1. Participate in Commerce Middle School’s Science Fair!
Spring 2018
Participate in Commerce Middle School’s Science Fair!
WHO: Participation is mandatory for all students in Grade 6, 7, and 8. Projects will be counted as a test grade (35%).
WHEN: Projects will be due on March 23rd
HOW: Students will use Google Slides to prepare their project information. You can find the template on Google Classroom.
WHY: To empower all students to think like a scientist!
WHAT: Categories of projects:
Earth Science
Life Science
Physical Science
Engineering/Design

2. Commerce Middle School Science Fair Student Handbook
Participating in a science fair is fun and rewarding. There are many important things to remember when planning and conducting a project. This handbook will help you with questions you may have and give you the information you need for completing the project correctly. Please read the handbook carefully as you decide on your topic and prepare for your science fair project.
Who May Enter the CMS Science Fair?
All students in grades 6-8 may enter the CMS science fair.
As part of the science curriculum, students in grades 6-8 are required to complete a science fair project, but cannot be required to enter the competition by submitting a project board.
All projects should be completed individually.

3. Your Project – Step by Step
Start as soon as possible to prevent a last minute project and to give yourself plenty of time to investigate your question.
Decide on your topic. Think about things you are interested in. What questions do you have that can be answered through an investigation rather than research?
Try to avoid the use of surveys and questionnaires. There are just too many things you can’t control to be able to say your test was ‘fair” and your results valid.
Use the slide template on Google Classroom to guide your project.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Give encouragement, support, and guidance. Be positive!
Make sure the project is primarily the work of the student.
Help your child understand that science is not just a subject, but a “way of looking at the world around us”.
Help your child design a safe project that is not hazardous is any way.
Look over the project to check for grammar, neatness, spelling, and accuracy. Make suggestions on how it can be corrected.

4. Helpful Hints
A GOOD TITLE - Your title is an extremely important attention grabber. A good title should simply present your question and should make the casual observer want to know more.
TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS – Many projects involve elements that may not be displayed on the project board but are an important part of the project. Photographs of these phases of experimentation can be used in the display. Please do no use photographs that show faces or in any way indicates who is in the picture.
EFFORT – Make sure your display is logically presented and easy to read. Check to be sure words are spelled correctly and sentences are written correctly. Be sure all of the important pieces of information are included on the project board. Neatness counts.
EYE-CATCHING – You want to attract and inform. Use neat, colorful headings, charts, and graphs – but don’t get carried away. A board with too much information, color, or pictures can be just as hard to understand as a board with very limited information.

5. The Engineering Design Process
COMPARISON OF SCIENCE PROJECT AND ENGINNEERING PROJECT
Students may choose to do an experiment-based or an engineering-based project. Keep in mind that although the steps are listed in sequential order, it is likely to return to previous steps multiple times throughout a project. It is often necessary to revisit stages or steps in order to improve that aspect of a project. In real life, the distinction between the two processes is not always clear. Scientists often do some engineering work, and engineers frequently apply scientific principles, including the scientific process.
The Scientific Method
The Engineering Design Process
State your question
What is the problem you want to solve?
Do background research
What is already known about your question?
Formulate a hypothesis or prediction.
What do you think will happen?
If I change ______, then ____
will happen.
Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment.
Observe
Collect data
Organize data
Analyze the results and draw conclusions
What did you learn?
Ask
What is the problem, need, or issue?
What are the constraints?
Imagine
Do background research and search the literature to see what already has been done.
Brainstorm possible solutions and choose the best one.
Plan
Draw a diagram and make a list of materials needed
Create
Follow the plan and test it
Collect the data
Improve
Make the design better and test it

6. PROJECT DISPLAY SAMPLE
PROJECT RUBRIC

7. Safety Rules for Spring 2018
The CMS Science Department desires each student to conduct a safe experiment. For this reason, please follow the guidelines below.
Students MUST:
Have adult supervision when using equipment, sharp objects, or chemicals (including household chemicals).
Although discouraged, any experiment involving fire and/or burning objects must follow local city ordinances and be supervised by an adult.
Observe proper safety protocol at all times.
Students MAY NOT conduct experiments that:
Involve any microbial cultures, mold, or disease causing fungi or any other possibly pathogenic substances. The only exceptions are:
Experiments with baker’s yeast so long as DNA studies are NOT involved
Experiments using manure with composting to test variables
Experiments involving food preservation so long as when spoiling, rotting, or browning occurs the food is disposed of immediately (take pictures)
Involve human parts, blood, or other bodily fluids.
Cause or may cause harm or injury to animals or human subjects including the ingestion or application of over-the-counter medications or controlled substances.
Involve explosives including guns, ammunition, and rocket propellants.