Your G/T Research Project OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills in order to: identify criteria for a topic; understand what makes a bad topic; define independent and dependent variables and extinguish between the two research possible topics using given websites; create research questions for five possible research topics. HOMEWORK: Browse through given websites, choose 5 topics and create a list of 5 questions (one per topic)

Topic Criteria Topic MUST translate into an EXPERIMENT that produces quantitative data; data measured by numbers Topic must be stated in the form of a researchable question that refers to independent and dependent variables NO animal or insect projects

BIOLOGY The study of living organisms Fields of Biology include: Animal Sciences Cell Biology Medicine and Health Sciences Plant Sciences

CHEMISTRY The study of matter and the ways in which they interact, combine, and change Fields of Chemistry include: Chemical reactions Solutions Acids and bases Polymers

EARTH SCIENCE The physical make up of the Earth and its atmosphere Fields of Earth Science include: Weather Climatology Mineralogy

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE The study of the surroundings or conditions in which a person, plant or animal lives. Fields of Environmental Science include: Air pollution and air quality Soil contamination and soil quality Water pollution and water quality

ENGINEERING The study of design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures Fields of Engineering include: Environmental Mechanical Civil Aerospace Material Science Robotics

PHYSICS The study of the nature of matter and energy Fields of Physics include: Magnets Optics Sound Electricity Heat

Variables INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: the factor in the experiment you change on purpose DEPENDENT VARIABLE: the factor in the experiment that changes as a result of the independent variable; what you will measure in the experiment

Sample Topic Questions BAD QUESTION: What is the most popular detergent on the market today? –Not a question that can be researched by completing an experiment; descriptive research NOT experimental research –Does not have independent and dependent variables BETTER QUESTION: What type of detergent cleans grease stains the best from clothing?

Broad Questions (lead to reports) Testable Questions (lead to investigations) BROAD: How do lubricants work? TESTABLE: Which combination of lubricants will work best on a bicycle wheel? BROAD: What happens when water expands as it freezes? TESTABLE: How much force is needed to keep water from expanding as it freezes? BROAD: What is soap? TESTABLE: Which detergent removes stains the best? BROAD: What is bread mold? TESTABLE: What conditions keep bread mold from growing on bread? BROAD: What do birds eat? TESTABLE: What type of food and feeder will attract the most cardinals?

Sites to Use for Researching Topics projects/project_ideas.shtml projects/project_ideas.shtml faircentral/?pID=fair faircentral/?pID=fair

What next? For HOMEWORK Review the sites given on the my Edmodo page for project ideas. After HOURS of browsing the sites (JK!), choose FIVE topics to research. State your topics in the form of a question; one question/topic per blank; write your questions down on loose leaf for submission Due Wednesday, November 5 th !