Science Fair Project October 11, 2017 Hello Parents and Guardians, The time has come for all AIE students to become mini Scientists! Science Projects play a pivotal role in teaching students the scientific method, as it gives students an opportunity to apply their knowledge first hand. The exposure of understanding the different components of an experiment, will help promote critical thinking, creativity, and spark curiosity. An individual science project is REQUIRED for all students. The science project is divided into a number of assignments, which all have their respective due dates. Each assignment will be an individual grade. The teacher will facilitate an explanation of all the different assignments for the science project. It is important that every student successfully completes each part by the specified due date. This is to ensure that all assignments are completed before the final project is due. Final completed Science Fair Projects are due November 27, 2017. You must do the following: Read the attached Science Fair Packet Parents: Review and initial beside all the due dates on pg. 1 by Monday, October 16, 2017. Review all the assignments after they have been returned to check for corrections. All final projects must be finalized on a tri-fold board 36in. X 48in. VERY IMPORTANT: SAVE all the assignments onto a flash drive or your personal computer to access later for the completed Science Fair Project. This will allow you to have the entire project by the end of the last assignment deadline. We are very excited to embark on this scientific journey. Thank you, 3rd-5th Grade Team

Academy for International Education Charter School Science Fair Packet 2017-2018 Name: _____________________________

Parent initial: _______ Adapted for Grade 3-5 Ms. Corporan Science Project 2017-2018 Assignment Due Dates Week 1: October 9-13 Parent initial: _______ Science Fair Packet is distributed The teacher will explain the expectations for the science projects. The student must choose their science topics for teacher review. Week 2: October 16-20 Background Information *This section is not included on your Display Board. Week 3: October 23-27 Hypothesis   Materials Control/ Variables Week 4: October 30 - Nov. 3 Procedures Week 5: November 6-10 Experiment/ Data/ Graphs Results and Conclusion Week 6 : November 13-17th Abstract Bibliography Week 7: Nov 20th – Nov. 24th Work on completing the display board. Week 8: Nov 27th – Dec 1st COMPLETED CLASS SCIENCE PROJECTS DUE! Oral Presentations, SHARING, Wednesday- December 6th, 2016 Science Fair Night -Elementary Grades 1 Adapted for Grade 3-5 Ms. Corporan

Adapted for Grade 3-5 Ms. Corporan Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Follow the steps below to make your science project experience fun and easy: Choose a topic: Choose a topic you will enjoy! Go online and search for a project of your choice. Select a science topic that is easily measured. The results should be instant or clearly observed. Visit the links provided in on pg. For ideas. Type: After you turn in each of the steps, and it has been checked by your teacher, please be sure to type it and save it onto a word document. This will alleviate having to type everything towards the end. Pace yourself: Make sure that you follow the deadlines and keep a steady pace so that as you get to the end, very little is left. Each assignment has its own deadline. Corrections: Review the assignments that your child turns in. If any corrections are necessary, you will find the correction on the assignment that was turned in. 5. Ask: Please email your child’s science teacher if you have any questions along the way 6. HAVE FUN!  Scientific Method The scientific method is the process in which scientific problems are tested. What are the steps to the Scientific Method? Title- Make this catchy and fun! The title of your project is not written in a question form. For example: Paper Towel Strong! Problem Statement- This step is to identify the problem. This step must be written in a question. The question must inquire something measurable. For example: What paper towel is the strongest? Hypothesis- On this step you will make a scientific prediction on what you think will be the results of your project. This step must be written in “If…then… because.” form. For example: If I use Bounty, Viva, and Scott paper towel, then Bounty paper towel will absorb the most, because the material used to make the product is thicker than the other Viva and Scott. Adapted for Grade 3-5 Ms. Corporan 2

Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 4. Materials- This step will list all the supplies needed to complete the experiment. This step must be written in bullet form. For example: Materials: Bounty Scott Viva Cup Water Graduated cylinder Background Information- This step will help gain some insight on the topic you selected. You will research the project. For example: You will look up the materials used for each paper towel to see what makes them absorb. On this step, you can write a simple paragraph to explain your findings. If you decide to write more that is fine. 6. Procedures- This step is written in numeric form. It will list the steps to completing the science project you are doing. Procedures: On a large bowl, empty 8 oz. of water. Dip a sheet of Bounty Paper into the bowl and take. Take out the sheet from the bowl. Using a cup, wring the paper towel sheet and release all the water from it. Poor the water from the cup into the graduated cylinder to see how much water the towel absorbed. Repeat steps 1-3 for the other two paper towels being tested. Data- After you have completed your experiment, be sure to write down your observations. You can use graphs or charts to show what you are observing. You may also use pictures. Results- This step is written in 3-4 sentences summarizing what your data tables and graphs show. In this section, you also need to state whether your data supported, or failed to support, your hypothesis. 9. Conclusion/Application- On this step you will write what happened after completing your experiment. The student will write two paragraphs. 3 Adapted for Grade 3-5

Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Paragraph 1 will answer the following questions: 1. Did the variable(s) tested cause a change when compared to the standard you are using? 2. What patterns do you see from your graph analysis that exist between your variables? Did you collect enough data? 3. Do you need to conduct more trails of this exact same experiment? 4. Were there sources of error that may have effected your experiment? If so, identify them. 5. List at least one thing you would do differently next time in order to improve your experimental design. Explain why you would make that change. Paragraph 2: How could this project and information be used in the real world? Who would benefit from knowing the type of information displayed on your board? 10. Abstract- This step of the scientific method will take the longest to complete. On this step, you will write a summary of your entire project. You will start will the problem statement and work your way all the way to your conclusion. 11. Bibliography- You will list all the references you used to complete your project. You are required to list at least 5 references that were used to gather information or complete their project. Examples of references include websites, books, class notes, videos, interviews etc. 4 Adapted for Grade 3-5

Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Websites That May Be Helpful for Projects and Inventions: http://www.sciencebob.com/sciencefair/index.php http://www.invention-help.com/invention-help-books.htm http://pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parentseducators/DS_Invent_Guide_Full.pdf (for teachers) http://www.inventivekids.com/2010/10/05/step-by-step-guide-to-inventing/ http://www.sciencebuddies.org http://www.showboard.com http://science.dadeschools.net/ http://www.proteacher.com/110031.shtml http://www.sciedunet.org http://sciencepage.org/scifair.htm http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic/science-fair-projects-ideas.htm http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/projectguide/ http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/elementary-science-fair-projects.html www.kidsinvent.org www.howstuffworks.com http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/EDTEC596/Project1/Inventors.html (teachers only) http://ctinventionconvention.org/ http://library.thinkquest.org/J002783/InvCon.htm http://all-science-fair-projects.com/ 5 Adapted for Grade 3-5

SCIENCE PROJECT PLANNING FORM Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Name ________________________ Date ________________________   SCIENCE PROJECT PLANNING FORM   Topic:  ______________________________________________________________________ Problem Statement: (It is written in the form of a question.) ______________________________________________________________________________ Approved by teacher: Yes ____ No ____ Due: October 9-13, 2017 Do Research to collect background information. Write a brief summary of the background information you gathered below. Keep a record of the background sources in this section for later use in your Abstract and Bibliography. Due: October 16-20 6 Adapted for Grade 3-5

Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Form a Hypothesis: An educated guess of what you think will happen. Use if…then…because. ______________________________________________________________________________ Due: October 23-27 Experiment Design:   Variables: Manipulated / Independent Variable (What do I change?) Due: October 23-27 Controls /Constant Variables (What do I keep the same in the experiment?) Materials (List form) 1. ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. ___________________________________________________________________________ 3. ___________________________________________________________________________ 4. ___________________________________________________________________________ 5. ___________________________________________________________________________ 6. ___________________________________________________________________________ 7. ___________________________________________________________________________ 8. ___________________________________________________________________________ 9. ___________________________________________________________________________ 10. __________________________________________________________________________ 7 Adapted for Grade 3-5

Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Procedures (Use a step by step numbered list. ) 1. ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. ___________________________________________________________________________ 3. ___________________________________________________________________________ 4. ___________________________________________________________________________ 5. ___________________________________________________________________________ Due: October 30 - Nov. 3 Data: Create a data table to collect and record data observed and measured during the experiment. You can also use photographs.) ______________________________________________________________________________ Due: November 6-10 Results: (Record collected data from the experiment in a narrative summary form.) Due: November 6-10 Adapted for Grade 3-5 8

Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Conclusion (Paragraph 1): Answer the following questions to complete the Conclusion: What was investigated? Was your hypothesis supported by the data? What were the major findings? ______________________________________________________________________________ Due: November 6-10 Application (Paragraph 2): Answer the following questions to complete the Application: How can the investigation be improved? How can you use the findings from this investigation in your day-to-day life? What new question(s) has your experiment lead you to ask that could be tested in a new investigation. Bibliography: Sources used to gather the background information (internet sites, books, magazines, etc.) 1. ______________________________________________________________________ 2. ______________________________________________________________________ 3. ______________________________________________________________________ 4. ______________________________________________________________________ 5. ______________________________________________________________________ Due: November 13-24th Adapted for Grade 3-5 9

Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Abstract Write three or more paragraphs. Include what was being investigated and the hypothesis. Write about the procedures followed in the investigation. Describe and explain your results. Explain your conclusion and state if your hypothesis was supported or not. Give possible reasons. Last write about your project’s applications. Due: November 13-24th Parent Initial: ______________________________________________________________________________ Adapted for Grade 3-5 10

Elementary Safety Display Guidelines Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Elementary Safety Display Guidelines 1. Anything which could be hazardous to the public, the exhibitor, or other exhibitors are PROHIBITED. 2. Nothing sharp or pointed. 3. Organisms: No invertebrate organisms live or dead or plants may be displayed, (Reminder: No vertebrates, fungi, mold, bacteria were allowed to be part of the experiment.) 4. No chemicals of any kind may be displayed. (No prescription drugs, dangerous and illegal substances were allowed as part of the experiment.) For example: No acids, dilute or strong (i.e., vinegar, lemon juice) No bases, dilute or strong (i.e., baking soda) No salt solutions 5. No flammable substances may be displayed. An alternative solution to displaying any of the above items that were allowed as part of the project is to take photographs of the substances that were used or use a digital camera and create large pictures with a computer printer for display on your board. No identifiable humans or their parts may be displayed in photos. All projects will be inspected for adherence to Science Fair Safety Guidelines by the classroom teacher or the school Science Fair Committee. Failure to follow these guidelines will be grounds for exclusion from the school and/or District Science Fair. In addition it will also affect the final project grade. Adapted for Grade 3-5 11

Samples of a display board: Science Fair Guide 2017-2018 Display Board: Your Science project must be displayed on a 36in. X 48in. tri-fold. You can be creative and decorate your board to your liking. Be sure to include all the steps of the Scientific method. *Reference= Bibliography Samples of a display board: Adapted for Grade 3-5 12

Thank you! 13