JISD Science Fair th Grade

What is a Science Fair? Your chance to explore –Areas of science you like –Areas you want to know more about –You could be the person that discovers a cure for cancer, or the person that creates a better tasting broccoli! The experience to teach others about your topic – You are the teacher Teach adults Teach your class Your chance to learn from others A Competition –Compete against your class and grade –Compete against others in 5 th grade The “Fear Factor” –Helps you overcome fears of talking and presenting your work to people

The Project 5 th graders must turn in Participation Agreement Perform an Experiment Demonstration: Show how a volcano works Experiment: Test different forces to see which makes a volcano explode 20 feet high Be Creative Don’t do the same ole, same ole Entry/Proposal forms are due for ALL participants Must get approval before you begin your project Weekly assignments Each scientific method section will be typed One or two sections due each week How to write each assignment given each week By the end, your report will be finished Projects due December 1, 2014

5 th Grade Project Categories Life Science – Botany Life Science – Animal & Human Chemistry Earth Science – –Including geology, mineralogy, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, seismology, geography, etc. Environmental Sciences – –Could include studies that address issues involving pollution of the environment (air, water and land), sources of pollution, and the control of polluting sources and other areas of ecology Physics – –Including areas of force, motion, magnetism, etc. Space Science

Mandatory Criteria Weekly assignments turned in on time Must be an experiment –Multiple trials: 3 or more You may need to perform all trials at the same time if doing a project that involves plants, traveling, or expensive equipment Displaying project –No live plants, animals, human or animal body parts or body fluids –No chemicals or hazardous materials (poisons, knives, dry ice,etc.) –Final report in front of board –Make an Impression - use fabric or things from experiment Project board –36”x48” –Purchased through school $3.00 –All Scientific Method steps displayed in order –Data graphs/charts and Pictures –No name or your face on board Typed Report: –Includes all scientific method steps –Includes variable and controls stated –Data graphs/charts and Pictures –Must tell when the experiment will start and end –Acknowledgements and References

Judging Creative Ability (30 points) –Focus is on what the student contributed and how creative the approach was to solving the problem Scientific Thought/Engineering Goals (30 points) –Is problem clearly stated? –Are variables recognized and defined? Were controls necessary, and if so, were they correctly used? –Are limitations of the data recognized? –What further research is indicated? Thoroughness (15 points) –How completely has the problem been covered? –Are conclusions based on a single experiment or on replication? Skill (15 points) –Does the project exhibit evidence of the student her/himself having the requisite skills necessary to design, implement, and complete the project? Is there evidence the student worked largely on her or his own? –What assistance was received? Clarity (10 points) –Can the student explain the purpose, procedure, and conclusions? –Does the presentation suggest evidence of the student having prepared the report by her/himself?

So Why Should You Participate? You have the unique opportunity to: –Compete against other students in your class and in your grade 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place award for each category –Compete against other students in 5 th grade Overall winner will be selected in each category Overall winner goes on to district fair –Compete in the JISD District Science Fair in December Competing against other 5 th graders from Caddo Elementary, Elder Elementary, Plum Creek Elementary, North Joshua Elementary and Staples Elementary

Are you going to participate in the Science Fair? Remember: Parent Permission Form and Category Selection are due September 15 th