Rivera Science Fair

Friday, February 27th 2009

Make sure your child follows the Scientific Method

Demonstrations or displays will NOT be judged.

The Scientific Method• Purpose or Problem• Hypothesis• Materials• Procedure• Data• Results• Conclusion• Written Report

Purpose / Problem

What do you want to know?

Pose a question that is TESTABLE

Hypothesis

• What do you think will happen and why?

This should be stated BEFORE you begin the experiment.

Materials

• What do you need to complete this experiment?

• What did you use to complete this experiment?

• List EVERYTHING!!

Procedure

• What steps will you follow to complete this experiment?

• List all your steps so that another person could repeat your experiment without your help.

• Test your hypothesis a minimum of three trials.

Data

• Collect data in a table or chart to show three or more trials.

• Make observations and collect appropriate data.

Results

• What happened?• State what you observed.• Refer to your Data in your Results.

Conclusion

• What is the answer to the question? Did the investigation results match your hypothesis?

• Interpret the data. Why did the results turn out the way they did? Refer to books and other resources to help answer your question. Restate your hypothesis.

Written Report

• A written report may accompany the project.

• All students in 5th grade are required to have a written report.

Resource List

• Make sure to list all your resources.

*Remember*• If using pictures on your display, do not

show any faces in the pictures.• Your child’s name should not be visible.

(Put your child’s name on the back of the display board and then place a sticky note over it.)

• Permission Forms must be signed, collected, and displayed with the project for any student participating in another student’s project (even for questionnaires).

A few more things to remember!

• SAFETY: No dangerous chemicals• Food must be in a sealed container• No fungi or cultures displayed• Projects involving animals must be

approved by Sharon Betty, DISD Science Coordinator, and a permission form from a vet must accompany the project.

• Contact Sharon Betty: sbetty@dentonisd.org or 940-369-0664