

Effects of Light on Plant Growth 15 Red 14 light 13 Green light 12 0 0 1 2 Time (weeks) 3
White light

When making a graph: a) include a title that explains the graph.

What you measured

scale axis scale label

legend

b) each axis has a scale (numbers line up with grid lines). c) give each scale a label (include units of measure in parenthesis). Remember that what you measured goes down the left side of the table. d) include a legend that explains what the line or bar colors mean.

6. Write a Conclusion (based on results)

The conclusion tells whether your hypothesis was supported or not. Why do you think your experiment turned out the way it did (compare research & results)? Make sure you have enough data to support your conclusion (e.g. large survey, repeat trials)

7. Optional: Recommendations (for future experiments)

How would you change your experiment to make it better (or test a different element)? From what you learned, would you suggest any recommendations for further research? Write these comments in your report and summarize them for your Display Board.

8. Publish Your Results: Create a Report & Presentation!

Create a Report of your experiment (attach this to your Display Board)
Describe your experiment, using the Scientific Method format (steps 1-7). Show results of repeated trials. Write a Summary about what you learned! Include your research notes and a bibliography.

Complete your Display Board / Model

Here is a suggestion for the layout of a 3-panel (folding) display board:
Name: Grade Teacher Date:

Question:

Title of Experiment
Independent Variable Graph or Chart

Report
Design of Experiment showing Sci. Method Research Bibliography
(please type)

Hypothesis:
Optional: Dependent Controlled

Materials: Results Procedure:

1) Number each step! What I learned
(explain your data)

Table of Data

Conclusion:
Supported your hypothesis?

Repeated Trials!

photos or drawings

Recommend. for
future experiments

Make sure that most lettering can be seen from a distance of 3 feet. Be neat!

 Write an Outline of a 2 3 Minute Oral Explanation

Be ready to explain your experiment to our Science Fair judges!

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Rules for Presentation Display

1. Exhibit size: W48" x D30" x H108" (Maximum), Maximum weight: 80 lbs. 2. Student name on project is on the top right or left corner (on front) 3. UL approved cords with grounded plug, all connections soldered, all wire is insulated 4. The following items are not allowed to be brought to school: A. living organisms (e.g., animals, microbes) B. microbial cultures and fungi, live or dead, including unknown specimens C. human/animal parts or body fluids D. sharp items (needles, etc.) E. highly flammable display materials F. laboratory chemicals G. poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices H. dry ice or sublimating solids I. batteries with open top cells J. empty tanks that previously contained combustible liquids or gases

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Find More Suggestions and Hints on the Crescent Heights Website!

Evaluation Criteria for Judging

Your project will be scored using the following rubric: (Award 0-3 points for each section listed below) ____ Display title is large and reflects the question. ____ Question/Problem is clear as to what is to be found out. ____ Hypothesis Predicts results of experiment; explains prediction. (If not included, must provide reason) ____ Materials list is specific and complete. ____ Procedure is step-by-step and could be followed by someone else. ____ identifies Variables: 1. What I changed 2. What I Measured and (+ repeat trials) 3. What I Kept the Same

____ Creative Experiment: effectively designed to find answer to question. ____ Results summarize the data presented (interprets data). ____ Data is presented in a clear table. ____ Data is presented in a clear graph. ____ Conclusion based on the results; hypothesis supported? Enough data? ____ Optional: Recommendations for Future Experiments (if needed.) ____ Report attached to Display. Describes experiment (using Sci. Method) ____ Report shows repeated trials & Research Notes on topic with bibliography ____ Summarizes what was learned from doing the experiment. ____ Spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct. ____ Display board is neat and well-organized, with bright colors and neat writing/typing. Most work on the display (and model) should be done by the student! ____ Oral Explanation: Student was able to discuss project freely, not read directly from board, and could adequately answer a question.

A List of Questions, Topics, and Ideas

for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade
Examples of scientifically oriented questions Key point: Science is to answer How not Why - How long does it take for mold to grow? - organic bread, regular bread, fruit (variable: objects) - How do mold grow best? - outside, inside, in the fridge? (variable: locations) - How many shapes can water be? (variable: temperature) - How fast does water evaporate? (variable: locations) - Is floating always the same? (variable: water, oil, sea water) - What materials will float in water? (variable: objects) - What makes the best bubbles? (variable: brands of soap) - Do we have the same temperature within a season? (variable: time) - How many seeds do apples have? (variable: kinds of apples) - How are popcorn stored best? (variable: location) - How fast can different members of the land snail family move? (variable: objects) - Where does a seed grow best? soil, wet paper, (variable: location) - How does light affect plants? (variable: amount of light) - How do plants grow better- in the sunlight or artificial light? (variable: kind of light) - In what concentration of salt water can root grow? (variable: amount of salt)

- What materials dissolve in water? Salt, sugar, flour, rice (variable: objects) - How fast do different materials dissolve in water? (variable: objects) - What happens when two or more colors are combined? (variable: objects) - What is the effect(s) of watering plants with different concentration of detergent? - What is the effect(s) of watering a plant with different liquids? coffee, soda, sugar water... (variable: objects)

- How can we build the best string telephones? (variable: objects) - Which paper is most absorbent? (variable: objects) - How fast does water climb? Use paper, aluminum foil, card board (variable: objects) - How different can rocks be? (variable: objects) - How does water affect the land? Use sand or soil (variable: amount of water) - Would the same kind of seeds always produce the same exact plants? (variable: same kind of seeds) - How many ways can an object be moved? (variable: ways)

- How does the size of an object affect the speed it can reach? (variable: objects)

- How do we control a top? (variable: speed? angle?)

- How does the shape of a paper plane affect its flight? (variable: folding)

- How does the quality of the ground affect the speed? (variable: surface)

- How does a roller coaster work best? (variable: angles)

Experiment Proposal for Science Fair

Due: 4/4/2014

Student Name: ________________________________

Question: ________________________________________________________

Hypothesis (tell cause & effect):

What I change

(Independent variable):

What I will measure (Dependent):

What I will keep the same Materials:

(Controlled):

My procedure (first 3 steps): I will: 1) 2) 3)

How I will measure changes and record data (check all that apply.) observation notes photographs drawings video measurements using a Other:

Teachers approval (sign and date) : ________________________________ ___________