1. Queens Creek Elementary Science and Engineering Fair
November 30, 2016

2. DATES TO REMEMBER 9-29 Fliers returned to homeroom teacher.
Flier should have parent signature
Parent contact information
10-6 Students proposed project plan due to Science Lab Teacher for approval.
11-29 Project Boards are due to school
These should not be brought to or from school on the bus
Parents will need to make arrangements to drop off and pick up
Projects will be judged
12-13 Onslow County American Legion in Jacksonville

3. Why an independent research project at this grade level
Build excitement!
Learning how scientist approach problems.
Teaching time management, organization and a love of learning.
Encouraging curiosity.
Personal sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Learning to follow an outline, rules, and high standards.

4. The Process
Think about what interests them, their own real world problems
Start journal on Research
Select Topic
Do Background Research
Develop Questions
Develop a Research Plan
Submit Plan to the Teacher for Review
Conduct Experiment (only with approved plan)
Analyze results
Write up findings
Create the Display

5. Research takes TIME! What do I want to learn Develop a research plan
Determine variables
Determine resources
Background research
Variables
Topic
Resources
Writing the proposal
Hypothesis
Lab skills
Scientific writing
Lab safety and/or ethical issues
Best procedures

6. TIME pt. 2 Set up & Conduct Experiment Collect Data Analyze Data
Organize the notebook
- Create sections for each part of project (even your beginning thoughts)
Collect Data
Analyze Data
Create tables or graphs
Look for patterns
Interpret the Data
What does the data mean?
Was the hypothesis accepted or rejected?
Report Results
Write a scientific paper
Design a tri-fold board and oral presentation

7. The Board

8. THE BOARD pt. 2
Organize your information like a newspaper so that your audience can quickly follow the thread of your experiment by reading from top to bottom, then left to right. Include each step of your science fair project: Abstract, question, hypothesis, variables, background research, and so on.
Use a font size of at least 16 points for the text on your display board, so that it is easy to read from a few feet away. It's OK to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on picture and tables. For more details see: Everything You Need to Know About Fonts for Display Boards 
The title should be big and easily read from across the room. Choose one that accurately describes your work, but also grabs peoples' attention.
A picture speaks a thousand words! Use photos or draw diagrams to present non-numerical data, to propose models that explain your results, or just to show your experimental setup. But, don't put text on top of photographs or images. It can be very difficult to read.
Your name on the display board---Pictures of yourself---Captions that include the source for every picture or image---Acknowledgements of people who helped you---Your laboratory notebook ---Equipment such as your laboratory apparatus or your invention

9. SCIENCE/ ENGINEERING
*From

10. FORMS
RES will send a paper copy of forms home with your child when the project plan has been approved.
ISEF rules wizard can be useful to determine forms needed.
IF IN DOUBT—FILL IT OUT!

11. Need HELP?
Science Buddies- is a great place to get ideas, but create your own project
NC Science and Engineering
Discovery Education
Look through the 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Standards. You can choose from any grade level.