SCIENCE FAIR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTSPROJECTS

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTSSCIENCE FAIR PROJECTSWHY?WHY?

Problem Solving SkillsProblem Solving Skills Communication SkillsCommunication Skills Work SkillsWork Skills Expert SkillsExpert Skills

Types of ProjectsTypes of Projects

Study ProjectsStudy Projects– Display information demonstrating scientific Display information demonstrating scientific

ideas using observations or modelsideas using observations or models Experimental ProjectsExperimental Projects Innovation Projects Innovation Projects

– Invent or modify an existing technologyInvent or modify an existing technology You are You are REQUIREDREQUIRED TO DO AN TO DO AN

EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTEXPERIMENTAL PROJECT

Where does the idea Where does the idea come from?come from? Personal interestsPersonal interests Answering a question you haveAnswering a question you have BrainstormsBrainstorms Thought WebsThought Webs

What What MustMust be Included be Included

Title of experimentTitle of experiment ProblemProblem DefinitionsDefinitions HypothesisHypothesis Research (background information)Research (background information) Experimental ProcedureExperimental Procedure Experimental MaterialsExperimental Materials ResultsResults ConclusionConclusion Reference and AcknowledgementsReference and Acknowledgements

What You What You MayMay Include Include

Pictures showing the experimentPictures showing the experiment A journal logging the processA journal logging the process DecorationDecoration *REMEMBER* Judges will be *REMEMBER* Judges will be

looking at content not how pretty looking at content not how pretty it is.it is.

State your PROBLEMState your PROBLEM

What is the point?What is the point? Why are you doing the project?Why are you doing the project? What are you trying to find out?What are you trying to find out? What question are you answering?What question are you answering?

Which material would best adsorb oil in a simulated oil spill?

DEFINITIONS AND DEFINITIONS AND REASEARCH…REASEARCH… ParentsParents TeachersTeachers LibraryLibrary Community ResourcesCommunity Resources STAS ExpertsSTAS Experts

Form your Form your HYPOTHESIS…HYPOTHESIS… Tells what you think will happenTells what you think will happen Experimental projects, use the Experimental projects, use the

words words ifif and and thenthen. . Even if your hypothesis isn't right, Even if your hypothesis isn't right,

what you find out from your what you find out from your research is importantresearch is important

PROCEDURE AND PROCEDURE AND MATERIALS MATERIALS Sometime called materials and Sometime called materials and

methodsmethods Procedure Procedure

– All project steps used to prove/disprove All project steps used to prove/disprove hypothesis.hypothesis.

Independent variables/dependent variablesIndependent variables/dependent variables ControlControl Five or more replicationsFive or more replications Records of procedures, dates of when tasks Records of procedures, dates of when tasks

were completedwere completed

RESULTS (DATA) AND RESULTS (DATA) AND CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS ResultsResults

– Record all data and observations in tables Record all data and observations in tables or chartsor charts

– Compare control and experiment trialsCompare control and experiment trials– Present data using graphsPresent data using graphs– Be able to explain what results meanBe able to explain what results mean– Think of practical uses of your informationThink of practical uses of your information

Conclusion(s) and Recommendation(s)Conclusion(s) and Recommendation(s)

REFERENCE AND REFERENCE AND ACKNOWLEDEMENTSACKNOWLEDEMENTS You must state all of your You must state all of your

resourcesresources Internet, books, articles, or people Internet, books, articles, or people

that contributed to you researchthat contributed to you research You also need to thank anyone You also need to thank anyone

who helped you (ex. Parents)who helped you (ex. Parents)

JudgingJudging

Projects will be judged based on a very Projects will be judged based on a very detailed rubric.detailed rubric.

Each required element of the project will be Each required element of the project will be scored out of 5 points with 5 being the best scored out of 5 points with 5 being the best scorescore

There are 10 required elements. All are There are 10 required elements. All are worth 5 point except the title which is worth worth 5 point except the title which is worth 2. (47 points for the total project)2. (47 points for the total project)

This will also count as your grade for the This will also count as your grade for the projectproject

It will be a TEST gradeIt will be a TEST grade

JudgingJudging

Example of scoring (a copy of the rubric can be Example of scoring (a copy of the rubric can be requestedrequested

Problem/QuestionProblem/QuestionScore 1: Not stated in display Score 1: Not stated in display

Score 2: Stated on display, but not related to Score 2: Stated on display, but not related to experimentexperimentScore 3: Stated on display, related to Score 3: Stated on display, related to experiment, not stated as a testable questionexperiment, not stated as a testable questionScore 4: Stated on display, related to Score 4: Stated on display, related to experiment, basic testable questionexperiment, basic testable questionScore 5: Effectively communicated on Score 5: Effectively communicated on display, well written, testable question display, well written, testable question

ExamplesExamples

Helpful WebsitesHelpful Websites

www.sciencebuddies.orgwww.sciencebuddies.org www.sciencefest.org/index.phpwww.sciencefest.org/index.php www.sciencefest.org/elementary/www.sciencefest.org/elementary/

students.phpstudents.php www.all-science-fair-projects.comwww.all-science-fair-projects.com