2012

Oak Grove Elementary

Science Fair

April 27, 2012

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Your child has the opportunity to prepare and display a science project for the Oak Grove Turner Science Fair, Friday, April 27, 2012. During school that day, all of the projects will be judged and awards will be given. There will be an open house that evening for public viewing of all the projects.

A science fair gives students the chance to think and work independently, develop a refine individual science interests, and engage in critical thinking at his or her own level.

Students in 4th& 5thgrade will be encouraged to do a science fair project, but it is not required. Their teachers will inform his/her students of their expectations. The students in 6th grade are required to have a project, done independently. This will be a part of their Science grade for 3rd & 4thquarter. Projects can be as simple or as sophisticated as the student desires.

Above all, it is important to remember that this is a student project which will be done completely at home. There is some guidance in this packet to help with the selection of a project. It is acceptable for parents to give guidance, but be sure to remember that this is for the benefit of the student. In this packet is a list of ideas on how you can help your child with his or her project.

This is one endeavor in which every student can actively participate and be successful.

We are looking forward to an exciting fair. We hope that you and your child will find it exciting too!

SCIENCE FAIR GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS

What is the Science Fair?

What am I supposed to do?

The Science Fair is a time for YOU to have fun with science at home. It is a time for you to put your imagination and daydreams to work.

The Science Fair starts NOW – as you begin to think about what you want to do for a project. Within a couple of weeks, you should have decided on a project and have an idea about how you will proceed. You may already have your project underway if it is going to take a long time to complete. Your project can be either an experiment (the best type!) or a model, but it should be something you find interesting and want to learn more about.

An experiment is a “systematic process used to test the validity of a hypothesis.” This means that you look at something that happens; then you decide why this happens. The “why” is your hypothesis. You then design and perform an experiment which tests your hypothesis to see if you were right. During your experiment, you will keep records of your procedures and your results. Your teacher can explain more about this data collecting process. REMEMBER – even if you find out that your hypothesis is wrong, you still have a good project if you explain why you were wrong.

A model is something you construct which demonstrates a scientific principle, such as how something works, or what happens to one object if an action is taken on another object. You will need to do research to find out how to build your model. Also, you will need to keep records of your research and of your procedures in constructing your model.

When you have decided on your project, you can look at the time table attached and fill in the dates so that you will be finished with your exhibit in time for the science fair. Then, you can start having fun by designing and conducting your experiment, or researching, designing, and building your model. They way you do your project and the materials you use are limited only by your imagination and your parents’ approval.

REMEMBER – THIS IS YOUR PROJECT! YOUR PARENTS MAY HELP YOU IN SOME WAYS, BUT YOU GET TO DO THE WORK…AND HAVE THE FUN!!!

When your experiment or model is finished, you will write a report telling about it using the form included in this packet. Be sure to make a rough draft and have your parents help you make corrections before you make your final copy. NEATNESS IS IMPORTANANT!!

After you have finished writing your report, you can begin preparing your display for the fair. You will have an 18” x 36” table space on which to display your project. If you need to purchase a backboard for your exhibit, they will be on sale at the School Store. There is information in this packet about how to prepare your backboard.

On the day of the science fair, your display will need to be at school by 9:00am. Your class will be able to set-up the displays at an allocated time for them. On the evening of the science fair, all parents, siblings and family members can come and see the projects. Come and have fun showing off your project to all your friends and neighbors.

After the fair you MUST TAKE IT WITH YOU THAT NIGHT. Any project left after that night will be thrown out. You may ask yourself why you would want to keep the project…well, you may want to carry your experiment even further for future science fairs, or maybe you will get an idea for another project from someone else’s display. At any rate, you will have fun, and you will gain much knowledge that you would not have otherwise.

SO…LET’S GET STARTED!!

It isn’t too early to begin thinking and planning. You want to be sure to give yourself plenty of time so that you can do a good job.

NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE FUN WITH SCIENCE!

HOW TO SELECT A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

  1. Many of the best science fair projects relate to things that happen around you every day. Use your experiences to think of an idea. Try to remember a time that you noticed something and thought “I wonder how that works?” or “I wonder what would happen if…” and turn that into a project. For example, “What would happen if I left the baking powder out of that recipe?” “Does hot water really freeze more quickly than cold water?”
  2. Watch TV commercials. Test their claims. For example, “Does that type of diaper hold more liquids?” “Does that battery really have more energy than the other ones?” “Will that paper towel absorb more water than the others?”
  3. Look at sample projects. There are many websites on the internet with ideas for projects. Don’t just use those ideas. Take an idea and add something of your own that will relate better to your personal interests. The following are possible websites for ideas –
  1. Try putting words in these blanks –

What is the effect of ______on ______?

Examples: detergent/germination of seeds

Temperature/air pressure in a ball

To what extent does the ______affect ______?

Examples:humidity/growth of mold

Color of material/heat absorption

Which ______(verb) ______?

Examples:foods...do...gerbils prefer

Detergent…makes…the most bubbles

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Even though you can’t actually do this science fair project for your child, there are many things you can do to insure that it will be a stimulating and rewarding experience for him/her.

  1. Be excited and supportive. Your attitude is contagious!
  2. Give guidance in selecting the project.

Help your child look around for ideas. It is best if the project is an extension of one of your child’s interests.

Allow your child time to daydream in order to explore new ideas.

Discuss with your child the good points and the pitfalls of projects which he or she is considering.

Help your child set a reasonable timetable for his/her project.

Follow the rules and guidelines of the science fair.

  1. Provide support during the project.

Help your child remember the deadlines for the various parts of the project (see attached timetable…maybe put it up on your fridge).

Encourage your child to keep a daily log of his/her research activities.

Help your child collect the materials needed for the project. Many projects can be designed using materials found around the house so there need not be extra expense.

Allow your child to do the work himself/herself even if you know that you could do better. REMEMBER – it is your child’s project and he/she will be proud of his/her work.

If your child has a problem with his/her project, don’t tell them how to fix it. Instead, guide your child, by questioning, toward the solution to the problem.

  1. Offer assistance with the final display. (Each student will have an 18” x 36” display area.)

Help construct the backboard.

Advise them on aesthetic placement of lettering and display items.

Encourage your child to write the report in his/her own words. Then, help them proofread the report for spelling and grammatical errors.

Provide transportation to school for your child’s project on the Science Fair Day to set up the project.

  1. Show pride in your child’s work at all times. Even though winning an award is important to him/her, your pride and approval is most important.
  2. Don’t be afraid to let your child make mistakes. An experiment never fails. It might just fail to prove the hypothesis. Some of science’s greatest discoveries have come from experiments that did not turn out as expected.

Science Fair Project Time Line

Date of Science Fair:______

Date
Due / Date Completed / Things to Do
Choose a topic and write a project question.
Research the topic by using books, the Internet, and other resources.
Write a hypothesis.
Design an experiment to test the hypothesis.
Conduct the experiment and record observations.
Make a table, or chart, for data. Draw one or more graphs of the data.
Write the project report.
Make the project display, or exhibit.
Present the project at the Science Fair
Other:
Other:

HOW TO GET STARTED ON YOUR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

***USE THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD***

  1. Identify a problem – This is always written in the form of a question.
  2. Gather information about the problem – Gather detailed information relating to the problem so that you can make an educated guess as an answer to your problem.
  3. State a hypothesis – State what you think the answer to your problem will be.
  4. Test the hypothesis – Perform an experiment to test your hypothesis. Be sure that you test only one variable and keep everything else the same so that your test is fair and your results are valid.
  5. Record and analyze data – Study the information gathered from your experiment. Communicate your information with a table and a graph.
  6. State your conclusion – THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! Was your hypothesis correct or incorrect? State what you learned from your experiment.

The above steps are called the Scientific Method. This is the procedure used by scientists everywhere to find the solutions to their problems. You, too, must use this method to find the answer to your problem.

Now, get started! Be sure to refer to the Laboratory Write-Up Example as a guide to finishing the written requirement for your project.

PARENT SURVIVAL KIT FOR ASSEMBLING A SCIENCE FAIR EXHIBIT

  1. Schedule work on the project during the part of the evening or the weekend when you feel the most supportive and patient. Stop work when your child is tired, bored, or having problems. If all is going well, extend the work period.
  2. Your child will need a backboard to display the information. These can be purchased rather cheaply at Walmart, Hobby Lobby or at Oak Grove’s School Store. For neatness, the printing can be done on a computer, or letter stencils can be used.
  3. The TITLE should be in bold print across the top of the center panel of the board. It could be in a question form, or the project could have a short catchy title. The top of the left panel section is the place to write the PROBLEM. The HYPOTHESIS should be displayed in the middle of the same panel. The MATERIALS should also be displayed at the bottom of the same panel. The PROCEDURES should be displayed at the top right panel. RESULTS will be placed in the middle of the far right panel. Your CONCLUSIONS should be placed at the bottom right panel section. In the middle section is where the results in the form of tables/graphs/pictures/etc should be placed.
  4. Proofread everything carefully, checking spelling, grammar, punctuation, content, and clarity. Be sure to involve your child in each of these processes as each serves to reinforce language skills.
  5. Avoid fancy lettering. You want your information to be clear and visible.
  6. Do have neat, accurate tables and graphs.
  7. The name of the student should be displayed neatly on the front, bottom, right-hand corner along with the grade they are in and their homeroom teacher.

Science Experiment Form

(Before experiment)

Title: ______

Question: What do I want to find out?

______

Hypothesis: What is going to happen and why?

______

Materials: What do I need for my experiment?

______

Independent VariableThis is the thing that you are changing in the experiment:

______

Dependent VariableWhat are you measuring in the experiment:

______

Control VariablesThese are the things in the experiment that are being kept the same:

______

Procedure: How will I find out? (Step by Step)

1.______

2.______

3.______

4.______

5.______

6.______

7.______

Science Experiment Form

(After experiment)

Observations: Include a brief written summary of observations. You will want to make large, colorful displays of graphs of any data you collected (

______

Results: What actually happened?

______

Conclusion: What did I learn?

______

Suggestions for Follow-Up Experiments: What else could you do? What other questions could you ask?

______

The problem is clear and testable. It is a question with no errors. / The problem is clear and testable with a few errors. / The problem is clear and testable with errors. It is not written in the form of a question. / The problem is not clear, is not written in the form of a question and has many errors, but is testable. / The problem is not testable.
The hypothesis is a reasonable prediction. It is a complete sentence with no errors. / The hypothesis is a reasonable prediction. It is a complete sentence with few errors. / The hypothesis is a reasonable prediction. It is not a complete sentence and has errors. / The hypothesis is not a reasonable prediction. It is not a complete sentence with many errors. / The hypothesis is not related to the problem.
The procedure is written in an easy to follow step-by-step pattern with no errors. The list of materials is complete. The experiment tests the hypothesis. / The procedure is written in a step-by-step pattern with few errors. The list of materials is complete. The experiment tests the hypothesis. / The procedure is written without materials. It is not easy to follow. The experiment tests the hypothesis. / The procedure is missing many steps, materials, and has many errors. The experiment tests the hypothesis. / The experiment does not test the hypothesis.
The results are clearly displayed in a chart/graph/ table. All pieces of the chart or graph are clearly labeled. The experiment was tested more than once. / The results are clearly displayed in a chart/graph/ table. All pieces of the chart or graph are clearly labeled. / The results are displayed in a chart/graph/ table. / The results are displayed in a chart/graph/ table with many errors and the information presented is hard to understand. / The results are listed, but there is no chart/graph/table.
The conclusion includes the answer to these questions: Was my hypothesis correct or incorrect? Why did the results turn out the way they did? The “why” is answered using research or resources from the internet, library, etc. How could the experiment be changed next time? What did you learn? / The conclusion includes the answer to these questions: Was my hypothesis correct or incorrect? Why did the results turn out the way they did? The “why” is answered using research or resources from the internet, library, etc. / The conclusion includes the answer to these questions: Was my hypothesis correct or incorrect? Why did the results turn out the way they did? / The conclusion includes the answer to this question: Was my hypothesis correct or incorrect? / The conclusion does not support the results presented in the chart/graph/table.

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WRITING YOUR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT REPORT