Science Fair

Science Fair Requirements Groups: 1 or 2 people may work on a project. Partners must be members of the same class. Partner work is generally more labor intensive!

DUE DATES December 4th – Teams & project topics (at least 3 ideas. Must be written down (one page per project/team). December 5th – Approval by Science teacher. December 11th – Big Question, Hypothesis, & Materials list, as well as Project Outline; indicate which steps have been completed & which steps still need to be done. December 18th – Procedures are due. January 16th 2018 – Projects due by 8:30 A.M. Late entries will not be allowed into the library (media center) for judging but will still be graded without full credit!

NOTICE: Students doing projects requiring HUMAN or ANIMAL involvement MUST HAVE approval forms completed before beginning their project FROM SRC. See your Science teacher if you have questions regarding this requirement.

PROJECTS Science fair projects must demonstrate the Scientific Method. Models of the solar systems or volcanoes will NOT be placed in the library for judging. Projects must have a testable hypothesis, a manipulated variable, and proper controls. You must collect & present data.

NO LIVE ANIMALS can be used in the experiments without prior SRC approval forms completed & on file with your Science teachers. Any food/ liquids may not be put in the media center so make sure you have pictures on your board.

Ideas & Guidelines for experiments can be obtained from the FMS library (media center) or a public library (media center). There are books & websites which suggest appropriate experiments.

Presentation Requirements: The science fair requires that a project be presented in tow ways – a DISPLAY & a BOUND RESEARCH REPORT

A freestanding display is required A freestanding display is required. Maximum dimensions are 48 inches wide, 108 inches tall & 30 inches deep. Standard tri-fold boards available from Wal-Mart or an office supply store are fine. Homemade display boards must stand up without additional support. Cover brown cardboard or bare wood with a color. Manufactured display boards are available in white or black. Board must include: Project Title, Data Tables – Graphs, Charts/Visual Displays, procedures, data analysis, problem, hypothesis, materials & conclusion

Problem Project Title Hypothesis Data Tables, Graphs, Data Analysis Procedures Hypothesis Data Tables, Graphs, Data Analysis Materials Charts, Visual Displays Conclusion

DISPLAY All information on the display should be typed (Headings in a large font) or printed NEATLY. Readability is essential, so typing is preferred. Mounting information on contrast background adds to the presentation but is not required.

Research Report: The research report must be placed in a report binder or folder & must accompany the display. The report needs to be in the following format: Title Page: Include the project title, student’s names (first & last), name of the science teacher, category of project, Table of Contents: Standard Table of Contents (All pages in the report must be numbered; Page 1 starts after the Table of Contents)

Research Report cont’d: 3. Statement of Purpose: 2-3 sentences that explain why you found the topic interesting & what you expected to discover, Hypothesis: The prediction about what you expected the result of the experiment to be, Materials: A list of all supplies used in the experiment,

Research Report cont’d. Procedures: Step-by-step instructions that explain how the experiment was done. There needs to be enough detail so that another person could repeat the experiment exactly as you have done it. Observations/Results: Include the data collected in the experiment in an organized manner (Tables & Graphs are required.) Describe what happened, but do not present the final conclusion in this section, Conclusion: Brief statement of whether the hypothesis was correct or not. If the hypothesis was not correct, briefly explain why. Remember – showing a hypothesis to be incorrect is still good science. (5-7 sentences)

Research Report cont’d. Research: In your own words, describe any background research (information) that you read that helped you set up the experiment include it in your report. Bibliography: A list of all sources you consulted in doing the project (books, magazines, encyclopedias, internet sites, etc…) The standard format will be distributed at a later date. Acknowledgements: Thank the individuals who helped you & briefly describe what they did to assist you. (people you interviewed, parents, teachers, etc…) Make sure you give credit to anyone who took pictures by putting picture by…..) If you include pictures you must give credit below the picture to the photographer

Categories 1. Biological Science A: Animal Science, medicine & human health, microbiology 2. Biological Science B: Behavioral & social Science, biochemistry, cellular & molecular biology, plant Science 3. Chemistry: Science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems 4. Earth/Environmental Science: Geology, mineralogy, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, environmental science 5. Physics: Science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two at various levels 6. Technology, Engineering: Application of scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses.

What to do……What to do??

Dear Tim and Moby,

Medicine & Human Health Biological Science A Animal Science Medicine & Human Health Microbiology

Behavioral & Social Science Biochemistry Cellular & Molecular Biology Biological Science B Behavioral & Social Science Biochemistry Cellular & Molecular Biology Plant Science

Chemistry Science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic and molecular systems

Earth/Environmental Science Geology Mineralogy Physiography (Physical Geography) Oceanography Meteorology Climatology

Physics Science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two at various levels

Technology and Engineering Application of scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses.

Farmville Middle Science Fair