Fifth Grade
Science Showcase
Mill Pond School
April 13, 2015
5th Grade Science Showcase
April 13, 2015 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
The 5th grade Science Showcase is an annual event that highlights science or engineering projects that students complete at home. The showcase provides you, the student, with an opportunity to channel your curiosity, knowledge, enthusiasm, and engineering problem-solving skills or scientific questioning. You will then share them in a meaningful way with the members of the Mill Pond community.
Sound interesting? You will design and develop an experiment or create an engineering solution based on a scientific principle at home over the next few weeks. You may work by yourself or with a partner from any fifth grade class or team. In the end, you will create a display board for your project and exhibit it at the Science Showcase. Your project will not be judged, but you will receive a grade based on your effort. Keep in mind, your project will mainly be completed and presented for the enjoyment and experience of sharing your work with others.
Attached to this sheet is information that will help you (and your partner) complete your science project. The following are included: a checklist of things to do as you work on your project, a list of web resources, project display information, and showcase safety guidelines. Please review this information as you plan your participation.
Please return the bottom portion of this form to your science teacher by
______.
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5th Grade Science Showcase
My son/daughter,______(please print student’s name), will be displaying a science or engineering project during the day. The title or topic of the science project will be:
______
Partner’s Name (if any):
Partner’s
______Homeroom Teacher ______
______
Student’s SignatureParent’s Signature
How to Find Science Showcase Ideas
Is there an area of science about which you are curious? What are some things you wonder about? Those can be great places to start your search for a topic.
Here are some Science Fair websites you can browse and search for project ideas:
IMPORTANT: Begin your project with plenty of time before the due date. This will prevent you from having too much to do at one time!
Checklist of Things to Do
Below is a recommended checklist of things you need to do in order to have a complete science or engineering project. Keep a notebook or folder of the steps you complete as you work. This will help you keep track of what steps you have done, and what you still need to do!
______1. Choose a topic you are interested in.
______2. Identify a question or engineering problem for your project.
______3. Do research on your topic or experiment.
______4. Write a hypothesis for your experiment.
______5. Decide on a project title (you can also do this later).
______6. Design your experimental procedure or prototype.
______7. Decide what data you need to record and HOW you will record it.
______8. Do the experiment or build and test your prototype design. Keep accurate written records. Take photos, if possible.
______9. Study the results of your experiment or design test.
______10. Write a conclusion or improve your design. This can be
presented as Claim, Evidence, Reasoning.
______11. Display your results with graphs, charts, tables, and pictures. INCLUDE a list of ALL Sources (websites, book, etc.).
______12. Construct an attractive, neat display board.
______13. Practice talking about what you did and what your learned. Be ready to answer visitors’ questions.
______14. Bring your presentation board and materials to school on the day of the Science Showcase. Have fun sharing your project!
Engineering Design Projects
The ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS is similar to the Scientific Process. If you choose to do an engineering project, you need to identify a specific problem or question, and then design and build something to solve or improve it.
Five-Step Engineering Design Process: 1
- ASK - What is the problem or question? Why is it a problem? What are the constraints? What have other engineers done to try to solve this problem or similar problems?
- IMAGINE - What are some possible solutions? Brainstorm ideas and pick the best one to try as a prototype. Why do you think this is the best one?
- PLAN - Draw a diagram. Make a list of materials you will need. What variables do you need to control, if any?
- CREATE - Follow your plan and build/create it. Test it out!
- IMPROVE - This is one of the most important steps! Talk about what works, what doesn’t, and what could be improved to make it work better. Modify your design to make it better. Retest and analyze the results. Do you need to improve again?
Your display will show the problem you worked to solve and what you did at each step of the process. Your CONCLUSION should include thoughts about why your invention did (or did not) solve the problem, how it might be improved, how it is solved in the real-world, and any follow-up questions you might ask.
1 Adapted from the Engineering Design Process in the Engineering is Elementary program, as developed by the Museum of Science (Boston).
Your Project Display Board
Your project must be FREE STANDING - nothing can lean or be attached to the walls. If your project has a unique need for space, talk to your science teacher BEFORE the Science Showcase day.
You may design a project display that works for your project. There is not a defined, required layout for the Display Board. Here are some possibilities:
Science and Engineering Project
Display and Safety Information
Science project information will be displayed on a presentation display board. Students may use technology (laptop, tablet or other mobile device) as part of their display, but they are responsible for its security during the Science Showcase. Any electrical cords must be U.L. approved and provided by the student.
These safety guidelines must be followed:
1.No open flames.
2.No live animals or animal specimens.
3.No open microbial cultures or live disease-causing organisms.
4.No highly flammable display materials or highly combustible or explosive solids, liquids, or gases.
5.No dangerous chemicals, including caustics or acids.
6.No open-top batteries.
7.FOOD SAMPLES and OTHER OBJECTS MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED.
Sources must be listed on your presentation board. This includes ALL websites and books used for ideas and to research the project.
Students should bring their projects and display boards to the cafeteria Monday, April 13. Mill Pond students will visit the Science Showcase during the school day with their teachers. All projects will be taken home at the end of the day, unless your science teacher gives other instructions beforehand.
If you have any questions please contact your child’s science teacher.
Mrs. Nancy Buffone Mrs. Anne DiBona Mrs. Rebecca Pittorino Mrs. Vicki Walsh
Have Fun !!
Can’t Wait To See What You DO!