Science Fair Informational Night January 5, 2012 3:00pm and 6:00pm

Welcome! Overall Perceptive: Notebook Display Board with Presentation

Notebook 16 pages of information Title Page, Table of Contents, Abstract, Problem, Details of Testing, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedures, Data Chart, Graph, Conclusion, Expansion, Application, Limitations, and Bibliography However, the order of the notebook is not the order of completion.

Display Board Abstract Problem Hypothesis Materials TITLE Data Chart and Graph **This middle section should be decorated and have visuals Procedures Conclusion Application (how this project applies to real life)

Packets Received Science Fair Project Handbook Science Fair Project Step-by-Step Packet

Science Fair Project Handbook Letter to parents/ guardians Timeline of Due Dates and Materials Needed Project Proposal: Due Jan. 11 This is just an easy overview of your child’s project. This will allow teachers to see what the child is planning to do, as well as allowing the student to think through his/her project ahead of time.

Science Fair Project STEP-by-STEP Packet Detailed step-by-step packet that allows students to complete due assignments easily. While completing the due assignments, refer to the rubrics to verify needed items as well as point value. Rubrics: Grading Period 4 Rubric Grading Period 5 Rubric Display Board Rubric

Let’s Look at an Example

Problem * What is the effect of ______________ on ______________? Example: What is the effect of a mechanical pencil versus a regular No.2 pencil on classwork time?

Details of Testing Control Variables: items in the original environment that are going to be constant and will not be changing during the experiment Students are selected at random. Same exact No.2 pencils, mechanical pencils, pencil sharpeners, and paragraphs are used. Dependent Variables: what you are going to be observing, as well as what is changing as a result from the independent variable Timers will be observing the number of times pencil sharpening is initiated. Timers will be observing the number of clicks the mechanical pencil is initiated Timers will also be timing the length of time to complete the cursive writing with each pencil. Independent Variables: : one item changed in environment to see its effect on the dependent variable The writing utensil is being changed, either a mechanical pencil or a regular No.2 pencil.

Hypothesis “If _____________, then __________________.” Example: If a mechanical pencil and a regular No.2 pencil are used to write the exact same paragraph, then the mechanical pencil will allow the assignment to be completed faster.

Material List List all materials and equipment that are going to be used. All materials need to be in the metric system Example: 5 students selected at random 5 unsharpened No.2 pencils 5 hand pencil sharpeners 5 mechanical pencils 5 selected timers 5 stopwatches 10 blank lined sheets of paper 5 prepared paragraph copies

Procedure List 1. Detailed explanation of how you will conduct your experiment to test your hypothesis, using step- by –step instructions! 2. Be sure to be very specific! 3. Your procedure should be like a recipe—another person should be able to perform your experiment following your procedure. Test this with a friend or parent to make sure you have not forgotten anything.

Procedure List Example 1. Select five students at random. 2. Pass out needed materials (copy of paragraph facing down, blank lined paper, unsharpened pencil, stopwatches to the timers) 3. Explain to both the timers and the participant that when you say go, they will flip over the sheet of paper with the paragraph, sharpen your pencil, and begin writing in cursive. The timer will be responsible for timing the moment you say go, until the participant completes writing the paragraph. Also, the timer will tally the number of times other than the beginning sharpening, how many times he/she uses the hand pencil sharpener. 4. Students will then record data into a chart. 5. Next day, the exact same students will be given the exact same paragraph, blank lined paper, a new mechanical pencil, and stopwatches. 6. Students will be timed again in completing the copying of the exact paragraph, yet this time, using a mechanical pencil. The timer will be responsible for timing as soon as you say go, and until the moment that the participant completes the paragraph in cursive. During timing, the timer will also record how many times the student initiates clicking the top to produce lead. 7. Students will record data into chart.

Mechanical pencil Vs. Regular No.2 Pencil Title Page Mechanical pencil Vs. Regular No.2 Pencil

Table of Contents Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………3 Problem …………………..……………………………………..…………………4 Details of Testing ……………………………..…………………..………………5 Hypothesis ……………………………………………………..…………………..6 Materials ………………………………………………………..………………7 Procedures ……………………..………………………………….………………8 Data Chart …………………….……………………………………………………9 Graph ……….………………………………………………………………………10 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………11 Expansion …………………………………………………………………………12 Application …………………………………………………………………………13 Limitations …………………………………………………………………………14 Acknowledgments………..…………………………………………………………15 Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………16

Data Chart Regular No.2 Pencil Mechanical Pencil Participant # # of Pencil Sharpening Time to complete 1 9 mins 25 sec. 2 5 20 mins 30 sec. 3 15 mins 22 sec. 4 10 mins 12 sec. 19 mins 50 sec Mechanical Pencil Participant # # of Initiated Clicks Time to complete 1 4 8 mins 17 sec. 2 3 11 mins 4 sec. 17 mins 47 sec. 9 mins 37 sec. 5 16 mins 43 sec.

Graph

Conclusion At least two paragraphs (4-6 sentences) in length Any pattern or trends you noticed? Restates and answers the problem question, Restates hypothesis Do your results reflect your hypothesis? Why or why not? Brief explanation of results and how you came to the conclusion

Conclusion Example After experimenting to answer “What is the effect of a mechanical pencil versus a regular No. 2 pencil on classwork time,” I found that a mechanical pencil and No.2 pencil have a great impact of class work in school. It takes longer for a student to copy a paragraph in cursive handwriting using a No.2 pencil, than a student using a mechanical pencil. Due to my findings, I can prove that my hypothesis was correct. My hypothesis was “if a mechanical pencil and a regular No.2 pencil are used to write the exact same paragraph, then the mechanical pencil will allow the assignment to be completed faster.” It took 4 out of 5 students longer in time to use a No.2 pencil than a mechanical pencil. My results showed that Student One took 1.14 minutes longer to write with a No.2 pencil than a mechanical pencil, while Student Two took 9.43 minutes longer using a No.2 to complete. Student Three was the unique case, in which this student took 2.41 minutes longer to complete using a mechanical pencil. Student Four took only 0.58 minutes longer using a No.2 pencil. However, Student Five took 3.11 minutes longer using the No.2 pencil than the mechanical pencil. Thus, concluding that typically a mechanical pencil allows students to complete a written assignment faster than a No.2 pencil.

Expansion What can be done in the future to improve this project? (In third person) Example: To improve this experiment, students will begin with a sharpened pencil instead of an unsharpened pencil. The data collected will show a more accurate view of student’s progress due to the writing device.

Application How can the information/data be applied to everyday life? (In third person) Example: The information gathered would give insight to teachers, students, and parents how much time is spent sharpening a pencil versus clicking a mechanical pencil. This might lead to more use of mechanical pencils in the classroom to prevent a loss of class work time.

Limitation A good explanation of everything in your project that may cause room for error in results, including items out of your control. Example: Students have seen the paragraph before, so it may have been quicker to write the paragraph the second time around. How the students are gripping the pencils may have an effect on the writing device. Perhaps the hand held pencil sharpener was not effective.

Acknowledgements I would like to say thank you to… Example: I would like to say thank you to my class for assisting in our science project, especially the students involved in the testing. I would like to say thank you to the students and teachers that donated the needed items to complete the experiment.

Bibliography Follow the directions on the step-by-step packet Example: VanCleave, Janice. Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects. New York City: Scholastic Inc., Feb. 1999 Science Buddies. “Variables in Your Science Fair Project.” 2011. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair- projects/project_variables.shtml, (Jan. 8, 2012). :

Abstract The abstract is a very important part of your science project. A person should be able to read your abstract and have a complete idea of what your project was about, how it was carried out, and what results were observed. An abstract is written in third person, must fit on one page, and be no more than 250 words. Follow the outline on the step-by-step instructions.

Mechanical pencil versus No. 2 Pencil Abstract Example Mechanical pencil versus No. 2 Pencil The purpose of this experiment is to determine which is most effective in the classroom: a No.2 pencil or a mechanical pencil, by solving “What is the effect of a mechanical pencil versus a No. 2 pencil on class work time?” The hypothesis of this experiment is “If a mechanical pencil and a regular No.2 pencil are used to write the exact same paragraph, then the mechanical pencil will allow the assignment to be completed faster.” To test the hypothesis, gather a group of students. Each student will be timed in the completion of copying the exact paragraph. First, the student will use a No.2 pencil and then a mechanical pencil.  The results show that four out of the five students took longer to complete the assignment using a No. 2 pencil than using a mechanical pencil. Thus, attempts to answer the problem “What is the effect of a mechanical pencil versus a No. 2 pencil on class work time?” Most children save time using a mechanical pencil rather than a No.2 pencil. The hypothesis, “If a mechanical pencil and a regular No.2 pencil are used to write the exact same paragraph, then the mechanical pencil will allow the assignment to be completed faster” is proven to be correct. Four students ranged from 0.58 minutes to 9.43 minutes longer to complete the task using a No. 2 pencil versus a mechanical pencil. Thus, concluding that a mechanical pencil allows students to complete a written assignment faster than a No.2 pencil.

Questions????

THANKS FOR COMING!