Science Fair Requirements Groups: 1 or 2 people may work on a project. Partners must be members of the same class. Partner work is generally more labor intensive!

DUE DATES 1. November 20 th – Teams and project topics (at least 3 ideas. Must be written down (one page per project/team). Approval by Science teacher due Nov. 21 st. 2. November 24 th – Big Question, Hypothesis, and Materials list, as well as Project Outline; indicate which steps have been completed and which steps still need to be done. 3. December 8 th – Procedures are due. 4. December 15 th – First set of Data is due. 5. January 6 th - Projects due by 8:30 A.M. Late entries will not be allowed into the library for judging but will still be graded!

NOTICE: Students doing projects requiring HUMAN or ANIMAL involvement MUST HAVE approval forms completed before beginning their project FROM SRC. See MRS. WRIGHT in E-7 if you have questions regarding this requirement.

PROJECTS Science fair projects must demonstrate the Scientific Method. Models of the solar systems or volcanoes will NOT be placed in the library for judging. Projects must have a testable hypothesis, a manipulated variable, and proper controls. You must collect and present data.

NO LIVE ANIMALS can be used in the experiments without prior SRC approval forms completed and on file with Mrs. Wright. Any food/liquids may not be put in the media center so make sure you have pictures on your board.

Ideas and guidelines for experiments can be obtained from the FMS library or a public library. There are books, which suggest appropriate experiments.

Presentation Requirements: The science fair requires that a project be presented in two ways – a DISPLAY and a BOUND RESEARCH REPORT.

Display: A freestanding display is required. Maximum dimensions are 122 cm (48 in) wide, 274 cm (108 in) tall and 76 cm (30 in) deep. Standard tri-fold boards available from Wal-Mart or an office supply store are fine. Homemade display boards must stand up without additional support. Cover brown cardboard or bare wood with a color. Manufactured display boards are available in white or black.

Problem Project Title Procedures HypothesisData Tables, Graphs, Data Analysis Materials Charts, Visual Displays Conclusion

DISPLAY All information on the display should be typed (Headings in a large font) or printed NEATLY. Readability is essential, so typing is preferred. Mounting information on a contrasting background adds to the presentation but is not required.

Research Report: The research report must be placed in a report binder or folder and must accompany the display. The report needs to be in the following format: 1. Title Page: Include the project title, student’s names(s) (first and last), name of the science teacher(s), category of project, 2. Table of Contents: Standard Table of Contents (All pages in the report must be numbered; Page 1 starts after the Table of Contents)

Research Report cont’d: 3. Statement of Purpose; 2-3 sentences that explain why you found the topic interesting and what you expected to discover, 4. Hypothesis: The prediction about what you expected the result of the experiment to be, 5. Materials: A list of all supplies used in the experiment,

Research Report cont’d. 6. Procedures: Step-by-step instructions that explain how the experiment was done. There needs to be enough detail so that another person could repeat the experiment exactly as you have done it. 7. Observations/Results: Include the data collected in the experiment in an organized manner (Tables and Graphs are required.) Describe what happened, but do not present the final conclusion in this section, 8. Conclusion: Brief statement of whether the hypothesis was correct or not. If the hypothesis was not correct, briefly explain why. Remember- showing a hypothesis to be incorrect is still good science. (5-7 sentences).

Research Report cont’d. 9. Research: In your own words, describe any background research (information) that you read that helped you set up the experiment include it in your report. 10. Bibliography: A list of all sources you consulted in doing the project (books, magazines, encyclopedias, internet sites). The standard format will be distributed at a later date. 11. Acknowledgements: Thank the individuals who helped you and briefly describe what they did to assist you. (people you interviewed, parents, teachers). Make sure you give credit to anyone who took pictures by putting picture by:..) 12. If you include pictures you must give credit below the picture to the photographer.