Guide to Science & Engineering Fair

Notebook Format

The 2 most important parts of this guideline is:

1. The notebook guide &

2. The display board format

SCIENCE PROJECT NOTEBOOK GUIDE

1

PROJECT TITLE:

(Problem)

-------------------------

-------------------------

Date

2 ABSTRACT

Separate sections for:

Goals and Objective

Methods and Materials

Results

Conclusions and

Discussions

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page Problem……….

Hypothesis……

Materials……...

Procedure……. Log……………..

Data……………

Results………...

Conclusion…… Research

Report……..

Annotated

Bibliography.. Acknowledgement

4

PROBLEM:

A question raised to be

answered by a process of

scientific inquiry and

experimentation.

HYPOTHESIS:

a tentative answer to the

question posed in the

problem.

5

MATERIALS:

A listing or written

description of the items

used in the experimental

procedure.

PROCEDURE: 1. A series of steps to be

followed in a definite order.

2. The purpose of the procedure is to provide data

regarding the validity of the

hypothesis

6

LOG:

1.The record (observations

and measurements) of the

progress or changes related

to your experiment.

2. Include dates, time and

any other pertinent data in

a consistent manner.

3. Log may be typed or

handwritten and represent

original entries by the

student.

7

DATA:

1. A collection of factual

information displayed in

an organized fashion.

(Tables, charts, etc.)

2. Data can be collected

by: measuring

weighing

timing

observing

taping

8

RESULTS:

Rank outcomes, show

averages, perform

calculation, and show

relationships. Use charts

and graphs.

9

CONCLUSION:

Answer the question that

you stated in your

problem. Your conclusion

must be based on facts.

conclusions that do not

support the hypothesis are

equally valid and

important. *Suggest areas

for further

experimentation.

10

RESEARCH REPORT:

What is the current

information on your topic?

Write about the scientific

principles and concepts that

relate to your investigation.

11

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

An organized list of

sources you used. Books,

pamphlets, magazines, and

newspapers are some

sources you should

consider.

The bibliography must be

annotated

12

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

A list of those who helped

you; i.e.,

parents

teacher

friend

professional.

Include a brief description

of the type of help

received.

13

APPENDIX:

1. Drawings

2. Copies of letters, pages,

books, etc.

3. Photographs

4. Newspaper and

magazine articles

* On the back inside cover

of the notebook list your

name, teacher and school

PROJECT TITLE

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

BY

________________________________________________ Student’s Name

____________________________ Teacher’s Name

____________________________

_____________________ Date

ABSTRACT (complete after the experiement)

Name ___________________________Grade ___________School______________________ Project Title___________________________________________________________________

Goals/Objective: (What did the students want to find out?)

Methods and Materials: (What were the steps/materials used to investigate the problem?)

Results: (What information or data has been derived as a result of the investigation?)

Conclusions/Discussions: (What were the outcomes of the investigations and do they support the students’ hypothesis? What are the implications of the

experiment?)

TABLE OF CONTENTS (number pages last)

Title Page…………………………………………………………………………………………

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………

Problem…………………………………………………………………………………………...

Hypothesis………………………………………………………………………………………..

Materials………………………………………………………………………………………….

Procedure………………………………………………………………………………………...

Log…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Data………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Results…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………..

Results………………………………………………………………………………………….

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………..

Research Report………………………………………………………………………………..

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………..

Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………..

Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………….

Student Information Page…………………………………………………………………...

PROBLEM

A question to be answered by a process of scientific experimentation.

_____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

HYPOTHESIS

A tentative answer to the question posed in the problem. (An educated

guess).

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

MATERIALS

A list of all items used in the experiment.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

PROCEDURE

A series of steps to be followed in a defined order.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

DATA - Can include label ingredients, charts, tables, graphs, etc.

A collection of factual information displayed in an organized fashion.

Remember, information can be superimposed (layered).

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

_________________ _______________ _______________

_________________ _______________ _______________

_________________ _______________ _______________

_________________ _______________ _______________

_________________ _______________ _______________

_________________ _______________ _______________

RESULTS

Rank outcomes, show averages, perform calculations, measurements, and

show relationships. Make a graph.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION

Answer the question that you stated in your problem, based on facts.

Was your hypothesis correct or incorrect? Explain. What would you do

differently? What would your next step be?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

LOG

(The record, observations and measurements, of the progress or changes

related to the experiment). Copy and use this chart for each trial.

DATE TIME OBSERVATIONS

RESEARCH REPORT

Research facts about your topic on the internet or use books, magazine

articles, etc. What is the current information on your topic? Write

about scientific principles that relate to your topic.

Example: According to the Webster’s Dictionary the word “_____” means

___________. After looking on google, I found information about _____

that stated ______________.

A 5th grade report should be about one page of researched information.

This page is for notes only and to keep track of the websites so that

you know what to include in the Bibliography.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

BIBLIOGRAPHY

List of sources that you used: books, pamphlets, magazines,

newspapers, computer search, etc. Must be in correct format: see

sample bibliography on next two pages.

__________________________ABC order__________________________________

Books:

Internet sites:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A list of people or organization that helped you with your science

fair project.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY The following are examples of common reference sources and the manner in which they should be listed in the annotated bibliography.

ANNOTATED EXPLAINS HOW AND WHY YOU USED THAT PARTICULAR SOURCE AS A REFERENCE.

Book Author. Title. City of Publication: Name of Publisher, Year

of Publication.

This book discusses science in the kitchen. It covers both the

biology and chemistry of food and cooking. It also discusses how we

taste things.

Wells, Arthur. The Microscope Made Easy. New York: Warne, 1998.

This book explains how to use a microscope and care for it.

It explains the steps to utilize for both a regular and

electronic microscope.

Magazine Author. "Article Title." Magazine Title Day Month Year

of Publication: Page Numbers.

This article explained the concept of artificial intelligence.

It was very useful in understanding the concept and how artificial

intelligence can be used by scientists.

Cuomo, Mario. "The Tragedy of 9/11." New York 12 May 2002: 84.

Mario Cuomo explains in this article why 9/11 was a tragedy. He

also discusses how 9/11 helped bring New Yorkers and the entire United

States to help out and serve in different ways.

Journal Author. "Article Title." Journal Title Volume Number (Year of

Publication): Page Numbers.

This Journal article helps the reader appreciate the amazing

diversity of life forms on earth. It is amazing to realize the

enormous number of species that we may never know about because they

have become extinct.

LeGuin, Ursula. “American Species.” Paleontology 20 (1998):

This article was helpful because it explained the process

used to identify the many species of animals present in America

Newspaper Author. "Article Title." Newspaper Title , Date, Month and

Year of Publication, Section: Page Numbers. This article explains what the scientists are doing in

Colorado to prevent further erosion of the Rocky Mountains.

Botte, Arthur. "Recycling Made Easy." Los Angeles Times 14

Jan.

2003, Section A: 2.

This article told the many ways that the city of Los

Angeles is using to encourage recycling. The city is

leading the way by using recycling rebates to encourage

recycling of cans and bottles.

Encyclopedia "Article Title." Encyclopedia Title. Year of

Publication.

This gives a thorough explanation of the

process used for excavating.

"Glass." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1996.

This article discusses the many uses of glass, especially

for industrial purposes.

Computer Online Book Shakespeare, William. Richard III. The Complete Works of

William Shakespeare. 2 Aug. 1995. The Tech. MIT. 20 Apr.

1998

http://thetech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/History/kingrichardiiii/

kingrichardiii.html .

This online book includes an analysis of all the characters

in the play as

well as a synopsis of the play.

Computer Online Journal or Magazine Harnack, Andre, and Gene Kleppinger. “Beyond the MLA Handbook:

Documenting Sources on the Internet.: Kairos 1.2 (1998).

14 Aug. 1998

http://www.english.ttu/acw/kairos/index.html .

This explains how to correctly document sources that come

from the Internet.

Computer Software Title of Program. Computer software. The Company, Year of

Publication.

Publication. Computer for Which the Software was Designed.

This computer program enables the user to do an analysis of

variance and also to figure out the mean, mode and median of a

sample.

Pamphlet Name of Pamphlet. City of Publication: Publishing Company,

Year of Publication.

This pamphlet was useful in identifying the causes of

erosion.

Personal Interview Name of Author. Type of Interview. Day, Month and Year of

Publication. This interview was outstanding. He explained why he chose

to be a veterinarian. He related several events that happened

during his first year in practice.

Fuller, Alice. Personal Interview. 17 Dec. 2002.

This interview was helpful and very informative. She

explained why she decided to be a botanist.

Use the Scientific Method

STEPS FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY DATE DUE

1. Choose a problem to investigate.

(state problem as a question) Before Winter Break

2. Conduct research: get advice from experts.

3. Develop a purpose and hypothesis.

4. Decide on the procedure to be used.

5. Make a list of materials needed; gather materials.

6. Conduct investigation; collect data.

7. Organize data and results.

8. Draw conclusions.

9. Complete abstract.

10. Write research report.

11. Proofread report.

12. Design exhibit.

13. Construct visual aids and exhibit backdrop.

14. Turn project in. Jan 22, 2013

15. Present project.

DEVELOPING A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

STUDENT SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR PROJECT CHECK LIST PROBLEM: 1. Is it written in the form of a question? 2. Is it identified?

RESEARCH: 1. Axe the facts set up in outline form or brief statements? 2. Do you have sufficient information?

3. Does your information pertain to the problem? 4. Is it clear, easy to read? Understand?

HYPOTHESIS:

1. Does your prediction address the problem? 2. Is your prediction justified (explained)? 3. Is your explanation based on information found in the research

section? 4. Have you avoided using I, my, me, or mine?

EXPERIMENTAL PLAN: 1. Have you identified all the materials required to do this

experiment? 2. Have you identified the quantities of each item on your material

list? 3. Have you written a set of directions on how to do the experiment?

4. Did you set up the experiment in a step-by-step fashion, and not paragraph form?

5. Did you identify the control group and the experimental groups? 6. Did you make it detailed?

OBSERVATIONS: 1. Did you identify the date and time they were made?

2. Did you write them in such a way that others could understand

what you have written?

ANALYSIS: 1. Did you organize your observations into a chart? 2. Did you title your chart? 3. Did you graph your data? 4. Do your graphs have a title? 5. Axe the axis labeled correctly? 6. Numbered correctly? 7. Did you write a summary of what each graph shows the reader? 8. Did you graph only the averages for each group and not individual

data when possible?

CONCLUSION: 1. Did you begin with stating whether you support or reject your

hypothesis or are inconclusive? 2. Do you go on to explain why you answered this way? 3. Do you use your data (numbers) to support your explanations? 4. Do you discuss all of the possible factors that might have

influenced your results? 5. Do you suggest ways to improve on the experiment, if you were to

do it over again? 6. Do you make recommendations for other experiments related to this

topic?