ACADEMIR CHARTER SCHOOL MIDDLE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT ACADEMIR CHARTER SCHOOL MIDDLE

Review the Scientific Method A step by step tutorial http://www.panpipes.net/edit6200/index.html

How about a little background on... data Learn about graphing data by... putting data on a table choosing the proper graph type: http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/main_pages/experiments/data/data.html

The Most Difficult Part of Any Science Fair Project CHOOSING A TOPIC; A PROBLEM TO INVESTIGATE

Choosing a Topic Choose a topic you like and are interested in learning more about. Make sure that you can do a test to find an answer to a question. A good Science Fair project is an experiment! Choose a topic you can do it with only a little help from parents, teachers and friends. It doesn't hurt or scare people or animals, including you. Plan your time wisely to allow for completion. Have teacher approval of entire project BEFORE starting.

How to find a good idea! Look at lists of science categories WAYS TO FIND A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT IDEA Look at lists of science categories Pick one that you are interested in and narrow it down…i.e. psychology Do boys remember football pictures better than girls? Use your own experiences and turn it into a project Have you ever wondered is there a difference between SPF 15 and SPF 30? Think about current events… Flooding and sandbags; Drought and plants

Narrowing Your topic down. As kids think about a Science Fair Project they sometime wonder if their idea is a good one. Here are some pointers, make sure: You Are Interested In The Topic Why do mosquitoes always ‘bite’ me and not my father or brother? HMMMMMMMMMMM You are able to turn your idea into an experiment You Can Do A Test To Find An Answer To A Question. Don’t do a demonstration or just build a model.

It Doesn’t Hurt Or Scare People Or Animals, Including You! You Can Do It With Only A Little Help From Parents, Teachers, And Friends. It Doesn’t Hurt Or Scare People Or Animals, Including You! Be careful, all vertebrate and microbiology work needs lots of special forms! It’s A Project That, Even When You Are Done With It, Makes You Think of New Things You Want to Know. Did doing the project, or reading or seeing what happened make you think of other questions you are curious about?

Another Good Starting Point The Internet Public Library IPL: Science Fair Project Resource Guide Are you looking for some help with a science fair project?  If so, then you have come to the right place.  The IPL will guide you to a variety of web site resources, leading you through the necessary steps to successfully complete a science experiment. If you have never done a science fair project before, it has been a while, or you just want to be sure you do a really great job be sure and look at the following websites for tips on what makes a good project before doing anything else. This way you will know ahead of time what will be expected of you. Understanding the Scientific Method.  It is important to understand the scientific method before beginning a project. Choosing a topic is the next step. Here you will find a variety of websites some of which ask questions to give you ideas for your project. Others describe the projects step by step. http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/

A List of Topics and Ideas http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/moreideas.htm#it

Intermediate Projects (Grades 7 - 9) PHYSICS  Fire and Burning- what factors affect burning?  Fuels and their efficiency in producing energy.  Musical instruments- the scientific principles behind them  Music vs Noise- difference  Air Pressure- Water Pressure  Gears- compare efficiencies, effect of different lubricants  Solar Furnace  Lenses- effects of curvature, materials on light beams  Can eggs withstand a greater force from one direction than from others?  How strong are nylon fishing lines?  CHEMISTRY  Effects of temperature on viscosity of oil, chemical reactions, Brownian movement, burning of different materials.  Testing of consumer products- glues, stain removers, antiseptics, mouthwash, detergents, paper towels, making salt water potable, removal of pollutants  Effects of sunlight on rubber, ink, paper  Effects of increased concentrations on the rate of chemical reactions  Compare the pH levels in mouths of various animals and humans at different times in the day  Compare the surface tension of various liquids  Dealing with chemical spills from industry  Analyzing snow and rain for pollutants; samples from different locations  http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/sciencefairs/intermed.html

ScienzFair’s Link May Be to an Experimental Design Remember that these project ideas and outlines are meant to help you complete your own science fair project. But it is DISHONEST and UNETHICAL to copy someone else's project work samples and submit them as if they were your own. That's called plagiarism and it's a fast way to get a failing grade.

Making Your Science Fair Project a Winner! Pick Something You're Interested In Don't pick a project just because you think it looks easy, or because you have a friend that did the same project last year. You don't have to do a highly sophisticated project in order to have a good one. A simple project can be a winner just as easily as a complex one. What’s important is your ability to demonstrate that you understand your project and that you have researched the issues and are knowledgeable of the scientific and technical facts that relate to your project.

Don't wait until the last minute to start your project. To have a winning project you have to spend quite a bit of time thinking about how it should work and planning out how to do it. Winning projects are NOT ones you throw together at the last minute. Do the Work Yourself. When the judges are standing there, quizzing you, YOU have to know those answers, and the best way to learn them is to have done the work yourself. Don't Get Upset If Your Hypothesis Is Incorrect. It's more important to understand what DID happen in your experiment that to have had a hypothesis supported. Alexander Fleming serendipitous discovery of penicillin

Keep Accurate Records From Beginning to End . After your project is completed is NOT the time to go back, relying on memory and trying to construct a project data book. Prepare An Attractive, Informative Display. Keep your display organized. It should be easy enough to read that that judges and visitors can quickly locate your title, hypothesis, experimental procedures, results and conclusions.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html http://www.scifair.org/

http://sciencepage.org/scifair.htm http://mathscience.dadeschools.net/scifair02/default.htm

Remember it’s not if you win or lose