Charlestown Science Fair

Step 1 Have a project idea –Research –Develop a hypothesis –Write you project proposal explaining your idea and your experiment –Fill out the rest of the paperwork and turn in the paperwork to the Main Office with the Activity Fee. This is the hardest step, but not if you keep it simple.

Step 2 After receiving approval from Mrs. Himmelberger conduct your experiment. This is the fun step.

Step 3 Analyze your results and form your conclusions. Step 4 Share your project –Make a project board –Write an Abstract –Present your project at the Fair. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!

Where Can I Get My Research Project Idea? Observe the world around you. Books Talk with a classmate, teacher, or other adult. Internet sites. –Look on the Science Fair Webpage for links.

Project Categories Team – no more than 2 people. Once a team always a team Behavioral and Social Science Biochemistry Botany Chemistry Computer Science Consumer Science

Project Categories Earth and Space Science Engineering Environmental Science Math Medicine and Health Microbiology Physics Zoology

Project No-Nos No dangerous chemicals, explosives, guns, or other firearms. No projects involving drugs. No projects involving mold growth of any kind. No projects involving micro-organisms, humans or animals. No projects that will be dangerous to conduct.

How Do I Develop My Idea into an Experiment? Research your idea. Find out as much as you can about the idea. You’ll need to use at least 5 different resources. After you research your idea, develop a hypothesis about your idea. If __________ is true then _____________.

How Do I Develop My Idea into an Experiment? Your next task is to find a way to test your hypothesis. You can test your hypothesis by conducting an experiment and gathering data.

Experiments Ideally your experiment is testing one variable and every other variable is held constant. Try to run your experiment multiple times to verify results. For example, if you are testing different paper towels for absorption, run the experiment multiple times and calculate the average. For example, if you are trying to find out which insulation holds heat in the best, try each insulation multiple times and calculate the average.

Before You Start Your Experiment! You must now have your parents help you fill out your paperwork. You will need the following forms: 1.Student Checklist #1A 2.Research Plan 3.Approval Form #1B

Optional Meetings Come to voluntary session on October 6 th to find projects, develop proposals, develop experiments, and fill out the paperwork.

Turn in the Paperwork October 16 th Into the Main Office You are turning in: –Activity Fee –Research Plan –Student Checklist 1A –Approval Form 1B

Experimentation Meeting on October 26 th for 4 th graders Meeting on October 29 th for 5 th graders You will receive feedback and, hopefully, approval for your project. You cannot start your project until you receive approval from Mrs. H.

While you Experiment Every project needs a log book. This should be a working journal, so it’s ok to have spelling mistakes, things spilled on it, etc. Write down any observations, notes, or questions that you have through this process. Take pictures. Be as accurate as you can when collecting data. Display your data in tables or graphs to share with others.

Collecting Data Think about what the data is telling you. Use this data to draw your conclusions. Display your data in tables or graphs to share with others. Maybe the data brings about more questions to test. If this is the case, talk to Mrs. H. about how to continue your experiment.

Sharing Your Results Fair Day is December 21 st. Meetings in November and December to prepare for the fair.

How Does a Great Science Fair Project Look? An outstanding science fair project is neat and well organized. The display clearly shows the: –Title –Abstract –Hypothesis –Materials –Procedure –Results –Conclusion –Pictures, charts or graphs Special attention is given to spelling and grammar.

Judging Judging Criteria Creative Ability - 30 points Scientific Thought – 30 points Thoroughness – 15 points Skill- 15 points Clarity – 10 points

Judging The top 5 5 th grade projects and the top 5 4 th grade projects go on to the C.C. Fair. Only two team projects per grade will go to the CC Fair. We will also name one non-team project alternate from each grade level.

Is Entering the Science Fair All about Winning? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Everyone who enters the science fair is a winner. You have taken information learned in school, developed an idea to explore and worked through a difficult process. You will have grown wiser as a student and as person. Sometimes your hypothesis turns out to be true, sometimes it does not. Remember, you sometimes learn more when your experiment doesn’t turn out just like you think it will.

Time Line On or before October 16 th turn in the paperwork and Activity Fee to the Main Office. October 26 th and 29 th receive feedback about your project proposal October 29 th -November 19 th run the experiment November 19 th Meeting about putting together the project board

Time Line December 7 th Meeting about the abstract December 14 th Meeting about how to present your project to the judges. December 21 st Charlestown Science Fair during school. TBD C.C. Science Fair

Questions If you have any questions along the way, just Mrs. H. at

Good luck and happy experimenting.