Science Class Mrs. Armstrong Science Fair Projects Science Class Mrs. Armstrong 11/19/2018

Topic 1 Select a topic that can be answered only by you experimenting Write your topic as a question to be investigated 1 11/19/2018

Explore topics Write everything you do in a journal Visit www.sciencebuddies.org Take the wizard survey to narrow your fields of interest Explore other projects on line (but tweak it to make it your own) Explore science fair project ideas in your library 11/19/2018

Selecting a Topic 2 Help in finding a topic: READ in books, magazines, newspapers Talk to your teacher, family, friends Visit professional people, museums, zoos, Select a topic you know nothing about. Select a topic that you know something about but want to investigate further Select a topic that genuinely interests you. 2 11/19/2018

Research the Topic Once you have selected a topic with a problem- ask a question? Begin researching more about the topic Online resources Use reliable resources, such as .edu, .org, or paid online resources Worldbookonline PowerLibrary Should have 10 resources or more 11/19/2018

Good Topic Bad Topic Do different colored mints dissolve at the same rate? What surfaces do mealworms prefer? Do all brands of paper towels absorb water at the same rate? How volcanoes erupt. Microscopes do different brands of paper towels soak up different temperatures of water at the same rate? 3 11/19/2018

Purpose One to three sentences that explains why you are doing this investigation. The purpose can be stated like this: “The purpose of this project is …” If your purpose is well worded, you will have little difficulty writing a title for your project. 4 11/19/2018

Hypothesis A hypothesis states what you think is going to happen when you investigate a question. Question: Does light affect the way plants grow? Hypothesis 1: Plants will grow toward the light Hypothesis 2: Plants will grow away from the light. Hypothesis 3: Light will make no difference in the way plants will grow. Choose the one you predict will work for your experiement 5 11/19/2018

Procedures Materials Variables Step by Step directions 6 11/19/2018

Materials Good Listing Poor Listing Paper towels measuring cup water container thermometer clock 3- 15x 15 cm sq each of: Brawney, Gala, Scott, Generic paper towels 250 ml graduated beaker 750 ml water at 20 0 C 1- 20x20 cm sq cake pan Celsius Thermometer Clock with second hand 7 11/19/2018

Variables There are three types of variables Independent Variable (Manipulated)- What you change on purpose in an investigation The factor being tested Dependent Variable (Responding)- What changes by itself because you changed something in your investigation How you measure your results Control Variables- Everything else in your investigation must be held constant Kept the same. 11/19/2018

Examples of Variables Question: Do all brands of paper towels absorb the same amount of water? Independent Variable: Brands of paper towels Dependent Variable: Amount of water that is absorbed by each towel. Variables held Constant: Size of paper towel, Amount of water poured on each towel Temperature of the water used Container towels are placed in Method of pouring 11/19/2018

Step-by-Step Directions Your step-by-step directions are like a recipe. Anyone who reads them will be able to duplicate your investigation and get the same results. Example: Question: Do all brands of paper towels absorb the same amount of water? 1. Cut 3- 15x15 cm sq from each brand of paper towels 11/19/2018

Step-by-Step Directions 2. Label each cut piece with brand name 3. Pour 50 ml of 20 o C water into 20x20 cm sq pan 4. Place 1 square of Generic brand paper towel into water and pan 5. Leave for 30 seconds 6. Remove paper towel 7. Measure water remaining in pan and record 8. Dry cake pan 9. Repeat steps 4- 8 for each brand of paper towel 10. Repeat entire process twice more for each brand of paper towels note: minimum of 3 trials 11/19/2018

Data/ Logbook Data refers to information gathered during your investigation. Writing in a notebook is the most convenient way to keep a log. 11/19/2018

Data cont. 1. A list of all materials used 2. Notes on all preparations you made prior to starting your investigation 3. Information about the resources you use (books, people, libraries, museums, universities, on-line websites, etc.) 4. Detailed day-by-day notes on the progress of your project 11/19/2018

Data cont. 5. Any drawings that you feel might help explain your work What you are actually doing Problems you have with your investigation Things you would change if you were doing this investigation again 5. Any drawings that you feel might help explain your work 6. Data that you gather from your investigation (notes, tables, charts, graphs) Be sure that you date each entry in your log. 11/19/2018