Schwegler
Science Night & Fair
INFORMATION
and
PROJECT GUIDE
Thank you for your interest in participating in the Schwegler Science Fair!
Any student K-5 may do a project and should follow the guidelines presented in this informational packet.
In the interest of encouraging the return of a Science Fair to Schwegler after a pause of several years and then a successful Science Fair Night last year, it was decided that students can participate either by doing a traditional science experiment or by doing a research project (model, demonstration, career, biography).
Participants will work at home with parent supervision.
All participants will receive a certificate and participation pack and there will be special mention prizes in each category/grade level.
At the fair judges will review the exhibits in a closed session and provide written feedback for each one.
This year there are no District or County Science fairs. If you have interest in participating in the Regional Fair in the future, you can find more information on the following website http://sylmicro.com/kssef/.
If you have questions or if you would like to help as a mentor, judge, contributor or sponsor please contact: Amy Shellhorn or Jared Pemberton .
Thank you for helping make the 2016 Schwegler Science Fair a success!
Schwegler 2016 Science Fair
Calendar of Events
Informational note sent home: March 25
Science Fair packets sent home by request: March 28-April 1
Pick up/Delivery of Science Project boards if needed: April 11
Date Thursday, April 28th SCIENCE FAIR and NIGHT in cafeteria
Students should bring their project displays to school if possible and set up right after school.
4:15-5:00 pm closed door judging takes place
5:30 -7:00 pm Science Fair (viewing of projects) and Science activities
7:00 pm Awards distributed for Science Fair Projects
7:15 pm Take home exhibits
Schwegler 2016 Science Fair
Fair Rules
1. Have fun!
2. All students who wish to participate must have turned in request for packet slip.
3. All projects require parental approval.
4. Students may work individually or with a partner or sibling.
5. Students and their parents must provide all supplies; however display boards will be available through Mrs. Shellhorn at Schwegler.
6. Each entry must have a display no larger than 30" deep and 32" wide.
7. Commercial science kits should not be used.
8. Each entry must have a written report as outlined in the USD 497 information.
9. Each traditional science experiment needs to include a display of the title, question, hypothesis, variables, constants, procedure, results, and conclusion as outlined in the informational packet.
10. The use of biological materials, combustible or hazardous materials or controlled substances or procedures harming live animals are not allowed in experiments or at the fair.
11. Live animals will NOT be displayed at the fair.
12. No open flames will be permitted.
13. Any projects needing to use electricity must conform to safe wiring practices and be approved by the Principal.
14. Remember, this is a children’s science fair. Parents can assist and support their child, however, encourage your child to do as much as they can on their own.
15. HAVE FUN!
Students may participate by completing either a:
· Traditional Science Experiment or
· Research Project (model/display, demonstration, career, biography)
Following is a brief description of the two types:
A Traditional Science Experiment:
Lots of information is given, but it also has a project that shows testing done and the gathering of data using scientific method. Some past Schwegler Science experiments have included:
“Which hair scrunchie stays in place best during gym class” or “which liquid makes a water rocket go the highest” or “a comparison of popped popcorn”.
You can tell you have an experiment if you are testing something several times and changing a variable to see what will happen.
A Research Project:
Involves research and/or describes something or shows how something works but doesn’t test anything.
Examples of model/display projects might be: “The Solar System”, “Types of Dinosaurs”, “Types of Rocks, “The solar system”, “Tornado in a Bottle”.
Types of careers might be: “What does an electrical engineer do?”
A biography might be: “Who was Marie Curie?”
Here is a link to a guide for doing a Traditional Science Experiment using scientific method:
http://www.utelementary.org/ourpages/auto/2013/1/9/54511288/ScienceFairGuide%202013.pdf
Here is a link to a sample report form for 4th and 5th grade:
http://www.usd497.org/cms/lib8/KS01906981/Centricity/Domain/5624/SampleReportGuideline.pdf
Science Experiment Ideas
for K-3 (or anyone really!) from USD 497
1. How much salt does it take to float an egg?2. What kind of juice cleans pennies best?
3. Which dish soap makes the most bubbles?
4. Do watches keep time the same?
5. On which surface can a snail move faster -
dirt or cement?
6. What brand of raisin cereal has the most
raisins?
7. How can you measure the strength of a
magnet?
8. Do ants like cheese or sugar better?
9. Can the design of a paper airplane make
it fly farther?
10. Do the roots of a plant always grow downward?
11. Can you tell what something is just by
touching it?
12. What kinds of things do magnets attract?
13. What foods do mealworms prefer?
14. How long will it take a teaspoon of food
dye to color a glass of still water?
15. Does a bath take less water than a shower?
16. Can you tell where sound comes from when
you are blindfolded?
17. Can plants grow without soil?
18. Does warm water freeze faster than cool water?
19. In my class who is taller - the boys or the girls?
20. Do different types of apples have the same
number of seeds? / 21. Do bigger seeds produce bigger plants?
22. Which materials absorb the most water?
23. Do wheels reduce friction?
24. What materials dissolve in water?
25. What is the soil in my schoolyard made of?
26. Does holding a mirror in front of a fish change what the fish does?
27. What color birdseed do birds like best?
28. What holds two boards together better - a nail or a screw?
29. Will bananas brown faster on the counter or in the refrigerator?
30. Does temperature affect the growth of plants?
31. Do mint leaves repel ants?
32. Does a ball roll farther on grass or dirt?
33. Do all objects fall to the ground at the same speed?
34. Does anyone in my class have the same fingerprints?
35. Which travels faster - a snail or a worm?
36. Which paper towel is the strongest?
37. Can plants grow from leaves?
38. Which dissolves better in water salt
or baking soda?
39. Can things be identified by just their odor?
40. With which type of battery do toys run longest?
Other cool ideas and useful information for your project can be found at the links below or by searching online:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/?pID=fair
Anyone is welcome to attend Science Fair Night, even if you do not complete a project.
Schwegler 2016 Science Fair
Entry Form
Please return to the Schwegler School office by April 4, 2016
Child’s Name: ______
Parent’s Name / Signature: ______
Teacher / Grade Level: ______
Type of Project (circle one): Traditional Science Experiment / Research Project
Project Title (can be added later):______
Please check here if you will need a display board from the school ______
Brief Description of Project (can be added later):______
______
______
______
*Entry forms are requested by April 4th for planning purposes.
Entries will still be accepted until April 18th though.