+ STEM FAIR Parent Information Night

+ What is a Good Question? A good question usually begins with one of the following words: Does, Which, What, Do, or Will. The results or answer to these questions can only be found through a hands on investigation, that manipulates the independent variable and shows change over time. Ex. Does weight affect the speed of a pendulum? A bad question begins with the word How. “How” questions already assume that what you are asking CAN be done, and you need only to research or demonstrate to find the answer. Ex. How does weight affect how fast a pendulum swings? There are many “HOW” questions in the STEM Fair Journal that DO NOT lead to investigations. DO NOT USE THESE QUESTIONS.

+ What Makes a Good Hypothesis? A good hypothesis is based on your background knowledge from either research or everyday observations. You must always give a real world reason for your hypothesis. Question Ex. Does weight affect the speed of a pendulum? Good Ex. Hypothesis: I think weight does affect the speed of a pendulum because when my big brother and I are swinging on the swings, he always goes faster than I do and he weighs more than I do so weight can change the speed of a pendulum. Bad Ex. Hypothesis: Weight might change the speed because I have seen swings moving at different rates. (Doesn’t give a definite predication) Or Weight can’t change the speed of a pendulum because I have never seen it before. ( The reason doesn’t prove that it can’t – just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.)

+ What are Variables? Independent Variable: What are you changing on purpose? Ex. Weight of the pendulum (you will add or take away weight to the pendulum with each set of trials.) THERE IS ONLY ONE IN AN INVESTIGATION Dependent Variable: This is what might change as the result of changing the independent variable. Ex. The speed of the pendulum (you don’t know if this will change as you add and take weight away from the pendulum) THERE IS ONLY ONE IN AN INVESTIGATION Controlled Variables: These are the parts of the investigation that must stay the same through all trials so that they don’t “interrupt” what the independent variable is doing and how the dependent variable is reacting to it. Ex. Length of string used, type of string used, amount of time for each set of swings, starting “drop point” of the pendulum

+ What is the Materials List? The Materials list are the items you will need in order to conduct your experiment. As you develop your Procedures, you may have to add to this list. You must list specific amounts of items AND always USE METRIC MEASUREMENTS. Consult the chart on pg. 14 of your STEM Fair Journal for a list of standard measurement units.

+ Materials List (continued) Question Ex. Does weight affect the speed of a pendulum? Good Ex. Materials List Quantity and Description 5 plumbing washers of equal size for the weights 5 pieces, 35 cm each twine or string 2 metric rulers 1 stopwatch 1 roll masking tape 1 scissors Bad Ex. Materials List Quantity and Description weights pieces of string stopwatch

+ What are the Procedures? Procedures are a detailed list of step-by-step directions telling how to conduct your experiment. Use specific details – exact measurements, amounts of materials, the time it takes for each part or trial. The goal for your Procedures is to enable someone else to be able to conduct your experiment EXACTLY as you did without having you there to explain the directions. YOU MUST REPEAT THE PROCEDURE/ACTIVITY A MINIMUM OF 3 TIMES/3 TRIALS!

+ Good Ex. Procedures: 1. Gather all materials. 2. Cut string into a piece that is 34cm long. 3. Tape one end of the string to a table so that 30cm is hanging off the side of the table. 4. Tie one plumbing washer to the free end of the string. 5. Lift the washer to the bottom of the table and release. 6. Start timing when the washer is released and continue timing until the pendulum has completed 10 complete swings (back and forth). 7. Repeat 5 times and find the mean of the times. Record all data collected on the data chart. 8. Add one more washer to the string. 9. Repeat steps 4 – 7 with two, three, four, and five washers on the string. 10.Compare the means of the data to draw conclusions.

+ Bad Ex. Procedures: 1. Gather your materials and ask mom for permission to work in the kitchen. 2. Tie one weight onto the end of the string. 3. Swing the pendulum 10 times and time how long it takes to swing. 4. Write down your answer. 5. Do it all over again until you have used all of the weights. These procedures are unclear. There are no specific measurements or amounts given. The reader could not recreate the experiment.

+ What is a Data Collection Tool? A Data Collection Tool is usually a table where you record your data collected. (consult pg. 22 and Appendix G in the Journal) It must include: A title Labels to describe the columns or rows Space for repeated trials (a minimum of three, but more is better!) Space for a calculation of the median of the data and the mean(average) of the data All data collected is in METRIC UNITS If you are making observations instead of collecting numerical data, you still need to design a chart or keep a journal in which you can record your detailed notes. This is most typical with projects that involve the growth or decay of something.

+ Results: Data and Graphic At this point you are ready to conduct your experiment. Data Collection: Use your Data Collection Tool or Chart/Journal to collect data and observations while conducting your trials. Graphic Results: When done, and once your data has been okayed by your teacher, you are ready to Graph your data. Please consult pg. 25 in the Journal for an explanation of the types of graphs that can be used, what should be included on the graph, and for choosing the correct type of graph to display your results.

+ Results: Written Gives a brief analysis of the data you collected in your table and displayed on your graph. Should be about one paragraph and summarize the data, noting any trends your may have seen. Good Ex. Written Results: The mean (average) time for 10 swings was approximately the same for all weights. The longest time was with 2 weights at 28 seconds and the shortest time was with 5 weights at 24 seconds. However, since these times are close to each other and so are the other times, I would say the trend is that nothing really changes. When I look at the median data, the results are about the same – there is no real difference. Bad Ex. Written Results: My mean data was 1 weight at 26 seconds, 2 weights at 28 seconds, 3 weights at 27 seconds, 4 weights at 25 seconds and 5 weights at 24 seconds. I can’t tell if there is a trend to this data.

+ And on to the Conclusion! The Conclusion tells what you learned about the topic after completing the experiment, and contains many parts. Use the questions below, and on pg. 29 of the Journal to organize your ideas. Then join them together into multiple paragraphs to create your final conclusion. Questions: What is the answer to the question you asked? Re-read your hypothesis. Was it correct? Explain! What can you infer about your results? How can this information help you, others, or even companies in the real-world? Did you have any problems as your conducted your investigations, and if so, please explain what they were. If you keep the same topic next year, what different idea would you test next year?

+ The Research Report The Research Report gives an opportunity to learn more about your topic and should be closely related to the investigation you have chosen for your STEM project. Consult pg. 31 & Appendix F in your Journal for more in depth information. It is not complicated and needs to include only the following five parts: Title Page –title of project, your name, school, grade, teacher and date project is due Acknowledgements – thank you to anyone who helped you with your project Question- the specific question you asked for your experiment Background Research – consult directions on pg. 31& Appendix F Sources/Bibliography- alphabetical listing of books, websites, and articles your used to get your information.

+ Important Things to Remember For each Timeline due date(except the research paper and backboard), your child receives a Homework grade, so please make sure they turn in their Journals on those dates. Research paper and Backboards are assessment grades. On February 18, students need to have their Research Report with their backboard for judging. Students should be able to explain their investigation without reading the backboard. Please do not bring any samples or materials from the experiment. Instead, take photographs and mount them on the backboard. Parent Visitation Night will be at 4-6 p.m. on February 18, 2015.

+ Websites that can help (In the search window write “science fair projects with 3 variables”) Fair-Projects/ Fair-Projects/ nces.ed.com/nceskids/createagraph