2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy1 Intel ISEF Middle School Science Fair A Guide for Teachers Presented by Chris Steiner Hillsboro School District Hillsboro, Oregon The development of this guide was supported by a grant from

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy2 What questions could you answer by gathering data with these Lifesavers ® ?

Agenda Why this Teacher’s Guide works with Middle School students Practice asking questions and testing a hypothesis Structure and contents of the Curriculum How to acquire the curriculum Intel ISEF Educ. Academy

4 Using Science Fairs to Teach Science Inquiry Skills Motivation: Students work more intensely when they know they will present to an “authentic audience.”

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy5 But how do students and teachers prepare? Learning science inquiry skills Planning and conducting an investigation Preparing and presenting at a science fair So, we developed…

Written for teachers. Written by teachers (and a parent volunteer) Specific to needs of early adolescents and their adults Intel ISEF Educ. Academy6

7 Fits the characteristics of middle school students Fits with the curriculum objectives Prepares for high school Teaches critical thinking skills

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy8 This program appeals to middle school kids. Action oriented Want to do things Growing independence They make decisions about their own investigations

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy9 Need structure for that independence Like to “show off” Guidance through the whole process Displays and presentations This program appeals to middle school kids.

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy10 The Guide was field tested by over 100 teachers in Oregon and Arizona. UrbanRural Native American Hispanic African-American Suburban And has now been used successfully for five years by teachers and students in many locations.

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy11 Can your students generate their own questions based on experiences like these? Mentos and Coke, Cars and Ramps

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy12 Structured Lessons: Group lessons teach skills Week 5 lesson Introduction to Science Inquiry: Cars & Ramps Week 10 lesson Managing Data and Line Graphs Week 6 lesson Writing Procedures Week 11 lesson Investigative Questions

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy13 Structured Lessons: Experimenting on their own Week 12 lesson Brainstorming Topics and Generating Questions Week 14 lesson Background Research Week 13 lesson Polishing Questions Week 17 lesson Investigation Design

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy14 Analysis Parts of an Analysis Transparency Conclusion: Answers your research question and tells if your hypothesis was supported or not Error analysis: Examines the sources of error in your work* Limitations: Discusses the limitations of your investigation* Week 26 lesson Analyzing Results

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy15 Analysis Transparency – Sentence Starters for Analysis Sentence starters: My research question was __________ My hypothesis was __________ My data shows that this hypothesis is supported. =or= My data shows that this hypothesis is not supported. My conclusions __________________________ One thing I was not able to control was ________ Another thing I was not able to control was________ Someone shouldn’t over-generalize my results because Results might change if someone used different __________ Results might change if __________ Week 26 lesson Analyzing Results

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy16 Getting Ready for the Science Fair! Developing Your Abstract Student Handout The student in our example did a good job writing her abstract. In the first paragraph she has a very short description of the problem. Take a moment and write a sentence or two about your investigation. What did you study? What did you want to find out? Write your purpose statement here: _____________________________________________ ___________________________

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy17 Showing Off Preparing displays and presentations Week 24 lesson Transforming Investigations into Displays

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy18 Getting Ready for the Science Fair! Sample Judging Questions Volunteer Handout Below are listed some sample questions that a judge might ask during an interview with a student. (Please note that not all of these questions will be relevant to all projects.) Framing the Question: What prompted you to choose this topic? What is the question that you wanted to answer? What type of research did you have to do before you began the experiment?

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy19 Volunteers can help. Tips for Volunteers Volunteer Handout Helping Students with Presentations Students will need the most help with the following: Making short notes on index cards - Be brief; notes should give just enough information to jog memory about what student wants to say Using and referring to their board as they talk - The students should … …

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy20 Lots of Resources Are Included SECTION I – Start-up Information Background Basics Where Can I Find Help? Clubs: Getting Started With Students

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy21 SECTION II – Teacher Timeline: A Week-by-week Journey to the Fair Getting Ready Learning Through Group Investigations Students Prepare for their Own Investigations Conducting Investigations Getting Presentations Ready for the Fair Lots of Resources Are Included

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy22 SECTION III – Appendices Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: Guide to Forms Appendix C: Comments on Rules Appendix D: Sample Calendars and Integrated Unit Appendix E: Resource list Index Lots of Resources Are Included

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy23 It’s teacher friendly! Appendix D: Sample Calendars and Integrated Unit

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy24 Appendix D: Sample Calendars and Integrated Unit It’s teacher friendly!

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy25 –Club vs. Classroom Pros and cons of both the science class model and the integrated team model. Support for each model is in the book. Pros and cons of organizing a special club or using an existing group and guidance on some of the issues which arise. (Discussion) Club or Classroom? Program Decisions Teacher guidance

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy26 If you want to use this program in your own classroom: Go through the book yourself Plan, plan, plan… Make a calendar of your own Teach the lessons Find a mentor

Mentors A middle school teacher experienced in science fairs A high school teacher experienced in science fairs A middle school teacher starting out in science fairs Intel ISEF Educ. Academy

28 To get a free copy, 1.Go to Intel.com 2.Enter these words in the “search box”: “Middle School Curriculum” 1.The search results will offer “Intel Education: ISEF Middle School Curriculum”Intel Education: ISEF Middle School Curriculum … go there. 1.Move down that page to the download area in a box at the lower right. 2.Download the PDF file of the Guide and the transparency set.

2009 Intel ISEF Educ. Academy29 Intel ISEF Middle School Science Fair A Guide for Teachers Guide PDF File Intel.com Intel Education Website Transparency File Transparency Set Ed Academy CD

Thank you! and have fun experimenting with student- led inquiry and science fairs! Chris Steiner Hillsboro School District Hillsboro, OR, USA Intel ISEF Educ. Academy