Middle School

Osceola

Middle School:

Science Fair

Report and Display

Guidelines

Modified July 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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SCIENCE FAIR LOGBOOK

TOPIC INFORMATION

RESEARCH PLAN RUBRIC

PART 1: RESEARCH PLAN

RESEARCH QUESTIONS/PURPOSE

RATIONALE/RESEARCH

HYPOTHESIS and VARIABLES

MATERIALS and PROCEDURES

RISK and SAFETY

PRE-DATA ANALYSIS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PART 2: RESEARCH SUMMARY

RESEARCH SUMMARY RUBRIC

DATA TABLES and GRAPHS

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION/FUTURE RESEARCH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

DISPLAY

SF PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

DISPLAY and PRESENTATION RUBRIC

Science Fair Logbook

Whether you are a research student or a first-time science fair student, a logbook is a crucial part of any research project. It is a detailed account of every phase of your project, from the initial brainstorming to the final research report. The logbook is proof that certain activities occurred at specific times. Here are a few pointers that are easy to follow. They should help keep you organized, and certainly will impress any science fair judge. It’s a great opportunity to show off all your hard work!

Important Notes:

·  Use a hard-bound notebook or composition book like the one you see above.

·  NEVER use pencil! Use a blue or black ink pen only.

·  NEVER erase or use white-out! If mistakes occur, mark it out with ONE neat line.

·  NEVER tear a page out of your logbook!

·  NEVER redo something to make it neater. Neatness isn’t important. Getting your thoughts and data recorded is the important part of the project.

·  NEVER place loose papers in the logbook. They are easily lost.

·  ALWAYS date every entry every time you make research notes or an entry in your logbook.

·  ALWAYS use the metric system when measuring or recording amounts. Example: Use centimeters, meters, milliliters, liters NOT inches, feet, cups, or gallons.

Logbook Set-Up:

1.  Label the front cover of the composition book with the following information:

a.  Your first and last name

b.  Osceola Middle School

c.  Teacher Name

2.  Leave the first page blank for your table of contents. This page will be the last thing you complete for your logbook after all entries have been made.

3.  After the table of contents, number the remaining pages of the logbook.

4.  You can use tabs to separate the sections of your logbook.

Logbook Sections: (Each section should start with a new page)

1.  Timeline/Rubric: Tape the timeline onto page 1 of your logbook. It will help keep you on track with due dates. Tape the rubric on pages 2-3.

2.  Topic Information: Follow questions given in class to get your topic approved. All topics must be approved before project can be started.

3.  Problem Statement: Write the research question you have in statement form. The problem statement is the entire purpose for doing your research and completing your experiment. Also include what you hope to achieve from doing this project.

4.  Background Research (Rationale): A minimum of 20-30 facts should be written about your topic that will be used to write your research report. Refer to the “Science Fair Report and Display Guidelines” for what should be included in your research. Include all notes taken while researching in the media center or online. A minimum of 5 sources is required for this project. You must follow proper citation format (see sample section for guidelines). You should also record the source information for your bibliography page. Do this for EVERY website, book, encyclopedia, magazine, or interview that you use for information.

5.  Variables/Hypothesis: Write the test variable, outcome variable, control group, experimental group, and identify all the controlled variables.

Hypothesis: After conducting your research, write a hypothesis as an “If…then…because” statement.

6.  Experimental Setup: Include in this section:

a.  Materials: Make a DETAILED list of all materials you will be using in the experiment. Be specific! For example, if you will be watering plants, you should list the EXACT amount of water you will use. In addition, tape in all receipts for any materials you had to purchase for this project.

b.  Procedures: Make a NUMBERED step-by-step list of everything you will do in the experiment. Your procedures and materials should be so complete that someone could take your logbook and do the same exact experiment.

7.  Risk and Safety: Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed. See the “Science Fair Report and Display Guidelines” for explanations.

8.  Pre-Data Analysis: Explain the calculations you will be doing when you analyze your data.

9.  Data Collection: Remember to date every entry!!! Your detailed observations made throughout the experiment should be recorded in this section. This includes data collected, what you are doing, AND what you see/smell/hear/feel. Be VERY specific about everything going on in the experiment. See the sample page to get an idea of how it should look.

10.  Data Table/Graphs/Results: Include pictures you have taken throughout the experiment, data tables created to organize your data, charts and graphs, and a summary of the data. Summary will include specific analysis of data (to be discussed later in class).

11.  Conclusion: Using your data, discuss the outcome of the experiment. Did your data support your hypothesis? Did it not support your hypothesis? How do you know? What data can you use to prove or disprove your hypothesis?

12.  Reflections: What would you do differently next time? What part of the experiment could be changed to improve the procedures? How could you extend your research?

Sample logbook pages:

Sample Research Entry Sample Materials & Procedures Page

Sample Data Collection Page Sample Results Page with Organized Data

www.schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/.../Science_Fair_Logbook.

TOPIC INFORMATION
1.  What is the question that you are conducting your experiment about?
2.  Is this an experiment or demonstration? Remember, demonstrations are not allowed!
a.  Experiment: Varying a factor to observe the cause and effect.
b.  Demonstration: Showing how something works (no cause and effect)
3.  Brief description of what you are doing.
4.  What are you changing in the experiment (cause)? (Test/Independent variable)
5.  What are you measuring in the experiment (effect)? (Outcome/Dependent variable)?
6.  What METRIC UNIT will you use to collect data? (Centimeters, Meters, Liters. Grams, etc)
7.  How will you get the materials needed for this project?
8.  Can this project be completed in 3 weeks?
9.  How can information from this project be used in the real world?
10.  Do you have access to the internet and a computer at home?
a.  If you do not have internet access, are you able to use internet at a friend’s, parent’s work place, after school, etc?

TOPIC INFORMATION

Directions: Answer all questions, with complete sentences, in your Science Fair Log Book. (If you would

like to type this form and put into your log book, you would need to set the top, bottom, left, and right margins to 1.2 inches.)

Student Name: ______Block ______

Research Plan Rubric

Your final paper should be put together in the order presented in this rubric. All information should be typed in a 12-point font with the exception of the headings.

Total

Missed

/ Points
Missed / Rough Draft Points Missed / Total
Point
Value / RESEARCH PLAN
(Part 1)
------/ ------/ ------/ ------/ QUESTION/PURPOSE
2 / What is the problem or goals of the project
2 / Why are you doing this project
2 / What do you hope to achieve
2 / Grammar and spelling correct
------/ ------/ ------/ ------/ RATIONALE/RESEARCH
2 / Explains experimental topic learned from research (not experiment) in detail
------/ 2 / Paragraphs are used to separate information learned from research
------/ 2 / Clear and easily understood
------/ 2 / Spelling and grammar correct
------/ 2 / Double space type in 12 point font
------/ 2 / 2-4 pages long
------/ ------/ ------/ ------/ VARIABLES/HYPOTHESIS
2 / Test and Outcome variables identified
2 / Control group and experimental group identified
2 / Controlled variables identified
2 / ‘If’ relates to what you are changing (test variable)
2 / ‘Then’ is the outcome variable with prediction to be tested
2 / ‘Because’ part explains why
------/ ------/ ------/ ------/ MATERIALS
2 / List all materials needed to complete project
2 / Given quantities of materials needed in metric units
------/ ------/ ------/ ------/ PROCEDURES
2 / Written as a numerated list of steps
2 / Test/independent and outcome/dependent variables are clearly identified
2 / Control experiment is clearly identified
2 / Instructions to repeat experiment for a total of at least 3 trials
2 / Reader could conduct experiment using given directions
------/ ------/ ------/ ------/ RISK and SAFETY
2 / Identified any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
------/ ------/ ------/ ------/ PRE-DATA ANALYSIS (Calculations that will be used)
2 / Described the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.

------

/ ------ / ------ / ------ / BIBLIOGRAPHY
/ 2 / At least 5 appropriate sources cited
/ 2 / Contains proper bibliographic style
/ PAPER MECHANICS
/ ------ / 2 / Professional in appearance (typed)
/ ------ / 2 / Organized in the appropriate order
/ ------ / 10 / Received by Due Date Yes/No
______
68 / Total Score Earned on Paper

Part 1: Research Plan:

The research plan is completed prior to experimentation and includes the following sections:

· Research question/purpose

· Rationale (research)

· Hypothesis and Variables

· Materials and Procedures

· Risk and Safety

· Pre-Data Analysis (explain the calculations you will be doing)

· Bibliography.

If changes are made during the research, such changes can be added to the original research plan as an addendum, recognizing that some changes may require additional approval.

All projects have to have the proper forms completed prior to experimentation and can be found on the “State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida STEM Competition” website. http://www.ssefflorida.com/rulesforms.html

**All students must complete the following required forms before experimentation and can be found on the website above:

1. Form 1:Checklist for Adult Sponsor

2. Form 1A: Student Checklist

3. Form 1B: Approval Form

See below for additional forms that will be required if your project includes human participants, vertebrates, biological agents, human/vertebrate tissue:

Human participants

· Form 2: Qualified Scientist

· Form 4: Human Participants and Informed Consent Form

· Human Informed Consent Form

Vertebrate Animals

· Form 2: Qualified Scientist

· Form 5A: Vertebrate Animal Form (if performed in school/home/field research site)

· Form 5B: Vertebrate Animal Form (if performed in research facility)

Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents

· Form 2: Qualified Scientist

· Form 3: Risk Assessment

· Form 6A: Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment (microorganisms, blood, body products, body fluids, etc)

Human/Vertebrate Animal Tissue

· Form 2: Qualified Scientist

· Form 6A: Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment

· Form 6B: Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form

**Depending upon your project, there may be additional required forms that will need approval prior to experimentation.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS / PURPOSE

(Part of research plan)

RESEARCH QUESTIONS/ PURPOSE / Point Value / Rough Draft Points Missed
What is the problem or goals of the project? / 2
Why are you doing this project? / 2
What do you hope to achieve? / 2
Grammar and spelling correct? / 2
Research Question
·  What are the question(s) will your experiment answer?
·  What are you trying to find out?
·  Make your question interesting since you will be working on this project for a long period of time.
·  Your question should also be interesting to attract other readers.
Purpose
·  No first person or personal pronouns
·  Explain why are you doing this project
·  Why did THIS experiment interest you?
·  Should be a paragraph and single spaced

Example Research Question/Purpose:

“What is the smallest sample size that can accurately predict how many jellybeans are in a jar?” The purpose of the project is to see what is the smallest sample size of people, that when their results are averaged, can accurately predict how many jellybeans that are in a jar. This experiment was conducted to get a better understanding of sample sizes and to show others what is the best sample size that should be used in their experiments. In addition, many things that people do today involves math, so this project was based off of math as it took many calculations to determine the outcome of the experiments.

RESEARCH RUBRIC

/ Point
Value / Rough Draft Points MISSED
Explains experimental topic learned from research (not experiment) in detail / 6
Paragraphs are used to separate information learned from research / 2
Clear and easily understood / 2
Written in researcher’s own words / 2
Spelling and grammar correct / 2
Double space type in 12 point font / 2
2-4 pages long / 2

RATIONALE/RESEARCH

(Part of research plan)

RATIONALE/RESEARCH / Point Value / Rough Draft Points Missed
Explain experimental topic learned from research (not experiment) in detail. / 2
Paragraphs are used to separate information learned from research. / 2
Clear and easily understood. / 2
Spelling and grammar correct / 2
Double space type in 12 point font / 2
2-4 pages long / 2
RESEARCH
· You will need about five sources from a variety of reliable sources/databases. Log onto your student portal and click “Library Media Resources” and then you will find “Gale Resources” where you can access various databases for searches.
· You will need to record 25-30 facts from your sources.
·  Assume the reader doesn’t know anything about your question/problem and you are explaining them all there is to know about your topic and your variables. This information is based on what you already know about your topic and what you learned from your background research.
·  For example, if you are doing an experiment on paper towel absorption you would write about what paper towels are and how they absorb water. You would also include what makes each brand of paper towel (that you will use in your experiment) unique in absorbing liquids (quilting, double-ply, etc).
Paragraphs 1-2=Introduction to problem/question including why your problem/question is important and general information about the topic (include statistics to show the significance of your problem). End this section with the question that you are trying to answer.
Paragraphs 3-6+=Fully describe the experiment group (changes of test/independent variable). For example, if you change soil, clay and sand for planting beans; describe the properties of soil, clay and sand completely including why they were chosen for your project. Find this information from books, journals, and/or websites. **DO NOT talk about the actual experiment because you haven’t performed it yet.
Paragraphs 6-7=Clearly detail what is already known about your problem including a description of the relationship between the test/independent and outcome/dependent variables. For example, explain why the bean plants grow taller in soil than clay or sand. Explain why you are measuring height instead of counting leaves or measuring growth rate. Try to find this information from books, journals and/or websites.
Last Paragraph=Summary/conclusion. Summarize the importance, variables and relationship.
·  Background information written in expository style writing (third person). No first person or personal pronouns.
·  Written in your OWN words. Do not cut and paste information from sources.
·  Should be 2-4 pages double-spaced typed with size 12 font. To double space on Microsoft Word. Click “Home”, then go to “paragraph and click “line spacing.” Choose double space. DO NOT ENTER TO DOUBLE SPACE BETWEEN EACH SENTENCE!

MAKING A RESEARCH PLAN (From Sciencebuddies.org)