Creating a Science Fair Project

Experiments! What’s the difference between an experiment and a science project? A science project has a hypothesis and variables. It will test multiple times to prove or disprove your hypothesis. An experiment is conducted just to see what happens. Nothing is measured or tested.

Scientific Steps Question or purpose Variables Materials Procedure Hypothesis Data Conclusion

Question or Purpose What do I want to know more about? What am I interested in exploring and researching? I wonder how garbage breaks down and becomes nutrients for the soil? I wonder what breaks down the fastest? How will I explore this and find out more?

Variables Control Variable – also called the dependent variable. This variable remains constant and doesn’t change. There can be several control variables. Manipulative Variable – also called the changing variable or independent variable. This variable is what is being tested. There is never more than one manipulative variable! Responding Variable – This is the variable that responds or reacts to the changes.

Examples of Variables If I conducted an experiment to see how light and dark affects the growth of a plant: Constant Variables - would be the kind of plant, size of plant, type of dirt, how often I watered it, how much water it received. Manipulative Variable – would be the light and dark. Remember, there is only one of these! Responding Variable – would be the plants.

Materials Students should list every material used in the process. It may be in list, picture or paragraph form

Procedure List in sequential order step by step what you will do to conduct your experiment. 1. Collect banana peels, apple peels, table scraps, and grass clippings. 2. Place 2 cups of each into a dark container of the same size. 3. Turn items in all containers every four days using a spoon. 4.Take pictures each time. Take written notes each time. 5.Collect data every four days for a period of four weeks. 6.Create a Observation Notes chart and a Display chart of the pictures taken.

Hypothesis I think that if________________ then ________________ because ________. I think that if I collect apple peels, banana peels, table scraps, and grass clippings, then the grass clippings will compost the fastest because they are smaller in size than the other items.

DATA  Keeps track of the progress.  Can be graphed, put in a table, or drawn.  Students need to keep a separate journal and create a section for the Science Fair Board.  The Journal is used to record data during the scientific process  Click here for Data Journal examples. Click here for Data Journal examples.

Conclusion Your conclusion will restate your hypothesis. It will also share information about what was observed and learned during the investigation. You will also state whether you proved your hypothesis to be correct, or disproved it.

Research Before even beginning the investigation students should look for more information to support what they want to learn about. They need to have a bibliography included. They should write down all their sources!

What Needs to Be on My Board? TitlePurpose/Problem Procedure Data/Graphs/Written Notes Observation Notes Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Materials List: Variables Constant (dependent) Responding Manipulative (independent) Safety Issues: Conclusion People Who Helped Me: Hypothesis

Continued -- Include your results from your investigation. Include all graphs, pictures, illustrations, charts, etc. that are on your board. Include 2 – 3 paragraphs explaining what you would do to further your investigation in order to continue to learn more. Include a bibliography page.

Oral Presentation We will present our projects in class. This will be a part of their communication grade. Students have a rubric in their project outline packet for the oral presentation.

Science Fair Judging Rubric Students also have a judging rubric in their project outline packets. They should often refer to this as they work on their investigations. Students should also place their project outline page on the fridge to use as a pacing guide. This will help them with procrastination and keeping organized.

Assistance Classroom teacher will provide in class help with typing, organizing of board, or discussing components of the Scientific Process. Students may use the computers as well since everything on their boards must be neatly written.

Science Fair Summary Our Science Fair is on Thursday, February 2 nd, from 5:30 – 7:00PM. Projects will go home with students that evening. Selected students will then compete in the District and PLU Regional Fairs. District Science Fair: March 10 th. PLU Regional Science Fair: Registrations Due March 13 th. The Science Fair is March 24 th.