Geneseo Central

10th Annual

MATH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY FAIR

Grades K-5 and 6-8 Thursday, March 2, 2017

ON-LINE REGISTRATION ENCOURAGED Packets and registration are now available at

geneseocsd.org Register by February 10, 2017

The purpose of the Math Science Technology (MST) Fair is to have fun while also promoting interest in science-related topics. While winning participants will be awarded prizes, the real reward is the knowledge gained. Read on to find out all of the details you need.

DATES AND TIMES TO REMEMBER Registration due Paper registration due to homeroom teacher or online registration due

Friday, February 10th

(no exceptions)

Project drop off Please bring projects to the foyer

Wednesday, March 1st

(2:45-7:00 PM)

Math Science Technology Fair Students will be judged throughout the day Please take home projects and participation ribbons at the conclusion of the fair

Thursday, March 2nd

6:30-7:30 PM Family and friends are

encouraged to view projects!

Fair awards announced on morning announcements Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at each grade level

Friday, March 3rd

Coming Up With A Project So now you are ready to get to the FUN part--getting to your project. If you or your parents are worried about how to get started or are wondering if you have enough “science/math/technology smarts” to do this — DON”T BE AFRAID. You do have what it takes! To get some help, ideas, or just find out if the MST fair is for you, contact your Elementary or MS Math/ Science/ Technology Consultant for guidance OR visit your local libraries OR go online to: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Science-Fair-Projects.html

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml Families have been in your same shoes! Remember to keep the fun, learning, and family-time together foremost, as opposed to winning. Everyone, young and old, is sure to gain something from the experience! FIRST you need to decide what interests you! What subject do YOU want to learn more about? The categories below might help you narrow down a subject area. (So much to choose from~) MATHEMATICS studies structured ideas. • Numbers, Algebra, Patterns, Geometry, Topology, Statistics, Probability, Chaos, Set theory NATURAL SCIENCES study the physical world. • Biology studies living things

Botany (plants, photosynthesis, horticulture, hydroponics), Medicine and Health, Microbiology, Zoology (ichthyology – fish, entomology – insects, ornithology – birds, herpetology – reptiles and amphibians), Paleontology (life of past eras, fossils)

• Chemistry studies the nature of matter at atomic and molecular levels Organic (chemistry of life), Inorganic, Physical, Analytical, Polymer, Metallurgy

• Earth Science studies the Earth, including the atmosphere. Geology (mineralogy, seismology), Meteorology, Oceanography, Geography (cartography), Environmental Science (ecology, pollution)

• Physics studies the basic rules of the physical world Mechanics (forces and motion), Optics (light), Electricity, Magnetism, Thermodynamics (temperature, states of matter), Acoustics (sound), Relativity, Quantum mechanics

• Space Science studies all things above the Earth’s atmosphere. Astronomy (stars, galaxies), Cosmology (history of the universe), Planetary science

SOCIAL SCIENCES study the way humans or animal behave. • Psychology studies the mind. • Anthropology studies current cultures. • Sociology studies social, political, and community relationships. • Archeology studies past civilizations. ENGINEERING applies scientific principles to practical applications. • Mechanical Engineering creates devices that can move or that can be moved. Robotics, Aeronautical (flying machines), Automotive (cars and trucks), Aerospace (rockets) • Civil Engineering creates devices that stay in one place. Architecture (buildings, bridges), Environmental Engineering • Electrical Engineering creates devices that run on electricity. Circuit Design, Computer Science (networking, graphics, simulations) • Chemical Engineering develops new materials. SECOND, start doing some background research on your topic area. Read, observe study, get online, talk to friends/ family, or learn about a cool theory. THIRD, decide how you want to go about doing your project/ experiment or whether you would rather construct/ invent something. Remember not to choose a topic so big that it will be difficult to make progress. We encourage you to make your own observations or do your own experiments — then you’ll actually be doing science, rather than just learning about science. Even if you could find the results in a book, it is more fun to explore/prove them with your own observations, techniques, and flair!

Here Are Several Models That You Might Choose From

1. TEST AND EXPERIMENT

Choose a RELATIONSHIP that you want to learn about (how one

thing affects another)

Ask a QUESTION (What would happen if …) OR

Make a HYPOTHESIS (I predict that … because…)

TEST your idea with an EXPERIMENT • What materials will you need? • What variable are you going to

change? • What variable(s) are you going to

measure? • How will you collect your data?

ANALYZE • What happened? • Why did this happen? • Is the hypothesis supported or

not?

DRAW CONCLUSIONS • Show your data, maybe

graphs, charts, pictures, or a notebook.

• What does your data tell you?

COMMUNICATE YOUR FINDINGS • What did you learn?

Remember that if you have a hypothesis (what you expect to happen) and it is proved wrong, that’s OK. Judges like to see persistence and love to talk about the difficulties you had. They want to know how you tried to solve the problems, whether they were solved or not. If you do an experiment, an important principle of scientific design is to change only one thing at a time. This is called a variable. Keep notes and take data.

EXAMPLES:

• How does amount of light affect plant growth?

• Does a “No Littering” sign increase a person’s likelihood pick up garbage?

Choose a TOPIC • I want to learn about … • I want to investigate …

READ and RESEARCH • Get information from reading

books, searching the web, interviewing scientists …

ASSEMBLE • Combine what you have

learned from different sources

REPORT/COMMUNICATE • What did you learn? • Show it with words, models,

pictures, graphs …

REPORT what you have learned • Show it with words, models,

pictures, graphs …

Choose a TOPIC • I want to learn about … • I want to investigate …

OBSERVE • What materials do I need to

observe? • What can I see, hear, smell,

feel, measure …

ORGANIZE • How can I keep track of all

this information?

COMMUNICATE YOUR FINDINGS • What did you learn? • Show your notes, pictures, samples of

what you observed …

2. OBSERVE AND ORGANIZE

If you are interested in a topic that can be easily observed, this model might be for you. Just pick something to count, measure, or observe.

Then you can organize this information.

3. READ AND SHOW

If you are interested in a topic that can’t be observed easily (such as dinosaurs or the planet Mars), then maybe this model is right. If you are still learning how to read, ask your parents to read to you.

Then create a poster, model, diorama, pictures and/or graphs, or some other creative display to show your findings.

EXAMPLES:

• Dinosaurs

• the solar system

• volcanoes

EXAMPLES:

• What happens if I mix different colors?

• How many different bugs can I collect?

• How quickly can people recognize their own name?

4. DESIGN / BUILD/ INVENT

The goal of technology (and engineering) is to create something useful. You would be working on a project that would do a specific task. The main difference is that your project will be judged on the device that you produce. Note that a “device” could range from a computer program to a machine, etc.

If your creation doesn’t work, or only partly works, that’s OK. Again, the judges love to hear about how you tried to fix something.

EXAMPLES:

• A mousetrap

• A coin sorting machine

• A computer program to sort a list of numbers

Project Considerations

1. Student projects may be messy in nature. Plan to clean up your own spills. Please bring

supplies for this.

2. Please consider how you will get your project to school and how it will be set up. Please bring your projects in the afternoon/ evening before the fair from 2:45-7:00 PM. You can drop your project off in the foyer. Remember to pick up your project after the public viewing of the MST Fair.

3. Please note on your entry form if your participant’s project requires access to water,

electricity (please bring your own extension cord), or a non-carpeted area.

Choose a DEVICE that you want to make

• What task do I want my creation to do?

DESIGN • How will my creation work? • What research do I need to

make that happen?

CONSTRUCT • What materials do I need? • How do I test it to see if it is

working?

SHOW and TELL • Show your plans • Show your creation in action • Explain how it should work

This program is not a Geneseo Central School District program. Procedures, supervision, and insurance for children participating in this program are the responsibility of PTSA and of the parent. The

distribution of this material by GCS is for informational purposes and in no way should it be considered that the School District endorses our program and program philosophy. Finally we recognize that the

Geneseo Central School District reserves the right to withhold distribution of these materials.

Math Science Technology Fair Rules and Considerations

1. The Fair is open to all K-5 students and all 6-8 students who attend Geneseo Central School.

2. Projects may be done by individuals or by a team of two students. Students in two different grades may enter; however, the project will be judged at the higher-grade level.

3. Project table display areas will be limited to a maximum of 30 inches in width. For fairness sake and planning purposes, please keep your projects within the limit. You may use space behind and underneath your table space. Tri-fold poster boards work well.

4. The projects must be accomplished by the students. Parents or adults may give guidance and assistance, but the students must demonstrate an understanding of their work. Remember, that students will need to “own” their project to the extent that they can explain their project to the judges, without any adults present (this includes all aspects of the project, including laptops).

Judging Procedures

1. Volunteer judges can be teachers, parents, scientists, and community members. This is a very rewarding experience – please consider joining us as a judge.

2. Judges will participate in a judges’ meeting prior to the fair and will become familiar with the score sheet used in the judging process.

3. Projects will be judged in competition within their respective grade level. 4. Projects will be judged by assigned number, not to student names. 5. Judging will be based on participant’s understanding and ability to explain their project,

without a parent present, not on the positive results of the project. 6. Judging will be based on the attached scoring guide (see next page).

Safety Procedures

1. At the fair, explosives, weapons, knives, projectiles, matches, or equipment using fire are not allowed. The MST committee reserves the right to disqualify a project considered to be dangerous. If in doubt, check with your science fair contacts before you start.

2. Projects with live animals must be pre-approved by the science fair committee (contact “other questions” in our phone rolodex). Please consider the animal’s

safety and well-being during the experiment, viewing, and judging. Animals must be kept in cages at all times. Animals may stay at school during viewing,

judging and fair only—no over nights.

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Judge: ___________________________________ Project # _____________________ Project Title: ___________________________________________________________________________

1 is the lowest ranking, 4 is the highest ranking 1 2 3 4 Purpose/Idea

• The project idea is original/creative/unique. • The objectives are well defined. • The topic is interesting.

Plan/Procedure/Process • There is a systematic approach. • The method is appropriate to the purpose/idea. • The process/procedures are clearly organized/outlined.

Scientific Thought • The project represents the student’s own work • The data/research/information is correctly interpreted, logical, and accurate. • There is a high level of understanding of the project. • The materials/equipment used are within the student’s level of

understanding and expertise.

• The student does not harbor misconceptions.

Exhibit • There is a snappy title for the project. • The exhibit draws you in and keeps you there. • Each aspect of the exhibit has a function that clearly serves to illustrate some

aspect of the project.

• The display is sturdy and well-constructed. • The display is neat, accurate, and attractive. • The written work demonstrates a good grasp of language conventions.

Interview • The student is interested, eager, and enthusiastic. • The student presents in a logical sequence and stays on topic. • The student speaks knowledgeably and can elaborate. • The student uses a clear and audible voice. • The student uses the display to communicate points. • It appears that the student practiced for the interview.

TOTAL POINTS

Math-Science-Technology Fair Family Information Sheet

Geneseo Central PTSA is sponsoring a Math-Science-Technology Fair Thursday, March 2, 2016.

The attached Registration Form and Volunteer Form are due to your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, February 10th, OR you may complete your registration online.

How to submit your entry:

1. Fill out all the information on the attached registration form. 2. Make sure your parent has signed the form. If you are working with a partner, each

participant must complete a separate form. 3. Submit your completed entry form to school by February 10th. (For proper planning, late

entries will not be accepted.) 4. If an adult is willing to volunteer with the MST Fair, please fill in the portions of the attached

form. Volunteers will be contacted by a PTSA member with a specific task and time.

Contact Information Questions? Contact an MST Member:

Math Science Technology Chairperson

Anna Kowalchuk 243-1867 kowalchukanna@gmail.com

Parent Volunteer Organizer Sue Hurd 243-3450 x 3033 suehurd@geneseocsd.org

Paperwork Participant changes, title changes or withdrawals

Kris Ridler 245-9524 krisridler@geneseocsd.org

Judging Criteria James McLean 243-3299 mclean@geneseo.edu

Judge’s Organizer Janet Lamb 243-1658 Janetlamb24@yahoo.com

Middle School PTSA Project Advisors

James McLean 243-3299 mclean@geneseo.edu Randy French 243-3450 x 1074 randyfrench@geneseocsd.org

Elementary School PTSA Project Advisors

Keitha Sleggs 243-3450 x 3014 keithasleggs@geneseocsd.org Joan Meyers 243-3450 x 3048 joanmeyers@geneseocsd.org Duane Purvis 243-3450 x 3041 duanepurvis@geneseocsd.org

Math-Science-Technology Fair Volunteer Form

The MST Fair is a large event that cannot run without the help of many parent volunteers.

Please consider volunteering for an hour or two during the day of the Fair or the evening before to make this event a continued success!

JUDGES:

□ I would like to volunteer to judge on March 2nd : □ 8:00-11:00 AM □ 1:00-4:00 PM

Name:_______________________________ Phone #: _____________________ Email:_____________________________________________________________

Please indicate your profession and the grade levels of your children or friends participating. You will be assigned to a different grade level to preserve impartiality:__________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

VOLUNTEERS: □ I would like to volunteer. Volunteers are assigned to one or two hour slots: I am available on March 1st : □ after school □ early evening I am available on March 2nd : □ morning □ afternoon Name:_______________________________ Phone #: ______________________ Email:_____________________________________________________________

*Teachers: Please forward paperwork to Sue Hurd in the Elementary Building.

MATH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY FAIR REGISTRATION FORM

ON LINE REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED

Registration due: Friday, February 10th

Paper registration is not necessary if registration is completed online Please Note: If you are doing a project with a partner, each partner will need to submit a separate registration. Please print name(s) clearly, as you want them to appear in the program. Name:________________________________________________ Grade:_________________ Homeroom Teacher (Grades K-5): ____________ or Science Teacher (Grades 6-8): _______________

____Check here if you are working with a partner: My partner’s name is _________________________________________ Grade:___________ Project Title:______________________________________________________________ Provide a brief description of what you plan to do and the materials you will be using: Fair presentation needs: ____Electrical outlet ____ Water _____Non-carpeted area ____None MS Students Only: List any after school activities that you are currently involved in that may cause a conflict with in your schedule on the day of the fair – ______________________________________________________________________________

Parent’s/Guardian’s Permission:

I have reviewed my child’s application and agree he/she will follow the Math-Science-Technology Fair’s rules. I understand that Project Drop-Off is the day before the fair, Wednesday, March 1st from 2:45-7:00pm. I realize that the fair will be open to the public on March 2nd from 6:30-7:30pm. Parent/ Guardian Signature:_____________________________________ Parent Phone #:_____________________Parent Email:______________________________ ______ I am available to volunteer for the fair. *Teachers: Please forward completed paperwork to Kris Ridler in the Elementary School.