Scinece project Parent Information

8/7/2019 Scinece project Parent Information

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All aboutAll aboutcompletingcompleting

a Fair Project.a Fair Project.

By: The Whole FacultyBy: The Whole FacultyScience GroupScience Group


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What is a Science Project?What is a Science Project? A science fair project is aA science fair project is a

project that is one that askproject that is one that ask

a question and has ana question and has an

experiment to attempt toexperiment to attempt toanswer the question.answer the question.

A science fair is NOT aA science fair is NOT a

simply a project that is onsimply a project that is ona science topic such asa science topic such as

plants, animals, health,plants, animals, health,

etc.etc.


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What are the parts of a ScienceWhat are the parts of a Science

Project?Project?A project board withA project board withthe steps of thethe steps of the

scientific method.scientific method.An abstract.An abstract.A ReportA ReportA model or displayA model or display

(if applicable)(if applicable)


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Parts of the ScientificParts of the Scientific

MethodMethodPurposePurposeHypothesisHypothesis

ExperimentExperiment(Procedure,(Procedure,

Research)Research)AnalysisAnalysis

ConclusionConclusion


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What is the Purpose?What is the Purpose?What is your goal?What is your goal?

What idea are you trying toWhat idea are you trying totest?test?

What is the scientific questionWhat is the scientific questionyou are trying to answer?you are trying to answer? Ex. Can a plant live more daysEx. Can a plant live more days

without sun or light?without sun or light?


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What is the Hypothesis?What is the Hypothesis?

Tell how you think your project can demonstrate yourTell how you think your project can demonstrate yourpurpose.purpose.

Make a prediction regarding the outcome of yourMake a prediction regarding the outcome of yourexperiment.experiment.

State the results you are predicting in measurableState the results you are predicting in measurableterms.terms.

Ex. I think that plants can live without water longerEx. I think that plants can live without water longerthan without sunlightthan without sunlight..


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What is the Procedure?What is the Procedure? Give a detailed explanation of how the experiment will beGive a detailed explanation of how the experiment will be

performed to test your hypothesis.performed to test your hypothesis.

Be clear about the variables (elements of the experiment thatBe clear about the variables (elements of the experiment thatchange to test your hypothesis) versus your controls (elementschange to test your hypothesis) versus your controls (elementsof the experiment that do not change).of the experiment that do not change).

Be very specific about how you will measure results to prove orBe very specific about how you will measure results to prove ordisprove your hypothesis. You should include a regulardisprove your hypothesis. You should include a regulartimetable for measuring results or observing the projects (i.e.timetable for measuring results or observing the projects (i.e.

every hour, every day, every week).every hour, every day, every week). Your procedure should be like a recipeYour procedure should be like a recipe ---- Another person shouldAnother person should

be able to perform your experiment following your procedure.be able to perform your experiment following your procedure.Test this with a friend or parent to be sure you have notTest this with a friend or parent to be sure you have notforgotten anything.forgotten anything.


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What is the Materials?What is the Materials? List all materials and equipment that wereList all materials and equipment that were

used.used.

Your list of materials should include all of theYour list of materials should include all of theingredients of the procedure recipe.ingredients of the procedure recipe.

Make sure you list all the materials used in theMake sure you list all the materials used in theProcedure.Procedure.


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What is the Research & Data?What is the Research & Data?

Keep a detailed journal of observations, data and/or results.Keep a detailed journal of observations, data and/or results.They can be data measurements and written notes about whatThey can be data measurements and written notes about whatyou are sensing (hearing, seeing, or touching) about youryou are sensing (hearing, seeing, or touching) about your

experiment.experiment. Photograph your project results or phases of the project ifPhotograph your project results or phases of the project if

appropriate to help your analysis and possibly to demonstrateappropriate to help your analysis and possibly to demonstrateyour experiment on your exhibit board.your experiment on your exhibit board.

You can include graphs showing information like growth,You can include graphs showing information like growth,increase, decrease, etc.increase, decrease, etc.

Include some of the background information you read andInclude some of the background information you read andresearched before you began your experiment.researched before you began your experiment.


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What is the Analysis?What is the Analysis? Explain your observations, data and/orExplain your observations, data and/orresults. This is a summary of what yourresults. This is a summary of what your

data has shown you.data has shown you. List the main points of what you'veList the main points of what you've

learned.learned.

Why did the results occur? What did yourWhy did the results occur? What did yourexperiment prove?experiment prove?

Was your hypothesis correct? Did yourWas your hypothesis correct? Did your

experiment prove or disprove yourexperiment prove or disprove your


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What is the Conclusion?What is the Conclusion? A summary of your interpretation of the data andA summary of your interpretation of the data and

results of the experiment.results of the experiment. You should restate the hypothesis and whether youYou should restate the hypothesis and whether you

found the hypothesis to be true or false.found the hypothesis to be true or false. You should also comment on how the results of theYou should also comment on how the results of the

experiment satisfied your original purpose.experiment satisfied your original purpose. Answer your problem/purpose statement.Answer your problem/purpose statement. What does it all add up to? What is the value of yourWhat does it all add up to? What is the value of your

project?project? What further study do you recommend given theWhat further study do you recommend given the

results of your experiment? What would be the nextresults of your experiment? What would be the nextquestion to ask?question to ask?

If you repeated this project, what would you change?If you repeated this project, what would you change?


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What is the Research Paper?What is the Research Paper? The research paper is the main body of the Science project.The research paper is the main body of the Science project. Title PageTitle Page Table of ContentsTable of Contents Question and Hypothesis:Question and Hypothesis: The question that you are trying to answer withThe question that you are trying to answer with

your experiment. Be sure to clearly state your hypothesis at the end.your experiment. Be sure to clearly state your hypothesis at the end. Review of Literature:Review of Literature: Background information that reflects the knowledgeBackground information that reflects the knowledge

you have acquired, through your research, on the topic your of youryou have acquired, through your research, on the topic your of yourexperiment. You should be providing the reader with useful backgroundexperiment. You should be providing the reader with useful background

information for your project.information for your project. Materials and Procedure (Research Plan):Materials and Procedure (Research Plan): This is essentially your researchThis is essentially your research

plan. You should be certain to include a list of all materials that were used inplan. You should be certain to include a list of all materials that were used inyour experiment and how they were used. It is best to present your procedure inyour experiment and how they were used. It is best to present your procedure insteps and to include as much detail as possible about measurements andsteps and to include as much detail as possible about measurements and

techniques in each step.techniques in each step.

Results:Results: A precise recap of what you found out in your experiment, focusingA precise recap of what you found out in your experiment, focusingon your observations and data, leaving all interpretation for the Conclusionon your observations and data, leaving all interpretation for the Conclusionsection.section.

Conclusion:Conclusion: A summary of your interpretation of the data and results of theA summary of your interpretation of the data and results of theexperiment. You should restate the hypothesis and whether you found theexperiment. You should restate the hypothesis and whether you found thehypothesis to be true or false. You should also comment on how the results ofhypothesis to be true or false. You should also comment on how the results of

the experiment satisfied your original purpose.the experiment satisfied your original purpose. Reference List / BibliographyReference List / Bibliography Table and Fi ures:Table and Fi ures: Include tables charts and hoto ra hs that urther helInclude tables charts and hoto ra hs that urther hel


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Title PageTitle Page(1(1ststpage of Research )page of Research )

Your title page should have your title of theYour title page should have your title of theproject in the middle of the page and alsoproject in the middle of the page and alsocentered in the middle.centered in the middle.

Under the title it should have the division, allUnder the title it should have the division, allchildren at our school will be in the Elementarychildren at our school will be in the ElementaryDivision.Division.

Then what category the project goes in. BotanyThen what category the project goes in. Botany(plants), Zoology (animals), Physics(plants), Zoology (animals), Physics

What drink stains your teeth the

most?

12/14/06

Elementary Division

Chemistry

EXAMPLE


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Table of Contents (2Table of Contents (2ndndpage of Research)page of Research)

The Table of Contents page needs to be titled Table ofThe Table of Contents page needs to be titled Table ofContents.Contents.

This page should be numbered 2 at the bottom.This page should be numbered 2 at the bottom.

It should tell what is found on each page of theIt should tell what is found on each page of theresearch paper.research paper.

The Body of Research will have information about theThe Body of Research will have information about thetopic the experiment is on and all the parts of thetopic the experiment is on and all the parts of theScientific Method (purpose, hypothesis, procedure,Scientific Method (purpose, hypothesis, procedure,materials, results, analysis, conclusion)materials, results, analysis, conclusion)

Table of ContentsSection Page

Title Page ......................1

Table of Contents .................... 2Body of Research 3-6

Abstract ..................... 7

Bibliography .................................... 8

Table and Figures............................ 9

Bibliography..................................... 10

2


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What is the Abstract?What is the Abstract? An abstract gives the essence of the project in aAn abstract gives the essence of the project in abrief but complete formbrief but complete form it should not exceedit should not exceed250 words.250 words.

Judges and the public should have a fairlyJudges and the public should have a fairlyaccurate idea of the project after reading theaccurate idea of the project after reading theabstract.abstract.

Your abstract should be about 3 paragraphs.Your abstract should be about 3 paragraphs. It should briefly go through all the steps in theIt should briefly go through all the steps in the

scientific method without opinions or extrascientific method without opinions or extra

elaborations.elaborations.


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Parts of your AbstractParts of your Abstract Purpose of the ExperimentPurpose of the Experiment

An introductory statement of the reason for investigating the topic of theAn introductory statement of the reason for investigating the topic of theproject.project. A statement of the problem or hypothesis being studied.A statement of the problem or hypothesis being studied.

Procedures UsedProcedures Used A summarization of the key points and an overview of how the investigationA summarization of the key points and an overview of how the investigation

was conducted.was conducted. An abstract does not give details about the materials used unless it greatlyAn abstract does not give details about the materials used unless it greatly

influenced the procedure or had to be developed to do the investigation.influenced the procedure or had to be developed to do the investigation. An abstract should only include procedures done by the student. Work done byAn abstract should only include procedures done by the student. Work done by

a mentor (such as surgical procedures) or work done prior to studenta mentor (such as surgical procedures) or work done prior to studentinvolvement must not be included.involvement must not be included.

OObservation/Data/Resultsbservation/Data/Results This section should provide key results that lead directly to the conclusions youThis section should provide key results that lead directly to the conclusions you

have drawn.have drawn. It should not give too many details about the results nor include tables orIt should not give too many details about the results nor include tables or

graphs.graphs.

ConclusionsConclusions Conclusions from the investigation should be described briefly.Conclusions from the investigation should be described briefly.


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BibliographyBibliography (The last page of your(The last page of yourResearch Paper)Research Paper)

You must have used at leastYou must have used at least 5 sources5 sourcesresearch cited.research cited.

These resources cannot be all the same.These resources cannot be all the same.

Some of the resources are:Some of the resources are: Magazine/Newspapers ArticlesMagazine/Newspapers Articles

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias

BooksBooks InternetInternet

Interviews from experts on topicInterviews from experts on topic


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What should you consider whenWhat should you consider when

doing a Science Fair Project?doing a Science Fair Project? You must be able to perform the experiment using theYou must be able to perform the experiment using the

scientific method.scientific method. Make sure the equipment you will need to do theMake sure the equipment you will need to do the

experiment is available.experiment is available. Consider whether you'll have enough time to completeConsider whether you'll have enough time to complete

the experiment.the experiment. Demonstrations and modelsDemonstrations and models----while good learningwhile good learning

toolstools----are not experiments. For example, a modelare not experiments. For example, a modelshowing how the human heart works in notshowing how the human heart works in notappropriate for the science fair.appropriate for the science fair.


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Steps to a Successful Science FairSteps to a Successful Science FairProjectProject

1.1. Become familiar with theBecome familiar with the scientific methodscientific method..2.2. Select aSelect atopictopicthat interests YOU. Your topic should be statedthat interests YOU. Your topic should be stated

in the form of a question, which you'll answer throughin the form of a question, which you'll answer throughexperimentation. For example, "What effect does the size of aexperimentation. For example, "What effect does the size of ahole in a parachute have on its rate of descent?"hole in a parachute have on its rate of descent?"

3.3. Research your topic and form a hypothesis (guess the answerResearch your topic and form a hypothesis (guess the answerto your question).to your question).4.4. Design an experiment to answer your question.Design an experiment to answer your question.5.5. Fill out all the requiredFill out all the requiredformsformsBEFORE you start yourBEFORE you start your

experiment.experiment.

6.6. Conduct your experiment and record the results.Conduct your experiment and record the results.7.7. Interpret the data. Put the results in charts and graphs. DrawInterpret the data. Put the results in charts and graphs. Drawa conclusion about your hypothesis.a conclusion about your hypothesis.

8.8. Make a display and write a short report.Make a display and write a short report.9.9. Practice your presentation to the judges.Practice your presentation to the judges.

10.10. Come to the science fair and have fun!Come to the science fair and have fun!


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Some websites thatSome websites that

might helpmight help http://www.allhttp://www.all--sciencescience--fairfair--projects.com/projects.com/

http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentrhttp://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentr

al/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethodal/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.html.html

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideashttp://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.htmframe.htm

http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/

http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/


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Thanks for comingThanks for coming

& Good Luck& Good Luck

Scientist!Scientist!

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Scinece project Parent Information