This is where you can come to access any and all science fair information.  Everything we talk about in class will be posted here for you to look over again in case you forget.  

Science Fair Assignment #9

This assignment was given on Wednesday, Dec. 9.  Students  were asked to read pages 20 and 28.  In addition, they were asked to reprint results, conclusion, and bibliography assignments they already completed.

Results, Conclusion, Bibliography = 1st Draft: This is the easiest assignment ever!  All you have to do is reprint out these past assignments.  Bring in these three papers and then I will give you back science fair assignments 7 and 8.  

Then, we will staple science fair assignments 7, 8, & 9 together to create your first draft.  Don't worry about putting your name on this assignment, as we will staple them together with your past assignments that already have your name on them.

Remember, if you were docked points on your results, conclusion, or bibliography, this is your time to make those changes so you can get full credit.  

On the 17th we will work together to edit your first draft and make it better for the second draft due on January 6th.

For a sample of the results, conclusion, and bibliography, just scroll down to science fair assignments #3 & 6.  For an example of what an entire report looks like turn to page 28 of your science fair packet. 

This assignment is due Wednesday, Dec. 16.

For any other questions, just email me.

Science Fair Assignment #8

This assignment was given on Thursday, Dec. 3.  Students  were asked to read pages 20 and 28.  In addition, they were asked to make create the introduction, procedure, and data pages for their report.

Introduction, Procedure, and Data: I want you to again look at page 20 & 28 of your science fair packet

Introduction: This page should be an introduction into your report.  The introduction is longer than the abstract and gives the reader a good start into your report.  It makes the reader want to learn more about your project.  Here is a list of parts you should have in your introduction.

1st - Hypothesis (which is its own separate paragraph)

2nd - How you got the idea (could be multiple sentences here)

3rd - What you wanted to prove and why you chose that hypothesis

4th - All the research that supports your hypothesis (you should cut and paste the research assignment you already did here in its own paragraph.

5th - How you controlled your experiment to make sure it was accurate

6th - What your independent and dependent variables were and how your project tested for those items.

 

Remember to put additional sentences between what I am asking so that your introduction doesn't sound like a list, but like a coherent set of paragraphs that flow together.  Also, be sure you have made the correct changes to your research assignment, so that when you hand it back in as part of your introduction, it is in the appropriate format.

Procedure: Cut and paste the procedure you already did on this page.  Make sure you take off the regular student heading that was on it so it doesn't look silly.

However, make sure that if I suggested changes be made that you have made them so you can get max points.

Here is an example of a student's procedure

Data: Cut and paste your data (graph/chart) on this page.  Also, make sure there is no heading on this paper so it doesn't look weird.  If I made no suggestions for your graph, then we can use the one you already made.  Remember to print in black and white for now to save your color ink for the final draft and board we will do later.

Make sure that if I suggested changes be made that you have made them.

Here is a sample!

Here is a student sample

Here is another student sample

Here is an example of a student's graphs

This assignment is due Wednesday, Dec. 9.

For any other questions, just email me.

Science Fair Assignment #7

This assignment was given on Monday, Nov. 30.  Students  were asked to read pages 19 and 28.  In addition, they were asked to make create a title page, table of contents, and abstract pages of their report.

Title Page, Table of Contents, and Abstract: I want you to turn to page 19 of your science fair packet and make the first three pages of your science fair report look just like the sample.

Page 28 is another page to go to for help writing this assignment.

Title Page: Yes, you are allowed to use different font and color, but don't be too distracting to the reader.  You can also add cool pictures that can entice the reader to your report.  However, this is the only page where you can do this stuff, aside from pictures which are okay anywhere.  Remember, your title should draw the reader into your report.  Make the reader want more with just your title.

Table of Contents: You can make your table of contents title in a bigger font, but not too much so that it is distracting.  The font you start your table of contents with should be the same font you use throughout your report.  This should be a readable font that is simple enough to not distract the reader.  After that put each page of your report with the corresponding page number, so the reader has a better view of what your report entails.  Make your table look exactly like the sample. 

Abstract: This should be a very short and sweet way of giving the reader an overview of your entire report.  Here is a list of the sentences you should have in your abstract

1st - Purpose

2nd - Hypothesis

3rd - Whether or not the hypothesis was correct

4th - Results w/ numbers

5th - One more piece of info about your results

6th - Overall, what did your experiment prove

Remember, people can only take you seriously if you show them you are serious.  So, make sure to try and be as professional as possible with your report.

Here is a sample! :)

This assignment is due Wednesday, Dec. 2.

For any other questions, just email me.

Science Fair Assignment #6

This assignment was given on Wednesday, Nov. 18.  Students  were asked to read page 15  In addition, they were asked to make create a results and conclusion for their science fair experiment.

The Results & Conclusion Worksheet: I want you to answer the questions on page 18 of your science fair packet.

Here is a Sample

Make sure your results are just that, do not give any explanation.  Explanations should come in the conclusion.

For the conclusion paragraph, (yes, it must be a paragraph) you should answer questions 1 - 8.  However, make sure your answers are configured into a paragraph and not just a list of answers because that would sound strange.  Your paragraph should have a good flow for the reader.

This assignment is due Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Remember, if you did not turn your graph in last week, you must turn it in this Wednesday.

For any other questions, just email me.

 

 

 Science Fair Assignment #5

This assignment was given on Wednesday, Nov. 11.  Students  were asked to read pages 12-14.5.  In addition, they were asked to make at least one graph to represent to data they have been collecting from their experiment. 

For your graph/chart, click on the following links and they will help you produce a good looking graph.

Create a Graph Website

Using Excel to Make a Graph

Create Custom Graph Paper

Choosing the Best Graph Article

You are more than welcome to give as many charts and graphs as you want , but my minimum requirement is that you make one.  Not one of each trial, just one, which could be an average of the trials.  The graph with the averaged results is the most important.

Here is an example

This assignment is due Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Note: If you need another week to gather your results and make a graph, you may have one and just turn in your graph with your results and conclusion worksheet on the 25th.  If you choose to do this, it will not be marked as late.

Science Fair Assignment #4

This assignment was given on Wednesday, Oct. 28.  Students  were asked to read pages 9 - 11.  In addition, they were asked to make a procedure plan  and safely perform their experiment a few times. 

Procedure & Safely Perform a Few Trials of Experiment: I want you to make a procedure just like the example on page 11 of your science fair packet.

Procedure:

Science Fair Assignment #3

This assignment was given on Wednesday, Oct. 21.  Students  were asked to read pages 8 and 9.  In addition, they were asked to research their hypothesis and form two paragraphs of research relating to their topic.  Moreover, they were asked to create a bibliography of the sources they used when researching.

Research hypothesis and Bibliography: First, start with your hypothesis you made last week.  Then, determine the focus of your project, so you can research it.  It is very important to research your hypothesis so you can prove to the reader that you can back your hypothesis up with proven and researched material.  

Here are examples of science fair research:

Research Hypothesis & Bibliography Format Example

Research for project about batteries

Research for project about kidneys

Your research is going to help the reader take you more seriously.  The reader does not want to think that you just came up with this hypothesis from your rear...instead, you want to show the reader that you have done your homework and there are reasons behind why you have chosen this hypothesis.  Read page 8 of your science fair packet.

Items of interest that you could research: 

• Difficult vocabulary words - find their definition and explain them well to the reader
  
• Historical information about your topic that will help the reader understand your topic better
• Anything that will help the reader understand your topic better
• Anything that proves your hypothesis correct

When you do the research portion of your report, you must give credit to the ideas that were not your own.  This is perfectly okay to do.  The only issue to this is that you must give credit to those people who you borrowed any idea from. Giving credit is called in-text citations and they are not hard to do once you get the hang of it.   

Here is an example: Let's pretend I wrote a book in 2008 called The Importance of Student's Self Esteem and I wrote this sentence in my book - "Students who believe in themselves are ten times more likely  to do better in the academic world than students who don't."

Okay now, Joe Shmoe comes along and does a science fair report and reads my book.  He wants to use the research I did because my research supports his hypothesis.  When he writes his research paragraphs for his science fair report he has three ways he can choose from to give me credit for my sentence. 

Pretend these three sentences are all ways he could write his own sentence referring to my research.

1. In researching student success, previous studies have shown that students who have a higher self esteem will do better in their academic studies (Salvatto 5).

2. In researching student success, it has been proven that "students who believe in themselves are ten times more likely to do better in the academic world than students who don't" (Salvatto 5).

3. In researching student success, Natalie Salvatto found in a study done in 2008 that "students who believe in themselves are ten times more likely to do better in the academic world than students who don't" (5).

You might be wondering what the differences are between #1, #2, and #3, but if you look closely you will see that #1 is in Joe Schmow's own words (paraphrased), whereas #2 is an exact quotation from my book.  Then, #3 is where you use the researcher's name in the sentence, so you don't have to use the last name in the in-text citation, instead all you put is the page number where the quote was taken from. 

Rules for using in text citations: At the end of ANY sentence where you are using someone else's idea, you give them credit by putting their last name and page number where you found that idea.

What if I find something on the Internet that does not have an author?

Well, first you should be suspect of anything that does not have an author, but if you still think it is good and reliable, then you use the first one or two words from the title of the webpage instead of a last name.

Note about websites: Try to focus more on .org, .edu, & .gov sites because they have a tendency to be more genuine.  This is not always the case, but anything ending in .com is a website for profit, whereas .org's and .edu's are specifically non-profit websites.  Those sites are not gaining anything by posting their research.  Sometimes .com sites can have research or information on their website that benefits them like promoting a product for sale.

Example: In researching student success, it has been proven that "students who believe in themselves are ten times more likely to do better in the academic world than students who don't" (The Importance).

Once you research your hypothesis, you must give further credit to any and all writers and researchers for the work they did, so this is where the bibliography comes in.  You MAY NOT just make a list of web sites you visited.  You must make a formal bibliography.  Look at page 23 - 27 of your science fair packet for the rules on how to make one, but I will also provide you will a cool website where you can just plug in the important information and it will basically make the bibliography for you.

Easy Bibliography Making Website

Here is an example of how my book and website would be written in a bibliography:

Salvatto, Natalie.  The Importance of Student's Self Esteem.  San Mateo: Arnett Books, 2008. 

"The Important of Student's Self Esteem."  We Care about Kids.  San Mateo, CA.  www.importanceofstudentselfesteem.com 

For this assignment, you are expected to write AT LEAST a 6-8 sentence research paragraph about your topic, in addition to a bibliography with at least 3 sources.  Please put the research and bibliography on separate pages, staple them together and turn them in on Wednesday, Oct. 28 when it is due.  

Science Fair Assignment #2

This assignment was given on Thursday, Oct. 15.  Students were asked to read pages 6 - 7.5 of their science fair packet and complete science fair assignment #2.

Choose a suitable topic for yourself, Turning a Topic into a Project Worksheet, & Experiment Plan Worksheet: I want you to read pages 6 - 7.5 of your science fair packet.  Then, I need you to answer/complete/create both worksheets on pages 16 & 17. Remember, everything must be typed, so open up a Word document on your computer and type out your answers.  It is best not to put it in paragraph from so that I can read it easier.  

Do not forget that your project must test something.  Although there are some real cool researchable ideas out there, if you are not testing something, then you are not doing a science fair project.  

For the topic question....think about making a title to your project. For the question regarding your topic....think about the question you would ask and answer with your experiment.  For how you want to study it...think about how you are going to do your project. How are you going to test it?  Research you might need?  Don't get too specific yet, but getting the ball rolling is good for this question.

Here is an example: 

Topic - Best Bottle Rocket Materials

Question- What materials are best for making bottle rockets? Study-I would get three different materials to make the same size bottle rocket.  I would build the bottle rockets and use the same type of fuel.  I would then research bottle rockets and the materials I used to see if I find any interesting information.   

Here is a link where you can see a sample of this worksheet

For your materials question, make a list of all the items that you are going to need in order to perform your experiment. 

 

For your variables question, make a list of all the things that could effect your experiment.  

For your independent variable, tell the reader the one thing you are changing in your experiment.  This directly ties into the hypothesis you wrote.

For your dependent variable, tell the reader what you are expecting to result from applying the independent variable.

For the control (remember, this may not apply to you) this is what you compare to the dependent variable when the independent variable is applied.

  Here is an example:

Hypothesis: If a bottle rocket is made with plastic fins, then it will fly farther than a bottle rocket made with cardboard fins.

Variables: Shape of bottle rocket, wind speed, time of day, fuel used, where the experiment takes place, and size of rockets.

Independent Variable: The different materials I use for the fins.

Dependent Variable: The length at which the bottle rockets travel.

Control: None

If I had another experiment, such as different types of fertilizer, here is how my experiment would go:

Hypothesis: If roses are planted in dirt and Miracle Grow, then they will grow the tallest in comparison to other leading fertilizer brands.

Variables: Same dirt, what I put the plants in, temperature, where the plants are located, how much sunlight each plant gets, what much water each plant gets, and using the same type of roses.

Independent Variable: Different types of fertilizer

Dependent Variable: The height each plants grows   

Control: A plant that grows without fertilizer, (plant in just dirt), so that you can compare the plants with fertilizer to.

 

People who are comparing one item against another probably do not have a control.  If you are wondering about your experiment or are confused at all, just ask me.  :)

Please use the format provided to make it easier for me to tell you whether or not you are on the right track. Beginning Your Experiment Plan Sample

This assignment is due Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Science Fair Assignment #1

This assignment was given on Tuesday, Oct. 13.  Students were asked to read pages 1 - 5.5 of their science fair packet and complete science fair assignment #1.

Science Fair Assignment #1: Brainstorm 3-5 Possible Topics: All I want you to do is to give me 3-5 ideas.  Just one sentence each is perfect.  

For example: 1) What materials work best for making bottle rockets?; 2) What tennis shoe is best for basketball practice..etc.  You need to have 5 total.  If you are dead set on an idea already then go ahead and give me that one.  Please do not just say: 1) Basketball; 2) Detergent...because I do not know what you are trying to say.  One sentence each is all you need.  For any other questions, just email me.

 

Here are some links to help you with your science fair ideas:

Science Fair Project Ideas

Science Bob - Project Ideas

Science Fair Topics by Branches of Science

Science Buddies

Science Fair Central - Project Ideas

Project Ideas

 Science Fair Projects and Experiments

PBS Kids - Science Fair Ideas

 

 

Here is a link where you can see a sample of this assignment.

This assignment is due Thursday, Oct. 15.

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