LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

SCIENCE FAIR PACKET

GRADES 3-6

2012-2013

Dear Parents,

This year’s Special Emphasis Week is March 11-15. This year, the students will participate in a Science Fair. Each student will be required to do an individual project at home. An overview of the student’s project will be due on Wednesday, February 20. An attached form is provided for this information.

On Wednesday, March 6, the final projects need to be turned in. They must be displayed on a poster that will be hung on the wall. On the poster board, please include the following:

The question (What would happen if…)

The child’s prediction

The conclusion

Drawings, diagrams or photographs that would help explain the process you used.

Our hope is that you will help the child grasp a thorough understanding of the process and results of their project. Each child will receive a certificate of participation for their effort.

Thanks,

Science Fair Committee

Laura O’Shaughnessey, Jane Bennett,

Lisa Rider, Bridget Winger

Science Project Overview

What was the question that you asked? ______

What did you predict would happen? ______

What steps did you take to test your prediction? ______

What did you find out after doing this experiment? ______

Possible Science Fair Questions

Which method of popping corn works the best?

How does the length of light affect a plant’s growth?

What is the strongest method of building a bridge from Popsicle sticks?

What detergent/soap cleans the best?

In which type of soil do plants grow the fastest?

Which fertilizer works the best?

Which birdseed do birds prefer?

Does ice melt at the same rate in different liquids?

What effect does water pollution have on plant growth?

What salt is best for melting ice?

Do plants react to sound?

Which type of soil holds water the best?

Do plants grow best in sunlight or artificial light?

How deep should seeds be planted for the fastest growth?

Which food stains teeth the most?

At which temperatures do breads last the longest?

Which type of plant gives off the most moisture?

What affects the period of a pendulum?

What factors affect how fast liquids will mix?

What effect does size of particles have on how fast a solute dissolves?

What metals will rust?

Does the color of an object affect how warm it gets?

Do people like real or artificial sweeteners the best?

What effect does crowding have on plant growth?

How does root position affect plant growth?

What is the effect of repetition on reaction time?

Do different types of bread mold at the same rate?

Which type of insulation holds in heat the best?

Does light direction affect plant growth?

How does electricity affect the growth of plants?

You are not limited to this list. The LCS library has resources.

Science Fair Rules and Safety Regulations

  1. Only student exhibits are eligible. Exhibits done by an adult in the student’s name are not acceptable.
  1. Exhibit size is limited to:
  1. Grades 1 and 2 - one half a standard poster (will be provided)
  2. Grades 3 through 5 - one standard poster (will be provided)
  3. Grade 6-8 - each student will display their work on a tri-fold poster and have limited table space.

**Students in grades 6-8 must provide their own tri-folds**

  1. Exhibits must be durable. Movable parts must be firmly attached. Push buttons and levers must be securely mounted and may not be attached to tables or walls.

Science Fair Rules and Safety Regulations

  1. Only student exhibits are eligible. Exhibits done by an adult in the student’s name are not acceptable.
  1. Exhibit size is limited to:
  1. Grades 1 and 2 - one half a standard poster
  2. Grades 3 through 5 - one standard poster
  3. Grade 6-8 - each student will display their work on a tri-fold poster and have limited table space.

**Students in grades 6-8 must provide their own tri-folds**

  1. No live animals, preserved vertebrate animals or parts, including embryos, may be exhibited. Research involving the use of animals may display drawings, charts, photos, or graphs to illustrate the conditions, developments and results of investigation. Humane treatment of animal subjects is expected and required.
  1. Hazardous materials are prohibited. This includes live disease-causing organisms, syringes, open flames, dangerous chemicals, highly combustible materials, and Class III or IV lasers.
  1. Exhibits must be durable. Movable parts must be firmly attached. Push buttons and levers must be securely mounted and may not be attached to tables or walls.
  1. All electrical apparatus must be of approved variety. Participants needing house current must provide their own 30 foot, heavy duty extension cord with parallel plug.

Your Science Project - Step by Step

  1. Choosing a Topic - What are you going to investigate?
  • Choose a topic in which you are interested
  • Choose a topic with which you are somewhat familiar
  • Choose a topic that is specific
  • Choose a topic that lends itself to asking a question
  • For ideas - look at the list of possible questions in this packet
  • Gather background information about your topic by looking it up using - book, encyclopedia, or internet
  1. Ask a Question - Form a question that you will try to answer by conducting an experiment.
  • Phrase your topic in question form
  • Phrase your topic clearly
  • Have your topic approved by the due date and revise your topic if necessary
  1. Experiment - Conduct an experiment to answer your question.
  • List in step-by-step manner what you will do in your experiment
  • List the materials that you will need to conduct your experiment
  • Conduct the experiment
  1. Results - Observe what happened in the experiment.
  • Write down what you observe happened in your experiment
  • For some experiments the results can be put in a table
  1. Conclusions - How can you now answer the question you asked in step 2?
  • Write down what you know about the original question you asked
  1. Display - Develop a poster to show others what you learned in your science fair project.
  • The poster board will be provided for you.
  • Put each of the above steps on your poster
  • You may choose to put pictures or photographs on your poster
  • Display your poster at the LCS Science Fair during the week of March 11 - 15, 2013

Example Project - Step by Step

  1. Topic - mealworms and what they prefer to eat
  1. Question - What food do mealworms prefer?

3. Experiment

Materials - mealworms, oatmeal, corn flakes, bran flakes, crushed crackers, container, paintbrush

Procedure

  1. Put small piles of the same amount of each food in corners of the container.
  2. Place 10 mealworms in the middle of the container.
  3. After 1 day, record the number of mealworms in each food. Carefully return the mealworms to the center of the container using the paint brush.
  4. Each day for 10 days, record the number of mealworms in each food. Return the mealworms to the center of the container after recording the number in each food.
  5. Make a table of the results.
  1. Results - Write down the number of mealworms in each of the foods for 10 days. Make a table of the results.
  1. Conclusions - Look at the results and determine which food the mealworms preferred. In other words, which food had the most mealworms in it over the 10 day period? Which food came in second?
  1. Display - Make a poster of the experiment including all the parts listed.

Topic - This can become a title for the poster.

Question - Put your question that you are trying to answer on the poster.

Experiment - List your materials and the steps you took to complete your experiment.

Results - Display your results perhaps in a table or a graph.

Conclusions - Tell what you learned about your question.

Pictures - Make your display interesting and colorful with pictures or photographs.

Science Fair Due Dates

ItemDue Date

Entry form due to Science Fair CommitteeFriday, January 18, 2013

Experimenting FinishedWednesday, February 20, 2013

Poster Finished and SubmittedWednesday, March 6, 2013

Open house for parents6:30 PMThursday, March 14, 2013

SCIENCE FAIR ENTRY FORM

Name of Student ______

Grade Level of Student ______

Topic of Project ______

Question to be Answered ______

______

I understand that I must do the work for this science fair project myself and follow all of the required procedures and safety regulations.

______

Student’s SignatureDate

______

Parent’s SignatureDate

______

Approval

Modifications needed (by teacher): ______

______