1. SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS

2. SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS WHY? Problem Solving Skills Problem Solving Skills Communication Skills Communication Skills Work Skills Work Skills Expert Skills Expert Skills

3. Types of Projects Study Projects Study Projects –Display information demonstrating scientific ideas using observations or models Experimental Projects Experimental Projects Innovation Projects Innovation Projects –Invent or modify an existing technology You are REQUIRED TO DO AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT You are REQUIRED TO DO AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT

5. Where does the idea come from? Personal interests Answering a question you have Brainstorms Thought Webs

7. What Must be Included Title of experiment Title of experiment Problem Problem Definitions Definitions Hypothesis Hypothesis Research (background information) Research (background information) Experimental Procedure Experimental Procedure Experimental Materials Experimental Materials Results Results Conclusion Conclusion Reference and Acknowledgements Reference and Acknowledgements

8. What You May Include Pictures showing the experiment Pictures showing the experiment A journal logging the process A journal logging the process Decoration Decoration *REMEMBER* Judges will be looking at content not how pretty it is. *REMEMBER* Judges will be looking at content not how pretty it is.

9. State your PROBLEM What is the point? What is the point? Why are you doing the project? Why are you doing the project? What are you trying to find out? What are you trying to find out? What question are you answering? What question are you answering? Which material would best adsorb oil in a simulated oil spill?

10. DEFINITIONS AND REASEARCH… Parents Parents Teachers Teachers Library Library Community Resources Community Resources STAS Experts STAS Experts

11. Form your HYPOTHESIS… Tells what you think will happen Experimental projects, use the words if and then. Even if your hypothesis isn't right, what you find out from your research is important

12. PROCEDURE AND MATERIALS Sometime called materials and methods Sometime called materials and methods Procedure Procedure –All project steps used to prove/disprove hypothesis. Independent variables/dependent variables Independent variables/dependent variables Control Control Five or more replications Five or more replications Records of procedures, dates of when tasks were completed Records of procedures, dates of when tasks were completed

13. RESULTS (DATA) AND CONCLUSIONS Results Results –Record all data and observations in tables or charts –Compare control and experiment trials –Present data using graphs –Be able to explain what results mean –Think of practical uses of your information Conclusion(s) and Recommendation(s) Conclusion(s) and Recommendation(s)

14. REFERENCE AND ACKNOWLEDEMENTS You must state all of your resources You must state all of your resources Internet, books, articles, or people that contributed to you research Internet, books, articles, or people that contributed to you research You also need to thank anyone who helped you (ex. Parents) You also need to thank anyone who helped you (ex. Parents)

15. Judging Projects will be judged based on a very detailed rubric. Projects will be judged based on a very detailed rubric. Each required element of the project will be scored out of 5 points with 5 being the best score Each required element of the project will be scored out of 5 points with 5 being the best score There are 10 required elements. All are worth 5 point except the title which is worth 2. (47 points for the total project) There are 10 required elements. All are worth 5 point except the title which is worth 2. (47 points for the total project) This will also count as your grade for the project This will also count as your grade for the project It will be a TEST grade It will be a TEST grade

16. Judging Example of scoring (a copy of the rubric can be requested Problem/Question Score 1: Not stated in display Score 2: Stated on display, but not related to experiment Score 2: Stated on display, but not related to experiment Score 3: Stated on display, related to experiment, not stated as a testable question Score 4: Stated on display, related to experiment, basic testable question Score 5: Effectively communicated on display, well written, testable question

17. Examples

18. Helpful Websites www.sciencebuddies.org www.sciencebuddies.org www.sciencebuddies.org www.sciencefest.org/index.php www.sciencefest.org/index.php www.sciencefest.org/index.php www.sciencefest.org/elementary/stude nts.php www.sciencefest.org/elementary/stude nts.php www.sciencefest.org/elementary/stude nts.php www.sciencefest.org/elementary/stude nts.php www.all-science-fair-projects.com www.all-science-fair-projects.com www.all-science-fair-projects.com