1. By: Ashley Bringenberg Marshall Middle School
Science Project 101
Tips and Tricks for Surviving (and even ENJOYING) the 6th and 7th Grade Performance Task
By: Ashley Bringenberg
Marshall Middle School

2. The Science Project Notebook
Have each student bring in an extra notebook (spiral or composition) to hold all brainstorming, research and paperwork. When the project is completed, they can also add their final documents and or pictures and they have a ready-made notebook for display at the fair.

3. Complete at Least 1 Design-Your-Own-Experiment Activity Prior to Assigning the Science Project.
Example: Give all students the same question: Which paper towel brand is most absorbant?
Students can work in partners to research this question and determine a few possible methods for testing.
Once they have an idea of how they would like to test it, work together as a class to develop a general material list (to decrease your shopping).
Students write their own procedures for answering their question, design their own data tables and conduct their own experiments in class.
Guide students to graph using create-a-graph.com and allow them to form and share their own conculsions.

4. Facilitate Idea Generation Based on Student Observations and Interests
Options for assisting topic selection:
Provide students with articles and topics currently being explored in the scientific community - Help them to narrow down choices
Ask students to list 10 things they love to do and help them understand how one or more of those interests are related to science
Assign students to write down 10 *interesting* observations they make over the course of one week. Then, develop questions based on those observations.
*Steer clear of websites that provide a made-to-order science project (like sciencebuddies.com)

5. Encourage Innovation and Application
In order to meet the requirements, all projects must carefully follow the scientific method and use sound scientific principles in their design.
In order to be competitive, their projects should be innovative and have real-world applications. *I wish I had told my students this at the beginning - I had some that completed great projects, but they did not move on because they lacked innovation and/or application.

6. Enlist the Help of your Librarian and your English Teachers
All English classes have a research requirement. Check with your English Department to see if they would be willing to work with the students on their science project research. It saves them the time to create an assignment and you the time to teach them proper research skills!
Your librarian is a great resource for kids looking to begin research. They can help find databases and guide students in searching effectively for the information. They can also provide a quiet workspace as needed. Some, may even be willing to teach students proper citation formatting.

7. Use Google Docs for ALL Written Items
Students can create a science project folder in their google account and share it with you.
You can view their docs at any time. Check for progress, completion, or even grade without printing a page.
When they are finished, they can print the final pieces for their tri-fold board and science notebook. *This is easiest if they create a new Google doc for each section of the report.

8. Have a Positive Attitude (and Ask Your Parents to Do the Same!)
Your attitude is contagious! It’s amazing what you can accomplish when your students are encouraged, and know this project will be fun and meaningful!
Hold a parent information session to spread that positive vibe in your community, and handle any parent concerns before the project starts.