Crest Awards Creativity.Perseverance. Solving a problem which concerns individuals, our community or the environment

Types of Crest Awards You Can Earn.

Choose a Topic! Select a topic that interests you. Select a topic that interests you. Something you are prepared to WORK on for a few weeks. Something you are prepared to WORK on for a few weeks. Be creative and original. Be creative and original. Some ideas: are use by dates accurate? Some ideas: are use by dates accurate? UV tolerance of microorganisms. Stain removal from clothing. Prolonging the life of cut flowers. What material makes the best lab coat?

More ideas How can you grow a bigger pumpkin? How can you grow a bigger pumpkin? How can you prevent bread from going mouldy? How can you prevent bread from going mouldy? How can I stop snails from eating lettuce seedlings How can I stop snails from eating lettuce seedlings How polluted is Stoney Creek? How polluted is Stoney Creek? Brainstorm ideas with friends and family. Don’t criticise, just come up with ideas. Brainstorm ideas with friends and family. Don’t criticise, just come up with ideas.

Possible topics to research Write down a few things that interest you. Write down a few things that interest you. Make a list of ideas you have for your research topic. You can use ideas from previous slides, from brainstorming or try going to 1z1.html Make a list of ideas you have for your research topic. You can use ideas from previous slides, from brainstorming or try going to 1z1.html 1z1.html 1z1.html For a video clip and more ideas to get you started.

Decide on your problem to solve! What are you actually going to do? What are you actually going to do? What are you going to find out? What are you going to find out? What measurements and observations will you need to take? What measurements and observations will you need to take? What results do you expect to obtain? What results do you expect to obtain? Which factors will affect the results? Which factors will affect the results?

Your Experiment The hypothesis is an educated guess about what you think will happen in a certain set of circumstances or conditions. The hypothesis is an educated guess about what you think will happen in a certain set of circumstances or conditions. You will need to decide on what the conditions are. You will need to decide on what the conditions are. Keep as many factors the same as possible, so that the results can be clearly interpreted. Keep as many factors the same as possible, so that the results can be clearly interpreted.

Equipment Decide on the equipment that you are going to use and the method you that you will use. Decide on the equipment that you are going to use and the method you that you will use. You may need to borrow or build equipment ( or use equipment in another facility). You may need to borrow or build equipment ( or use equipment in another facility).

Designing you experiment

The Variables- factors that could change during the experiment. For your experiment to be a fair test, as many variables as possible are kept the same, while you change only one particular variable. For your experiment to be a fair test, as many variables as possible are kept the same, while you change only one particular variable. In this way you can sort out which change lead to the results that you obtained. In this way you can sort out which change lead to the results that you obtained.

The independent variable is what you deliberately change. It is what you are testing. The independent variable is what you deliberately change. It is what you are testing. The dependent variable is what changes as a result. This must be measurable. The dependent variable is what changes as a result. This must be measurable.

Accuracy When making measurements, you need to be careful to ensure that they are as accurate as possible. When making measurements, you need to be careful to ensure that they are as accurate as possible. Measuring carefully, reduces errors. Measuring carefully, reduces errors.

Repeating an experiment more than once, will give you confidence in your results. Repeating an experiment more than once, will give you confidence in your results. You need to repeat the experiment until you get consistent results. You need to repeat the experiment until you get consistent results. Scientists then average these to get an answer to their question. Scientists then average these to get an answer to their question.

All measuring instruments have their limits. A wooden ruler has an accuracy of 1mm, so the most accurate a reading could be, would be to the nearest 0.5mm. You cannot use cm ! All measuring instruments have their limits. A wooden ruler has an accuracy of 1mm, so the most accurate a reading could be, would be to the nearest 0.5mm. You cannot use cm !

Keeping a log. Record your hypothesis, aim, equipment list, method, diagrams of equipment, results, research and all other work and problems in a book, NOT on scraps of paper. Photographs are easy. Record your hypothesis, aim, equipment list, method, diagrams of equipment, results, research and all other work and problems in a book, NOT on scraps of paper. Photographs are easy.

We have ed a sample book to you at your DET address. We have ed a sample book to you at your DET address. Print it out and put it into a folder. Print it out and put it into a folder. This needs to be handed in to your teacher for checking. This needs to be handed in to your teacher for checking. Also include the date and time spent on each activity. Depending on your project, you might also include weather conditions, time etc. Also include the date and time spent on each activity. Depending on your project, you might also include weather conditions, time etc.

??????Sample log Date/Ti me Work done 20/02/ pm Read “science Project Ideas” on the net. Saw a couple of possibilities. Had a chat to Katrina on the phone about stuff going out of date early. Might do some research on that. 21/02/ am Just finished brekky and made a cup of tea. The milk was OFF! Use by date was the 22 nd Feb. What is going on? This will be a good to research.

Remember Experiments usually don’t work the first time. Experiments usually don’t work the first time. Modify. Modify. Alter equipment, solutions etc. Alter equipment, solutions etc. Record alterations, problems, how they were overcome. Record alterations, problems, how they were overcome. Repeat your experiment. Repeat your experiment. Do the work yourself. Please discuss your research freely, ask advice, find answers BUT do the work yourself. Do the work yourself. Please discuss your research freely, ask advice, find answers BUT do the work yourself.

Recording Results. Photographs? Photographs? Can you tabulate, graph, diagram, spreadsheet? Can you tabulate, graph, diagram, spreadsheet? Get creative! Get creative! Look at the results: what do they mean? Do you need to modify? Are the results unexpected? Have you repeated your experiment enough times? Look at the results: what do they mean? Do you need to modify? Are the results unexpected? Have you repeated your experiment enough times?

Reflection Work through your results to see if they support your hypothesis or not. Do you need to do more experimenting? Work through your results to see if they support your hypothesis or not. Do you need to do more experimenting? The final part of the project involves a discussion of results. Describe difficulties you encountered and how they were overcome. Include suggestions for further improvement. The final part of the project involves a discussion of results. Describe difficulties you encountered and how they were overcome. Include suggestions for further improvement. Write a conclusion, based on the results you got and your hypothesis. Write a conclusion, based on the results you got and your hypothesis.

Acknowledgments It is important to acknowledge any help you had from friends, teachers, parents, mentors etc. It is important to acknowledge any help you had from friends, teachers, parents, mentors etc. Include a bibliography, include websites, books, experts in the field, anything or one that gave you ideas or help. Include a bibliography, include websites, books, experts in the field, anything or one that gave you ideas or help.