SCIENCE FAIR DATA LOG BOOK INFO FOR SIXTH GRADE

Overview The following information is about what to include in your data log book. You can make one at school with construction paper and white or lined paper, or you can purchase a notebook for your group. If you are going to purchase one, you will have to start a draft and add all that information to your notebook once you have it at school. Everything you enter into your notebook must be done in pen or some other permanent color. Scientists sometimes learn from their mistakes and reevaluate their hypothesis later on. The judges and teachers want to see your whole process from beginning to end. If you do make a mistake, cross it out with a small line. Please write in neat handwriting and use rulers for your charts. Keep it safe!! You do not want to have to redo your entire notebook because somebody’s vinegar spilled and ruined your notebook.

What about my display board? I bet you’re thinking, “But, what about my board?” Don’t. Your board is nothing to you without this precious notebook. Great notebook = Great display You’ll make a board. I promise.

COVER: Title of Science Fair Project Think of a clever title No Names! No Teacher Names! No Room Numbers! Nothing that can identify to the judges who you are.

Page One: Problem Write your problem as a question. Hint: questions end in question marks! This is the question that you will try to answer through doing your experiment. Try to make it follow the examples’ structures: Example 1: How does the temperature of water affect how much sugar can be dissolved in it? Example 2: How does the height from which a ball is dropped affect how high it will bounce? Example 3: How does feeding fluids other than water to plants affect their growth and color?

Try Using These Words In Your Question. Can you guess what they are? HOW DOES AFFECT

Page 2: Research You are a scientist. Your mission is to conduct research in order to find out information related to your topic . The Report: State your question. Summarize your research in a few short paragraphs. This will guide you into creating an educated guess/hypothesis.

Page 3: Hypothesis This is an educated guess. It is called an educated guess because you need to educate yourself about the topic before you guess. Do research first. Then, write your hypothesis.

Page 3: Hypothesis continued… Don’t worry if your hypothesis is proven incorrect during your experiment. Some of the best projects/winners have proven their hypothesis to be wrong. You can discuss what the results/conclusions are later, but don’t EVER change your hypothesis during the experiment.

PAGE FOUR: VARIABLES Independent Variable: List the one thing that you changed in your tests. Example: temperature Dependent Variable: This is the result that you were counting or measuring. Example: teaspoons of sugar dissolved. Controlled Variables: List the things that you needed to keep the same to make sure that your tests were fair.

Page 5: Materials List the materials that you used. Make sure that you list the amount of each material and the specific type of material 2 teaspoons of tap water/plant 2 teaspoons of Minute Maid Orange Juice/plant 4 cups unfertilized Mile High Soil/plant 4 almost identical pea seeds

Materials Common Sense… at least it should be common sense. Just to review… No mold, fungus, or burning projects. Be responsible for your materials. Don’t leave something disgusting such as spoiled milk out. That’s just gross. Be safe. If you are using a chemical or anything that is potentially dangerous, please work near the teacher for proper supervision.

Page 6 ~ 10ish Procedure List the steps of your procedure. These are the directions for your experiment. Insert several pages because you will have more procedures than you anticipate. Write each step. If you make a circuit to transfer energy, write each step of connecting the circuit. If you build a wood box, describe the process in detail. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Procedure continued Try using imperative sentences. 1. Pour 3 cups water in 4 glass jars. 2. Measure 1 teaspoon of each color (red, green, and blue) of food coloring in 3 jars. 3. Leave one jar with no food coloring. 4. Add 1 piece of celery to each jar. 5. Observe and record data. 6…. You get the idea. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN!

Page ~10-15ish Results Describe what happened in your experiment. You can insert charts, graphs, and pictures. Make sure that you label your data and list the units. Use several pages.

Key Findings / Results 1

Key Findings / Results 2

Key Findings / Results 3 Run number Description Result A Result B 1 Condition A True 2 Condition B False 3 Condition C

~ Page 16: Conclusion Add your conclusion here. What did you find out? Answer the problem based on the results of your experiment. Tell if your hypothesis was correct or incorrect.

~ Pg. 17: References & Bibliography List the sources that you used for your information. List any books, encyclopedias, or Internet sites that you used.

Last but not least… Please take plenty of pictures during your experiment to include in your display. Take pictures of your project throughout the week. The beginning, middle, and end are all great parts for the judges to see. Do not take any pictures with someone’s head. Even if it’s not someone in your group, no heads.

One more thing!! HAVE FUN