1. Science Fair
May 2015

2. Why Science Fair?
To learn, understand, and apply the scientific method.
To acquire skills of research using a variety of resources such as the Internet, interviews, books, magazines, etc.
To help develop skills of interpretation and analysis of data.

3. Why Science Fair?
To help develop skills in communicating both verbally and in writing.
To stimulate interest, curiosity, and desire to explore the mysteries of the world.
To show a connection between what is learned in the classroom and how it applies to real life.

4. When is the Science Fair?
Our Second Annual Science Fair will be held and judged at our school from May 11-15, and showcased during Open House on May 20, 2015.
You will be given a detailed schedule of due dates for different parts of the project at a later time.

5. Guidelines
Students are NOT allowed to do projects that are potentially dangerous.
Projects involving testing with controlled substances such as alcohol, tobacco, etc. are NOT allowed.
All students are required to complete and submit a science fair project.
You may work with another student in your class.

6. Teacher Approval
Teachers must approve your projects before you begin. We will consider safety, complexity, availability of resources, and appropriateness.

7. What Kinds of Projects are Allowed?
Experimental projects that use the scientific method with a testable question are allowed.
Ex. How Does Caffeine Affect the Growth Rate of Roses?
Projects NOT allowed:
Research Projects
Ex. What is a Tornado?
Models
Ex. A model of a volcano, cell, or human body.

8. Science Project Categories
Physical: Projects related to the physical sciences such as physics, chemistry, and astronomy that deal primarily with non-living materials.
Example: Does Storage Temperature Affect Orange Juice’s Acidity?
Example: Evaporation Rate of Water…What Effect Does Surface Area Have on the Evaporation Rate of Water?

9. Science Project Categories
Biological: Projects that deal with the vital processes of living organisms and how these processes are affected as a result of manipulating the variable.
Example: Bold Mold…What Factors Drive Mold Growth?
Example: Does Eye Color Affect a Person’s Ability to Identify Colors?
Example: Lung Capacity…Do Boys and Girls Have the Same Lung Capacity?

10. Science Project Categories
Behavioral: Projects related to how different factors relate to human behaviors and performance.
Example: How Long Does it Take to Remember Something?
Example: Music and Memory…How Does Music Affect Concentration?
Example: Does the Weather Really Affect Mood?

11. How Do I Get Started? To begin deciding on a topic, you should
consider the following questions…
What are my interests?
What would I like to learn?
Do I have a question about something?

12. Turn Your Idea Into a Project!
Once you come up with an idea, determine what question will be answered through the project. This will be the purpose of the entire project. Turn in your question for teacher approval!

13. Science Fair Logbook
When you are ready to begin your project, everything must be recorded in a notebook. This is called your Project Log, or Logbook.
Use a composition book or spiral notebook.
Organize the logbook into 6 sections:
Daily Activity Log 4. Data/Observations
Background Info 5. Findings
Scientific Method 6. Conclusions

14. Science Fair Logbook
The log starts on the day your question is approved.
Each new entry must be dated.
This log is handwritten.
All observations and metric measurements are to be recorded.

15. Logbook Daily Activity Log Background Info
Includes personal thoughts, plans, and actions.
Ex. 2/2/15 - Did background research on Internet today. Notes are recorded in background info section of log.
Background Info
Includes research from books, Internet, interviews, etc.
Include a bibliography in this section.

16. Logbook Scientific Method Purpose (Research Question)
Hypothesis (1-2 sentences)
Variables
Equipment & Materials
Procedure

17. Logbook Data and Observations Findings Conclusion
Use tables, notes, pictures, etc. to record your experimental results.
Findings
--Interpret your results. What do they say?
Conclusion
State whether or not your hypothesis was correct and why.

18. Project Overview: 1. Purpose
State your purpose as a question.
There are two preferred formats for writing your question:
How does ________ affect the ________ of ________? or
What are the effects of ________ on the _______ of __________?

19. Project Overview: Variables
You must have variables in your experimental procedure.
Independent Variable—the variable you are testing.
Dependent Variable—the variable that you will record and measure. It’s changes “depend” on the independent variable.
Control Variable—all aspects of the experiment that remain constant.
Ex. “How Does Caffeine Affect the Growth Rate of Roses?”

20. Project Overview 2. Research
Research your problem. This must be done AFTER you form your question, but BEFORE you form your hypothesis.
Become an expert on your topic.
Use the Internet, books, professionals, magazines, journal articles, etc.
Write down any ideas and where you got them. This will be needed for your Bibliography.

21. Project Overview 3. Form Your Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a statement about what you think will happen in your experiment.
It is always stated in a positive manner.
Avoid statements like “I think,” and “I predict.”
The hypothesis must be in the form of “If__________, then________.”

22. Project Overview 4. Plan Your Procedure
The procedure is the step-by-step experiment that you will carry out to test your hypothesis.

23. Project Overview: 5. Gather Your Materials
You must provide a detailed list of everything used in the experiment.
This includes all needed equipment as well.
Include what, how much, and what kind of things used.
Non-Example: Example:
Water 6-liters of distilled water
Seeds 10 Lima Bean Seeds

24. Project Overview: 6. Procedure/Method
You are now ready to conduct your experiment.
Refer to your step-by-step procedure so that you do not make any mistakes.
Be sure to observe, measure, and record data in your log throughout the experiment.
Remember, the more times you carry out the experiment the more reliable and accurate the results.

25. Project Overview: 7. Analyze the Data
Analyze the results of your experiment.
What does the data say?
What do your measurements show?
These are your “findings.”

26. Project Overview: 8. Draw a Conclusion
What happened during the experiment?
Did you prove your hypothesis correct or incorrect?
You do not lose points if your hypothesis is wrong.
What did you learn from your experiment?

27. Project Overview: 9. Prepare Display Board
Make neat and attractive titles for your display board.
Include a title for the following:
Title
Purpose (Question)
Hypothesis
Procedure
Results
Conclusion
Data & Graphics

28. Project Overview: 10. Prepare Display Board
Prepare your diagrams, pictures, charts, graphs, tables, and notes.
The purpose of the display board is to show what you have done.
The board should be visually appealing.

29. Project Overview: 11. Construct your Display Board

30. Sample Presentation Boards

31. Sample Presentation Boards

32. Sample Presentation Boards

33. Finally…THE END Are you excited????
Start thinking about your topics NOW!!!
The Second Annual ACRMA#7 Science Fair will be here before you know it!!!
Any questions?