1. Kerr Elementary Science Fair 2010-2011

2. GETTING STARTED Pick Your Topic. Choose something that interests you. Ideas might come from hobbies or problems you see that need solutions. Be curious! Research Your Topic. Find out as much about it as you can. Go to the library, search the web. Observe related events. Gather existing information and talk to professionals in the field. Make a Timetable. Choose a topic that can be completed in the amount of time you have. Use a calendar to identify important dates. Allow plenty of time to experiment and collect data. You may have to repeat the experiment several times. Leave time to write a report and build a display. –All 5 th and 6 th grade students will be given a timeline important dates and checkpoints. Plan Your Experiment. Once you have a project idea, write a research plan. This plan should explain how you will do your experiment.

3. Conduct Your Experiments. During experimentation, keep detailed notes. (LOG BOOK) Do not rely on your memory! Remember to change only one variable at a time and include control experiments in which none of the variables change. Examine Your Results. When you complete your experiments, examine and organize your findings. Did your experiments give you the expected results? Why or why not? Statistically analyze your data. Draw conclusions. Which variables are important? Did you collect enough data? Do you need to conduct more experimentation? Keep an open mind. Even if your results do not support your original hypothesis, you still have accomplished successful scientific research. Further Questions: What further questions do you have about your experiment? What else would you like to know about this topic?

4. SAMPLE BACKBOARD Project backboards should include these components: 1. Title of project 2. Statement of problem and purpose of project 3. Hypothesis 4. Variables (manipulating variable, responding variable, variables held constant) 5. Procedure/Method 6. Results/Observations/Data 7. Conclusions 8. Research Book 9. Log Book/Lab Book 10. Display of material or a model

6. YOUR LOGBOOK All the data gathered during your experiment should be carefully recorded in a lab notebook. Certainly this includes the data gathered as a result of the experiment itself, but it also includes much more. Your Logbook should include: 1.A list of all the materials used. 2.Notes on all the preparations you made prior to starting your experiment.

7. 3.Information about the resources you use (books, people, libraries, museums, etc.). 4. Detailed day-by-day notes on the progress of the project. a. What you are actually doing b. Problems you encounter with the experiment c. Things you would change if you were doing this investigation again 5.Any drawings that might help explain your work. 6.Data that was gathered during the course of the experiment (notes, charts, tables, graphs) BE SURE TO DATE EACH ENTRY IN YOUR LOGBOOK

8. ALL ABOUT VARIABLES SOME DEFINITIONS of Variables and Control(s) Variable - What you change on purpose in the course of your procedure. Controls: - The factors you keep constant or hold fixed. A control is held fixed so that it doesn’t affect the outcome of the experiment. EXAMPLES OF VARIABLES Let’s say that the following hypothesis had been selected: The cheaper the paper towel, the less water it will absorb. Variable:Price (Brand) of paper towel Control(s):Size of paper towel Amount of water poured on each towel Temperature of the water used Container in which towels are placed Method of pouring

9. If you have any questions – You can access the Student Handbook on my web page – Allen ISD – Kerr Elementary – Faculty Websites – Jamee Little – Science Fair Email – Jamee_Little@allenisd.org