STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) FAIR STEP 1

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) FAIR STEP 1

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR PROJECT

1.  Decide if you would like to work independently or with someone else in your class.

Things to consider if you choose to work with a partner:

·  Are there times when you can meet to work on this project?

·  Will your parents/guardians provide transportation?

·  Will this person be a reliable partner?

·  How will you balance the workload equally?

2.  Brainstorm!! Choose your topic.

Things to consider:

·  What are your interests?

·  What are you curious about?

·  What resources are available?

Fill in the thinking map (on the back of this paper) with the topics that come to mind.

Now, choose your top three ideas/topics. Put these ideas in question form.

My top three:

* ______

*______

* ______

3.  Write your investigative question. DUE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH

Things to consider:

·  What will you investigate or attempt to prove?

·  How does it relate to science, technology, engineering, or math?

·  Will you be able to conduct an experiment to answer the question?

·  Do you have the materials and resources needed for the experiment?

MY INVESTIGATIVE QUESTION:

Note: Parents, I will be sending home more detailed guidelines for the project when we return from Thanksgiving Break. Right now, I just want students to choose a question. They may not begin experimentation until I have approved all projects. Please sign below that you have reviewed and approved the question your child has chosen.

Thank you! Heather Fennell

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) FAIR STEP 2

PROJECT GUIDELINES

1.  Research Plan and Approval Form:

·  Due to Ms. Fennell on December 2, 2009

·  Fill out top portion only.

·  Staple the research plan to the back of the official approval form.

·  Turn in for teacher approval and teacher signature.

·  You may not begin experimentation until this has been turned in and approved by Ms. Fennell.

2.  Keep in mind that some project choices will require extra paper work. To avoid this, try to steer away from any projects involving animals, or testing on human subjects, like your family members and friends. Such projects may require approval from a qualified scientist or a veterinarian.

3.  Make a hypothesis.

Things to Consider:

·  Does your hypothesis match your question? Does it answer your question?

·  Why do you think this is going to happen?

4.  Conduct research. (To be done through language arts classes)

Things to Consider:

·  Where can you find information?

·  Are these resources reliable, especially if they are websites? You need at least three sources.

·  Cite your sources as you use them so you will not lose them.

·  Avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing using your own words.

·  Your paper should be 2 pages in length. If typed, use 12 point font and double space. If handwritten, it should be 2 pages and single spaced.

5.  Conduct your investigation/experiment.

Things to Consider:

·  Your goal is to answer your question so stay focused on the topic.

·  Use math equations, problems, concepts, etc. to investigate or experiment.

·  List the steps you follow when conducting the investigation so that anyone could duplicate it. Include the materials used.

·  Record your data during the experiment. Display your data in a data table.

·  It is better to record too much data than not enough.

·  If you use a sample, it should represent the entire group.

·  Remember to have a control and only test one variable at a time!

·  Take pictures (Neither the scientist nor any human subjects can be in the pictures).

6.  Put all the pieces together.

Things to consider:

·  How will you share what you have done and learned?

·  You will have a written report, an abstract, and a display board

·  TMS will have some tri-fold boards on sale for $5.00.

·  Boards can always be reused next year if you paste your info onto your board instead of writing on the board itself. Or, old tri-folds can be spray-painted or covered with wrapping paper.

·  You must have a graph or graphs to display your results. Choose the type of graph that best displays your information.

·  Be creative without making it tacky. Sometimes less really is more.

Things you must have in your written report:

·  Project title

·  Investigative Question

·  Origin of your idea (how you got the idea or why you chose this topic)

·  History of ______(related to your topic)

·  Detailed list of your materials and procedures

·  Discussion of your results (explain the mathematical/scientific concepts used, the data you gathered, charts and or graphs representing the data, and your conclusion)

·  Bibliography with at least three reliable resources (cited correctly)

Things you must have on your display (tri-fold) board:

·  Catchy project title

·  Investigative question

·  Hypothesis

·  Detailed list of materials and procedures

·  Variables (independent, dependent, constants, control)

·  Data Table

·  Graph or graphs to display data

·  Analysis of Data

·  Conclusion (Tell what happened, whether or not you proved your hypothesis, and if you consider your results valid and reliable.)

·  Bibliography with at least three reliable resources (cited correctly)

·  Optional: Pictures or other evidence, like equipment used for the experiment.

7.  Complete your abstract.

Things to Consider:

·  An abstract is a summary of your experiment. You should include the question, hypothesis, procedures, analysis, conclusion and a reference list.

·  It must fit in the space given on the designated form. 250 words or less!

·  Write neatly!

·  If your project advances to the county fair, this will need to be typed.

8.  Spell Check!! This project should represent the time you devoted to it as well as your talent and abilities.

9.  Prepare for your presentation.

Things to Consider:

·  You will present this information to the class, so make sure you understand and can speak knowledgeably about what you have done.

·  Practice your presentation for family members and friends.

·  Practice retelling without reading aloud from your report or board.

·  Think of questions others may ask you and how you would respond.

What do I need to turn in and when?

What is due? / Due Date
“Getting Started With Your Project” (worksheet) / Tues. Nov. 24th
Research Plan (in packet) stapled to the official approval form (in packet) / Wed. Dec. 2rd
Written research paper (language arts)
Abstract on official form / Wed. Jan. 6th
Completed project with display board / Wed. Jan. 6th

The Topsail Middle School STEM Fair will be held on Thursday evening, January 14th. You will receive more details about this event following Christmas/Winter Break.

Other Dates:

Jan. 27th, 2010: Pender County Fair

Feb. 20th, 2010: Regional Fair at UNCW

Research Plan

Due: Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009

Staple this paper to the official approval form. If you advance to the county fair, you may need to add more details to your research plan.

A. Investigative Question: ______

B. Hypothesis or Engineering Goals: ______

C. Materials: ______

D. Procedures: What will you do? ______

E. Variables: The independent variable (variable changed by the scientist) is: ______

______.

The dependent variable (the variable being measured) is:

______. The constants (things I must keep the same) are: ______

______.

E. Safety Issues: ______

**If you are working with ANY of the following items, you must have a “Qualified Scientist/Adult Sponsor” to supervise your work and be approved by a local SRC Committee BEFORE beginning experiment. This requires extra paper work.

Ø  Non-human vertebrate animals

Ø  Human/Animal Tissue

Ø  Recombinant DNA

Ø  Pathogens

Ø  Human Subjects

Ø  Controlled Substances

Ø  Hazardous Substances

Ø  Hazardous Devices

STEM FAIR PROJECT

RUBRIC FOR GRADING

Please turn in this page with your project! This is how I will calculate the number of points you earn on your project!

Investigative Question _____/10

Ø  Testable and in question form

Hypothesis _____/10

Ø  Answers investigative question, includes “why” you think this will happen

Procedures _____/15

Ø  Includes a complete list of materials used AND a complete list of steps/procedures

Ø  Identifies variables and constants

Test/Experiment _____/15

Ø  Data Table shown, did at least 3 trials

Ø  Pictures, drawings, or other evidence (like equipment used)

Data Analysis _____/10

Ø  Graph or graphs

Conclusion _____/15

Ø  Includes results of the experiment, what the student learned, and whether or not the

hypothesis was proven

Abstract _____/10

Ø  Written summary of the experiment, some research included

Ø  Works Cited/ Reference List in correct format

Presentation _____/ 5

Ø  Understands project and can discuss results

Originality, Creativity, and Quality _____/10

TOTAL POINTS EARNED ON PROJECT _____/100

NOTE: Research papers will be graded separately.