Super Science Fair Projects Presented by: Mrs. Larson, Mr. Glenn, and Ms. Domagalski

The Essential Guide to Helping Students with Science Projects  Why are they assigned?  What are the key elements?  How to survive the process?

Why are Science Fair Projects Assigned?  Creative approach to problem solving  To explore science topics and career paths  Develop organizational skills  Time management strategies  Public speaking skills  Library skills  Self-pride

Finding the Right Topic  Areas of science you most enjoy  Choose topics you know something about  Expand on previous experiment

Demonstrations vs. Experiments Demonstrations Show a scientific concept and how it will workShow a scientific concept and how it will work May be interesting to view, but does not provide new informationMay be interesting to view, but does not provide new information Similar to a modelSimilar to a model Experiments… Identify a problem (How will it effect…?)Identify a problem (How will it effect…?) Require a hypothesisRequire a hypothesis Can be measuredCan be measured Are supported by dataAre supported by data Provide new informationProvide new information May give unexpected resultsMay give unexpected results

The Scientific Method  Purpose/Question  Hypothesis  Materials  Procedures  Results –Data, Graphs  Conclusion

Purpose/Question  Focus on only one variable. –How does _________ affect ________? –Determine if the appropriate resources are available, i.e., time and equipment

Hypothesis  Makes an educated guess based on your research into the topic  Tells what the results you expect from the experiment  Shows the relationship between variables –“If……, then…..”

Experimental Design  Independent / Manipulated Variable –Only one per experiment –Only variable deliberately changed in experiment  Dependent / Responding Variable –One specific response that will be measured (i.e. size of plant)  Constants –Aspects of the experiment that remain the same

Materials  List all the materials used in the experiment.

Procedure  Clearly list the steps used to conduct the experiment  Make sure to include information on the variables  Be specific  Write the verb first (just like a recipe)

Data / Results  Record observations  Perform repeated trials of the experiment  Use charts, photos, tables and graphs  Identify responding and manipulated variables  Photos are for “Experiment in Progress”

Analyze Data / Results  Make connections and interpretations from the data recorded.  Ask yourself: –Are there any patterns? –What facts were produced?

Formulate Conclusions  Do the results support the hypothesis?  Describe the purpose  Explain the findings  Recommendation for further study  What you would do differently next time?  Write in paragraph form

Research Paper 1.Title page 2.Abstract (Must be on a Separate Paper) 3.Introduction (Purpose) 4.The Research Design (Materials & Procedure) 5.Results (Data/chart/graph) 6.Discussion of Results 7.Conclusion 8.Experimental Design (Must be on a Separate Paper) 9.Works cites (Bibliography)

Tip for Great Science Fair Project Presentations  Have I displayed my project in a neat and creative manner?  Have I edited my writing?  Are the items on my display board in logical sequence?  Can I explain my project to another person?