Science Fair Project Survival Guide For Parents!

Staying on Schedule Try to check the manila folder once a week for new due dates. Due dates are also entered into your child’s agenda to help them remember. Help your child stay on schedule so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Data collection can be a one day affair! Check the back of the manila folder and returned assignments for revisions that need to be done prior to the final draft.

Designing the Project Read the back of the manila folder for a description of each assignment piece. These descriptions match my gradesheet! Check the school website for the 6 th Grade Science Fair information page. Each assignment and document will be posted. Look at the class sample projects as well. Please refer to the information packet that was sent home in September for tips and ideas. It should be kept in the manila science fair conduit that was given to each student.

Getting Help  You may me with questions or schedule an appointment  I have office hours every Tues. and Friday during lunch recess. I can also be available after school on Tuesdays and Fridays if you make an appointment through .  You may me with questions or schedule an appointment  I have office hours every Tues. and Friday during lunch recess. I can also be available after school on Tuesdays and Fridays if you make an appointment through .

6th Grade Science Fair A Sample Notebook (from a former student)

Cover Page Title Picture(s) Name School Science teacher Classroom teacher Date Title Picture(s) Name School Science teacher Classroom teacher Date

Table of Contents List all sections and the starting page of each section

Investigative Question How does ______ affect ________? What is the affect of ____ on ____? How does ______ affect ________? What is the affect of ____ on ____?

Introduction How did you become interested in this topic and particular question? What related experiences have you had? How did you become interested in this topic and particular question? What related experiences have you had?

Background Research A summary of all of the information you found about the science behind your question

Background Research Make sure that this section is in your own words and that you use quotation marks when you don’t use your own words.

Background Research You can also include information you found through interviews with scientists and other experts of your topic.

Hypothesis What do you predict will happen? Be specific. Include information from your background research to explain your prediction. What do you predict will happen? Be specific. Include information from your background research to explain your prediction.

Materials List ALL materials you used and their quantities. Organize them in a bullet point list. List ALL materials you used and their quantities. Organize them in a bullet point list.

Procedures 1.These are step-by- step directions others can follow to do the EXACT same experiment. 2. Be detailed. 3. Number the steps. 1.These are step-by- step directions others can follow to do the EXACT same experiment. 2. Be detailed. 3. Number the steps.

Observations Quantitative observations: measured with numbers Qualitative observations: using the senses Quantitative observations: measured with numbers Qualitative observations: using the senses

Observations Note all conditions or observations that could help you interpret your data later. Anything you notice while doing your experiment can go here. Note all conditions or observations that could help you interpret your data later. Anything you notice while doing your experiment can go here.

Data Tables This is all the raw data for Trial 1. It’s best to type up a blank data table before you do your experiment to record results, and then type in the results once you’re done. This is all the raw data for Trial 1. It’s best to type up a blank data table before you do your experiment to record results, and then type in the results once you’re done.

Data Tables This is all the raw data for Trial 2.

Data Tables This is all the raw data for Trial 3.

Data Tables Your project may only have one data table. This shows data from each trial and the AVERAGE data for each liquid. Your project may only have one data table. This shows data from each trial and the AVERAGE data for each liquid.

Graph of Data: graph average data

Conclusion Refer to all hand- outs from lab to be sure you include all parts of the conclusion.

Conclusion It tells the story of your whole project.

Future Research What would you do next time to make your experiment better? What can you or other scientists do to expand on this research? What would you do next time to make your experiment better? What can you or other scientists do to expand on this research?

Applications How can your results be used? Who would best benefit from what you found out? How can your results be used? Who would best benefit from what you found out?

Acknowledgments Thank everyone who helped you. What did they help you do? Thank everyone who helped you. What did they help you do?

Bibliography List all sources you used in your background research or to explain your results in the conclusion.

Appendices Raw data (handwritten) Official forms, if needed Signatures of participants, if needed Anything else you want to include that doesn’t fit into the main body of the notebook. Raw data (handwritten) Official forms, if needed Signatures of participants, if needed Anything else you want to include that doesn’t fit into the main body of the notebook.