1. Science Fair 2016

2. How to get started
Find a topic that you are interested in. This will give you more background knowledge and make the process more enjoyable and manageable.

3. The scientific method is as follows:
Purpose:
Research
Hypothesis
Experiment
Analysis
conclusion

4. Purpose
State the problem or the question you would like to answer. Make sure that it is something that you are interested in. Your question or statement should have a cause and affect. The cause is something that can be changed or manipulated. It is also called the independent variable.(manipulated variable)You will change this variable in the experiment. The effect is the result of the causes. It is called the dependent variable. (responding variable)

5. Research:
Find out about your topic. Learn things you did not know about your topic. “GOOGLE IT!”

6. Hypothesis:
What you predict will happen… based upon your prior knowledge. Evaluate possible solutions and make your educated guess. It is an if/then statement.
I predict… because…

7. Experimental plan:
This is the test of the hypothesis. An experimental plan is like a recipe. You need the ingredients ( materials) and you need the directions (procedure).
This is also where you would make your observations and gather your data.
If your procedure is short term, you will want at
least 3 trials.
If your procedure is long term (IE plants), then you will probably only have time for one trial.

8. Results:
What have you learned from your investigation? (organize and analyze your data. Evaluate the results of your experiment.)

9. Conclusion:
You should draw conclusions from you investigation which either support or do not support your hypothesis. Your conclusion(s) are based on your data and results.

10. Project logbook Abstract Formal report Visual display exhibit
Parts of the project:
Project logbook
Abstract
Formal report
Visual display exhibit

11. Project logbook
The logbook is your most treasured piece of work. All of your information, dates, ideas, experiment data, or anything that has to do with your project is to be included in the logbook. Accurate and detailed notes make a logical and winning project. Good notes show consistency and thoroughness to the judges, and will help you when writing the formal report. The logbook is to be part of your science fair project display.
Your logbook can be messy. It is to be written in pen.
If a mistake is made, strike through it with one line.
Example: wrttien written

12. Abstract
After finishing the research and experimentation, you are to write a 250 word (maximum) abstract. An abstract is a brief overview of you project that can be easily read and understood by other interested in what you did.
It typically includes the purpose, your hypothesis, a brief summary of your procedure, and your conclusion. It may also include any possible research applications.

13. End of 6th grade slide show

14. Formal report
A formal report is written to present a neat and organized summary of your project to accurately give detailed facts, descriptions, and results. The formal report is to be part of your display.

15. Formal report parts: (in order of pages)
Title page: It should be centered. Write the name of the school and grade in the lower right corner. (Do NOT write your name and do not number this page.)
Table of contents: Write this section after finishing the report. List the major sections that develop from the remaining components listed below. (page 2)

16. Formal report continued: Abstract (page 3)
Abstract: 250 words.
First paragraph: contains the purpose and the hypothesis.
Second paragraph: contains description of the experiment
Third paragraph: contains the explanation of the results.

17. Purpose (page 4)
You will state the purpose of your experiment in approximately three statements. These three sentences discuss the hypothesis, what prompted your research, and what you hope to achieve.

18. Hypothesis: (page 5)
What you think the outcome of the experiment will be based on what you know. (A question to be answered… an educated guess)
It is an if/then statement.
Example: I predict… because

19. Background information (page 6)
In your own words, summarize the information you have collected by the research you did on the subject.

20. Materials and experimental procedure(pages 7 to ?)
Materials list: a list of everything you will use for your experiment.
Procedure: step by step instructions on how you did your experiment. (make sure that if someone else did your experiment, the results would be the same.)
Observations: what you observed during the experiment.
Data: charts, graphs, and/or photos of your experiment.(be sure not to have anyone’s faces in the photos.)

21. Results: pages ?-?
This discussion is the “MEAT” of your paper. You should take your readers through your train of thought, letting them know exactly what you did. You will compare your results with theoretical values, published data, commonly held beliefs, and/or expected results. (This information would have been in your research readings) You will include information form the comparisons, AFTER the data is organized into charts, graphs, or tables, with a clear explanation of what all the numbers and notes mean.

22. Results continued:
Your results should include failures as well as successes. You should also include a discussion of possible errors. Did the data vary between repeated observations of similar event? How were your results affected by uncontrolled events? What would you do differently if you repeated this project? What other experiments could be conducted?

23. PAGE ?
Your conclusion statements should relate back to the original question and hypothesis and tell how the data supports or does not support your hypothesis. You should briefly summarize your result. Be specific and do not generalize. You should never introduce anything in the conclusion that has not already been discussed.

24. Bibliography: Page ?
A list of sources used for finding out about your topic. (Books, magazines, newspapers, experts in the field, the internet, text books, pamphlets, etc..
Example of a book: Last name, first name of the author. Title of the book. City of publication: publishing company, publication date, pages used.
Example of a magazine article: Last name, first name of the author. “Title of the article.” Title of the magazine volume# (year published): pages used.
Example of an encyclopedia entry: (last name, first name of author, if present) “article title.” Name of encyclopedia. Year edition. Volume#. Pages used.
Example of an interview entry: last name, first name of the interviewee. Personal interview. Date of interview.

25. Acknowledgements: (page. But it will be the last
Acknowledgements: (page? But it will be the last page…maybe around page 13 to 15)
You can recognize any and all of the people, businesses, and institutions who helped you in any way with you project. You will give their full names OR who they are to you, and what they did.
Example: I would like to acknowledge Mr. Drip for helping me with my water samples.
Example: I would like to thank my dad for helping me with my water samples.
DO NOT WRITE THIS: I would like to thank my dad, Mr. Drip, for helping me with my water samples.

26. End of 7th grade slide show

27. Preparing a display A good title Take photographs Be organized
Eye-catching
Correctly presented and well constructed
Noteworthy items

28. A good title:
Your title is an extremely important attention-grabber. A good title should simply and accurately present you research. The title should make the casual observer want to know more.
Example: Which gum has the best bubbles? or
Popping Power!

29. Take photographs:
Many projects involve items that may not be safely exhibited at the fair, but are an important part of your project. You might want to take photographs of important parts/phases of you experiment to use in your display. Photographs or other visual images of human test subjects must have informed consent… The easiest way to get around this is not to photograph faces.

30. Organization:
Make sure your display is logically presented and easy to follow and read. A quick glance should permit anyone (especially the judges) to locate quickly the title, experiment, results, and conclusion. When you arrange your display, imagine you are seeing it for the first time.

31. Ordered display

32. Eye-catching:
Make your display stand out. Use neat, colorful headings, charts, and graphs to present your project. Home-built equipment, construction paper, and colored markers are excellent for project displays. Pay special attention to the labeling of graphs charts, diagrams, and tables.

33. Correctly presented and well constructed
Be sure to keep within the size limitations for your display and make sure it will stand up by itself. Most display boards have three sections, although this arrangement is not required. Display all required form for you project. Be sure to meet all safety rules. (See rules for prohibited display items.)It is suggested that actual equipment and items used in the experiment not be placed in the display to prevent loss or damage. Use pictures or photographs to show items. Equipment may be displayed at the student’s risk of loss.

34. Noteworthy items:
Although an attractive presentation is important, remember, the display is not the project. It is a display of the work that was conducted for the project. Judging is not based on the presence or absence of the experimental apparatus or samples. The first consideration of the display should be the safety of the observers, particularly small children. When in doubt, drawings and photographs should be substituted for the actual articles.
If you are working with molds or other “allergenic” substances, use photographs or air tight containers.

35. Prepare all parts BEFORE beginning assembly:

36. Scientific thought- 30 points
Judging Criteria:
Scientific thought- 30 points
Is the problem stated clearly and unambiguously?
Is the problem sufficiently limited so that is what possible to attack it?
Is the purpose/hypothesis stated on the display?
If the procedure used in developing and obtaining the solution or results explained?
If controls were necessary, was there a recognition of need, and were they correctly used?

37. Scientific thought continued
Is the method of data acquisition or analysis explained?
Are there adequate data to support the conclusions?
Are the limitations of the data recognized?
Does the student understand how the project ties in with relate research?
Does the student have an idea of what further research is indicated?
Did the student cite scientific literature, or cite only popular literature and encyclopedia/internet?

38. Creative ability-30 points
Did the student design or construct any equipment?
Does this project display originality and/or creative application of a common idea?
Is the data presented uniquely:
How creative is the display?

39. Thoroughness- 15 points
How many times was the investigation performed?
Does the display physically demonstrate the operation or results?
Have the variables affecting the outcome been identified?
Does the project carry out its purpose to completion with in scope of the original aims?
How much time was spent on the project?

40. skill- 15 points
Is the demonstrated skill commensurate with the student’s age and grade level?
Does the student have the skills required to do all the work necessary to obtain the data which supports the project?
Where was the project done? What assistance was obtained from parents, teachers, scientist, or engineers?
Was the project carried out under the supervision of an adult or largely the student’s work?
Where did the equipment come from? Was it built independently by the student? Was it obtained on loan? Was it part of a laboratory in which the student worked?

41. Clarity/neatness -10 points
Is the data clearly presented?
Is the display well organized and attractive?
Is the material readable and arranged in a logical manner?
Has the written material been expressed well by the student?

42. The end