South Douglas Elementary Science and Engineering Fair A guide to the Science and Engineering Fair

Welcome!

South douglas Science FaiR It’s time to get started! March 13, 2018 Students in Grades 3-5 can participate

What is the Difference in Science and Engineering Projects? Scientific Method --Focus: Gaining New Knowledge Engineering Method/Design Process --Focus: Problem Solving or meeting a need Conduct background research. Ask a question. Define a hypothesis. Design an experiment to test the hypothesis. Test the hypothesis with an experiment. Collect and analyze data. Draw a conclusion. Share your results. Conduct background research. Identify a problem or need. Decide how you will solve the problem. Prepare a preliminary design to solve the problem. Build and test a prototype of the thing you designed. Draw a conclusion. Share your results.

Where can I find ideas for science/engineering fair projects?

Science Fair Projects answer a question or solve a problem

Helpful websites How to guides, project ideas and advice Douglas County Schools http://www.Douglas.k12.ga.us 3rd – 4th , and 5th grade Science Fair Handbooks Project rubrics with descriptors Safety Rules for Elementary School Science Fair Science Buddies http://www.sciencebuddies. org/ All Science Fair http://www.all-science-fair- projects.com/category147.html NASA http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ activity/how-to-do-a-science-fair- project/

Logbook Journal of the project experience Handwritten in pen. Honest, chronological account of the project Everything should be logged, from brainstorming to conclusions Date each page and make an entry every time you work. Use pictures to document the process and results Don’t erase errors, draw a line through them!

Science fair project requirements These guidelines can be used to complete your Science Fair project: Purpose: My purpose tells what I want to learn from doing this project. Who would want to know the results of my experiment? Why is this experiment important? I have written two or three sentences stating why I investigated this topic and why the results could be important. “The purpose of this project is…” Question: A question is given to show what I wanted to find out. Prediction / Hypothesis: I have stated what I thought would happen. (I predict…) Materials: I have provided a list of items used for my project.

Controls and Variables are discussed. Procedure:  I have listed step-by-step what I did to test my prediction Controls and Variables are discussed.  Variables are the things that have an effect on the experiment. The independent variable is the one factor I wish to change (or use in different amounts). It is the factor that you are comparing or testing. Everything else is controlled. In a controlled experiment everything is given the exact same conditions except for one factor. This factor is my independent variable. I need to explain things I did to make it a controlled experiment.   What may affect the results of my experiment? Choose one variable to change and keep the others the same.  The controlled variables are the conditions that need to remain the same during my experiment so that they do not affect the results.  The dependent variable is what happens in the experiment because of what was changed.  It’s what you are observing.  

Results:  The result is the outcome of my experiment. I told what actually happened in my experiment. In the results section I told the actual numbers (or other data) that I got when I did the experiment. Data collection (ex. charts, graphs, tables, photographs) is shown. Results are what happened because of my variable. You must have measurable results, something that can be counted or measured to provide DATA. Graphs, charts, tables, photographs, or other visual aids should be used to present the results.   Conclusion: I shared what I learned and have statements on how I interpreted my results. My conclusion should start with, “Based on the results of my experiment, I learned…” I have included at least one sentence about what I would do differently next time.

Research Paper – 5th Grade Only  A good research paper will include all of the following LABELED pages: Title Page  -The first page is my project title and my name. Introduction Page  -The second page includes my prediction, an explanation of my idea and how I got the idea and what I hoped to achieve when I started this project.  Where did I get my information? Experiment Page -This is the page where I describe in detail the method I used to collect my data and observations. My report should be detailed enough for anyone to be able to repeat my experiment. Discussion Page - On this page, I analyze my results. I need to describe what I would do differently if I were to do this project again. Conclusion Page - This is the page where I need to summarize my results. This is where I mention what I learned.   References  - The last page of my research paper is a list that includes any documentation, such as books or articles that I used. I need to use proper bibliography format.

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Important Dates South douglas Science Fair Douglas County Schools Elementary Science Fair March 13, 2018 Students in Grades 3-5 can participate May 2, 2018 SDES Science Fair winners can participate