KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL

SCIENCE FAIR PLANNING JOURNAL

Date: ________________________

Time: ________________________

Steps to the Scientific MethodQuestion What you are

investigatingHypothesis Our prediction

about the questionMaterials The materials

collected to use in the experiment

Independent Variable

The one thing that is changed in the experiment

Control Variable Things that are kept the same in the experiment

Dependent Variable The results due to the independent variable

Experiment/Procedure

Step-by Step directions as to how the experiment is followed

Observation (Data Chart)

The data that is collected in the experiment

Conclusion The answer to the question, completed after the experiment is

finished and data is analyzed

page 1

Display RubricTitle/Hypothesis4 pts. Fully Developed/Testable& Correct PlacementMaterials 4 pts.Detailed List & Correct PlacementVariables 4 pts.I/D/3 Controls &Correct PlacementProcedure 4 pts.Detailed & Repeatable& Correct PlacementExperiment 4 pts.Good Visual &Correct PlacementData Chart 4 pts.3 Trials/Avg/Unit& Correct PlaceGraph 4 pts.Title/Axis Labeled& Correct Place

Conclusion 4 pts.Related to Hypo. with Data & PlaceCreativity 8 pts.

Points Earned(40 points)

page 18

Draw (map out) a picture of what your display board will look like

Assemble Science Fair Display board

Due Date: ____________________

page 17

4 Examples of Testable Questions

I am Considering

1.

Source:

2.

Source:

3.

Source:

4.

Source:

Sources are identified by writing down the website or If you choose one from a book you must include the name of book and page # the experiment is on.

page 2

What is the testable question you are going to answer with an experiment?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain why you have chosen this experiment________________________

_________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

___________________________

___________________________

page 3

Checklist for Display BoardDoes your display board have the following?

_____ Title (8 1/2 x 14)

_____ Hypothesis

_____ Material List

_____ Independent Variable

_____ 3 Control Variables

_____ Dependent Variable

_____ 6 Photographs with captions

_____ Data Chart

_____ Scale

_____ Graph

_____ # step-by step Procedures

_____ Conclusion

_____ Your Name/Teacher Name/Hour

_____ Construction paper behind all displayed items

_____ Personal embellishments demonstrating creativity

Placement of each piece is important as this is a competition. Follow the examples given as points will be deducted if items are in the wrong places.

Due Date: ____________________ page 16

Typing Checklist for your DisplayLab Report Titles

ALL CAPITAL LETTERS FONT - COPPERPLATE GOTHIC BOLD SIZE - 48 ALL IN BOXES

You will need the following titles (HYPOTHESIS, MATERIALS, VARIABLES, EXPERIEMNT, DATA TABLE, GRAPH, PROCEDURES, CONCLUSION)

Lab Report Body

FONT SIZE - 36 CHOOSE 1 FONT CHOICE - (Arial, Bookman

Old Style, Cambria, comic Sans, Georgia, Times New Roman)

All in boxes

You will need the following (HYPOTHESIS, MATERIAL LIST, VARIABLES; INDEPENDENT, CONTROLLED, DEPENDENT,PROCEDURES THAT ARE NUMBERED, CONCLUSION)

Title

This is your testable question and will be typed following directions given in class as to how to set up a 81/2 x 14" piece of paper that will be changed in the printer.

If you do not finish your typing in school then you will need to finish your typing at home.

Due Date: ____________________ page 15

Parent Approval

I understand that _____________________________________ will need to have their science experiment completed by __________________________ at home and have taken pictures to submit for the science fair along with the data from the experiment they have collected.

I further understand that student attendance during the evening of the science fair is required for 10 points participation. However, if my student in unable to attend, I will notify you in writing and the alternate computer based assignment provided by his teacher (which takes approximately 2 hours) will be completed.

Parent/Guardian Signature

______________________________________

Due Date: ____________________ page 4

HypothesisWrite your predication about your testable question and include the reason why you think this will happen.

Begin with:

I predict ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Due Date: ____________________ page 5

Examples of Display Boards

page 14

Background InformationResearch your topic that you tested to better

understand your results.

Write 3-4 sentences about why your results came out the way they did based upon you research.

Begin with:

My research indicates that

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

You should be able to answer the question, "why did this happen scientifically?"

page 13

VariablesYou will need to know the following

1. What is your Independent Variable?

(what you are testing)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What are your 3 Control Variables?

(what will you be keeping the same or constant during each trial)

A. ________________________________

B. ________________________________

C. ________________________________

3. What is your Dependent Variable?

(what will be your results how are they measured)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Measuring device I will be using is ___________

Due Date: ____________________ page 6

Material ListList every quantity and item you will need for your

experiment.

Put a bullet next to each item and be specific

Is there any item you will need to borrow from me?

__________________________________

Due Date: ____________________ page 7

ConclusionYour conclusion need to be derived from your data, written in 3 to 4 sentences and

Dependent Variable

related back to your hypothesis. In essence, did you results validate your predication.

Begin with:

The data collected from my experiment ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Due Date: ____________________ page 12

Graph ResultsYou will create a graph using an excel document discussed in class. You will need to save this document in a science fair folder

created by you in your home directory at school. Units of measurement need to be represented in your graph and each axis need s to be labeled.

Title your graph with your testable question

Due Date: ____________________ page 11

Step-by-Step Detailed ProcedureAny person should be able to follow your procedures to conduct 1 trail of the experiment.

Independent Variable

Procedures are numbered in the order they are to be completed during the experiment along with a detailed listing of quantities and steps taken. Begin each procedure with a verb such as add, attach, drop, fill, place, etc

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10

11.

Due Date: ____________________ page 8

Conduct Experiment

Photos validate that you have completed your experiment. Each photo will need a caption identifying what is taking place. Captions may be incorporated into your pictures or you may type your captions and place on your display board. You must have a minimum of 4-6 pictures representing the materials you used in your experiment and illustrating the beginning , middle and end of the experiment.

Photo Captions

123456

Paperclip your 6 photos to this page

Due Date: ____________________ page 9

Record Data You will create a data chart using a word document discussed in class illustrating 3 trials of your experiment. You will need to save this document in a science fair folder created by you in your home directory at school.

Independent Variable

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trail 3 Average

If you are not using a metric measuring device you will need to create a 1-5 scale representing your results.

Due Date: ____________________ page 10