Transcript ffa speaking cde

Agriscience Fair
Written by Dr. Teri Hamlin
Georgia Agricultural Education
March 2001
Georgia Ag Ed Curriculum
What is the Agriscience Fair?
• Middle & High School FFA members
demonstrate and display agriscience projects
that are extensions of their agriscience
courses
Purpose
Agriscience Fair
• Encourage students to use scientific process
& reinforce skills & principles learned in the
classroom
• Provide recognition, recruiting &
promotional opportunities for FFA program
Researched Based Project
• Categories include:
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Biochemistry/Microbiology/Food Science
Environmental Science
Zoology
Botany (Plant & Soil Science)
Engineering (Mechanical/Agricultural Engineering
Science)
• Divisions:
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Division I: individual students 7th - 9th
Division II: individual students 10th - 12th
Division III: teams of two members 7th - 9th
Division IV: teams of two members 10th - 12th
Rules
• Team = 2 members working on same project
• Projects must reflect students own work & completed
during the current year
• Prohibited in display:
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Live animals
Chemicals
Syringe & Needles
Human/Animal Cultures
Lasers
Combustible materials
Open Flame
Crystals other than sucrose & sodium chloride
Exhibits requiring voltages above 120AC
Display
• May consist of one or more panels
• Must be stable & free standing
• Max size =
– 48” wide x 30” deep x 108” high from the floor
• Upper right hand corner must have
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Name of student(s)
Chapter Name
Title of Category
Division (I - IV)
Project Must Use Scientific Method
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Observation- Select a topic.
Question- Ask a question about what you observe.
Hypothesis- Predict an answer to your question.
Method - Decide on a way to test the hypothesis. The outcome
must be measurable.
• Result- Conduct experiment using defined method and record the
results. Always repeat research to confirm results.
• Conclusion- State whether your prediction was confirmed or
not and try to explain your results.
Getting Started
• Selecting a Research Topic
– Choose a topic of interest
– Realistic
• (student abilities, knowledge, resources and time)
– Select topic matches closely to SAE
– Seek a topic that can be expanded
• National winning projects (long term 2-3 year with
performed replications & more data collection)
Selecting a Topic
• Get Ideas & Resources:
– Websites search
– Current newspaper, magazines, Educational TV
programs
– Librarians, Federal, State, County and Local agencies
– Visit a university and speak to professors or graduate
students involved in topic
– Contact industrial firms doing research in topic area
Present Research
• Effect of Colored Mulch on Tomato Root Growth
• Don't hesitate to ask. If you are interested, most
people will assist you.
• It is very important to keep a complete
bibliography of all material found and a list of
people who helped.
Question
After you decide on a topic, you need a question
Narrow down your field of research.
It is important to focus on one question.
Some Guidelines:
What have you always wanted to know in that area?
Choose a question that can be answered with a
YES or a NO.
What are researchers asking in that area?
Remember:
the first requirement of a scientist is
curiosity
– If a world-class
physicist can spend
hours figuring out
the way curve balls
work and the speed
at which they work
best, don't assume
any question you
come up with is too
lowly to investigate.
Construct Theory Base
• Search for items that will enable you to build an argument
that the proposed research project is necessary and will
make a contribution to the body of knowledge that already
exists
• Internet
• Books
• Magazines
• College of Agriculture
• Experiment Stations
• Extension Service
• Agribusiness
Student’s Research Proposal
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Statement of the problem
Purpose and objectives of research
Summary of previous research
Method: How experiment will be set up in order to solve the problem
Data collection: Procedures for collecting and analyzing data
Assumptions: what is your “best guess” hypothesis concerning the
outcome of the experiment
• Limitations: Define any limitations that might impact outcome
• Definition of Terms: for person reading paper with no previous
knowledge of subject area
• Bibliography
Hypothesis
• What do you think may be the answer to your
question, how the project will turn out?
• The hypothesis is the possible answer you will try
to prove or disprove.
• There is no right or wrong answer here.
• As the project progresses, try to determine if
hypothesis is true.
Decide on a procedure & method
How will you go about doing the experiment?
• Method will be the process by which the
hypothesis is proved or disproved.
• Compile a list of all the materials needed to
conduct investigation. Keep track of costs.
• While doing experiment, keep very accurate
records of all steps & tests performed.
• Record failures as well as successes.
Record your results
• Use a notebook to record all information or data.
• Make charts and graphs, draw pictures or use
videotape to show results.
• Give facts, not opinions.
• If experiment uses measurements, then give those
exact measurements.
– Do not use terms like: about, more or less, close to, etc.
Record the Results
• What was the result of the experiment?
• Have you eliminated all variables?
– (conditions which could affect the answer but for which you are
not testing)
• Repeat experiment to ensure accuracy &
validity.
• It is recommend that experiment be
repeated a minimum of 8 times to validate.
Conclusion
Write a final report summarizing your question,
research methods and conclusion.
• The conclusion is the answer to your question.
• Should be clear, concise and stick to the point.
• Resist the temptation to jump to conclusions.
• What did your project teach you?
Conclusion
address these questions
• If you were to do your experiment again, would
you get the same results?
• Can there be differences? Why?
• What happened when you tested your hypothesis.
• Even if the experiment proved your hypothesis
wasn't true, you've learned something. What is
your project's importance?
• What have you learned?
• Prepare a
winning
display
Display
Winning Display
• Prepare a display to give your audience a
quick overview of
• the question you asked, the method you used, the
result you got, and the conclusion you came to
• Draw charts, diagrams or illustrations to
explain your question, methods and results
• A neat and organized poster will obviously communicate your
work better than a sloppy, disorganized one.
Include within Display
• Notebook
– Includes the nitty-gritty details of the experiment
• Make sure it is complete & the information in it clear
• Demonstration Materials
– Items that illustrate a scientific principle, equipment or materials
used, or enable others to retrace your steps
– ”Hands-on" will make an exhibit more interesting and help others
understand your discovery
– Use photographs to illustrate your work if your experiment
involves valuable equipment or animals & dangerous chemicals
that are not allowed
Horticulture Related
Agriscience
Projects
Botany (Plant/Soil Science)
• Study of plant life, agronomy, horticulture,
forestry, plant taxonomy, plant physiology,
pathology, genetics, hydroponics, algae, etc.
Web Sites
http://www.ffa.org/activities/agscifair/index.html
http://www.uswcl.ars.ag.gov/exper/exper.htm
http://www.florence.ars.usda.gov/kidsonly/middle/mulch5.html
http://members.aol.com/ScienzFair/botany.htm
http://www.acessexcellence.com
http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/
http://www.scifair.org
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/~jbarron/scifair.html
http://doacs.state.fl.us/marketing/planetag/ideas.htm
http://www.oxnard.org/project.html
http://schoolnet.connectok.com/science/dr/
http://www.quantumlynx.com/AlexanderScienceProjects/
http://www.bay.k12.fl.us/schools/bms/hotbot_science.htm
http://www.tyler.net/ruskhslib/sci_fair.htm
http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide/
http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideasframe.htm
Books
• Biology of Plants. 5th Ed. Raven, Peter. New York, NY: Worth Publishers,
1992. 791p. College or advanced high school level. Covers viruses, bacteria,
fungi, photosynthetic molds and algae and plants.
• Biotechnology Projects for Young Scientists. Rainis, Kenneth G and George
Nassis. New York, NY: Franklin Watts, 1998; 160p. Gives instructions from
the simple to the more complex.
• Botany : 49 More Science Fair Projects. Bonnet, Robert L. and Dan Keen.
Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, 1990. 144p. A collection of
experiments and projects in botany for grades 6-12. Includes germination,
vegetable reproduction, hydroponics, photosynthesis, and plant stimulation.
• Botany: High School Science Fair Experiments. Dashefsky, H. Steve. Blue
Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, 1995. 158p.
Books
• Experiment With Plants. Byles, Monica and others. Minneapolis,
MN: Lerner Publications, 1994. 32p. Basic information on plants and
simple experiments that demonstrate some of their characteristics.
• Exploring The World Of Plants and Soils. National 4-H Plant and Soil
Science Program Development Committee. Members' Manual, Unit II
B. 1990. 20p. Document Available from: National 4-H Council,
Educational Aids, 17100 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC,
20015. Junior High science projects. Plant responses to fertilizers,
water holding capacity and other experiments.
• Janice VanCleave's Plants: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn
Into Science Fair Projects. VanCleave, Janice. Pratt New York, NY:
Wiley, 1997; 90p.
Books
• Make a Plant and Soil Science Exhibit. Dozier, T. Leaflet YANR No.
107. Auburn, AL: Auburn University, Alabama Cooperative Extension
Service, Mar. 1989. 4p.
• Science Fair Handbook for High School Teachers. .Instructional
Materials Service, F.E. Box 2588, College Station, TX 77843-2588.
Texas A&M University, Telephone 979-845-6601.
• Science for Kids: 39 Easy Plant Biology Experiments. Wood, Robert
W. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books, 1991.
Books
• Science Project Ideas about Trees. Science Project Ideas. Gardner,
Robert. Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publisher, 1999; 96p. Projects
involving the processes that take place in plants and trees.
• Science Workbook Student Research Projects in Food, Agriculture,
Natural Resources. Ohio Agriculture Education Curriculum Materials
Service Rm 254, 2120 Fyffe Rd, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210-1067. Telephone 614-292-4848
• The Great Seed Mystery for Kids. Henry, Peggy.
• NK Lawn & Garden Step-by-Step Visual Guide.
• New York, NY: Avon Books, 1992; 79p. Projects and experiments
demonstrate the significance of seeds, how and why they grow and
how to plant and care for a garden.
Examples of Horticulture Topics
• I. New Plant from Old
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Seed germination at varying depths
Temperature effects on seed germination
Soil Types on seed germination
Seed soaking effects on germination (vary length of time or
types of solutions)
Dormancy time: can dormancy periods be artificially shortened
Factors that effect plant cloning
Factors that effect rooting of asexual cuttings
Germination and Seedling Growth under water stress
Use of a warm germination and cold vigor test to determine
germination and vigor of damage and undamaged seeds
• I. New Plant from Old (cont.)
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Different light spectrums effect on seed germination
Are there really lunar influences on seed germination?
How do different treatments change how fast seeds sprout?
What effect does seed size have on how well a crop like oats or
wheat grows?
What are the effects of gravity on seed sprouting?
Does electric or magnetic fields affect seed sprouting or plant
growth?
Would microwaves have an effect on seed germination?
Does tobacco or alcohol affect germination rates?
Does moisture pH affect sprouting of grass seeds?
• II. Photosynthesis, Plant Physiology & Growth
• How covering plants or parts of plants affects a plants ability
to produce vegetative growth
• Plant growth by different light wavelengths
• Chlorophyll measurement
• Carbon dioxide deprivation
• Carbon dioxide enhancement
• Using paper chromatography to separate pigments in leaves
• Light & its effect on amount of starch (food) in leaf tissue
• Genetic factors (genes) that control the inheritance of simple
physiological characteristics in plants
• Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants
• Nitrogen Fixation
• Measuring Photosynthesis Rate by Measuring Oxygen
Production
• II. Photosynthesis, Plant Physiology & Growth (cont.)
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Biological clocks in plants
Amount of water lost by a plant due to transpiration
Determine the ideal relative humidity for a particular plant
Can you produce new varieties by cross-pollinating flowers of
forced bulbs?
Can you speed up the process of cloning by changing the
formulation of the nutrient mix?
Can you grow clone mutants that tolerate harsh environmental
conditions (think of the industry significance)?
Does crowding affect plants?
Does colored mulch affect the growth rate of a plant?
Does the respiration rate indicate the rate of plant growth?
Do plants grow better with tap water or distilled water?
Does photosynthesis take place in the absence of light?
Does light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis?
• II. Photosynthesis, Plant Physiology & Growth (cont.)
• Determine if a certain flowering plant is a long, short, or
neutral – day plant. Does CO2 concentration affect the rate of
photosynthesis?
• Is the amount and rate of plant photosynthesis variable?
• Which type of vegetable has the highest concentration of
chlorophyll?
• Is there a relationship between a leaf's starch and chlorophyll?
• Can you paint images on plant leaves using light?
• How would leaf harvesting affect a plant's health at different
growth stages?
• What factors affect how plants reproduce?
• Examine whether or not the shape/angle of the stalk cut has
any effect on the life of cut flowers.
• What is the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis?
• III. Growing Media & Soil
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Test plant growth in different types of media
Loosened and compact soil
Making a nutrient solution from soil
Root size with hydroponics
Composting kitchen refuse & its affect on house plants
Break down of construction materials ( stone, brick, cinder
block & other building materials) & its affect on plants
Making nutrient-rich topsoil
Comparing the thickness of soil to the dominant plant species
Nitrogen content in soil where carnivorous plants live
The grabbing ability of sand, silt and clay
Evaluating the nutrient content of ant hills
• III. Growing Media & Soil (cont.)
• Factors that increase decomposition rate of leaves
• Container type & water loss
• Are the claims made for hydroponics true?
– Are there fewer insects problems?
– Is less fertilizer needed?
– Are there greater yields?
• What is the effect of lowering/raising the pH on a plant's
growth?
• What physiological functions are related to a plant’s biological
clock?
• Breeding a new iris plant
• How do different conditions affect the speed at which fruit and
vegetables ripen?
• How does soil pH affect the pH of water that touches the soil?
• III. Growing Media & Soil (cont.)
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Decomposition of common materials
Decomposition above and below the ground
Does soil type change how well crops grow?
How are different soil types affected by water running over
them? (soil erosion)
• What happens to the way plants grow if there are no
microorganisms in the soil?
• Are different plants affected in different ways by specific
microorganisms?
• Does colored mulch affect soil temperature?
• IV. Stimulation
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Phototropism
Natural weed killer
Chemotropism
Geotropism
Thermotropism
Touch stimulation
Sound stimulation
Reduction of stimulation
Effect of stimuli on plant development and fruit
production
Effect of Electromagnetic fields on fruit production or
growth
Effect of blue light vs red light
Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on different plants
Effect of Ultraviolet Light on Plant Growth
• IV. Stimulation (cont)
– Allelopathy: What happens when you grow sweet potatoes next to
other plants?
– To determine if brightness of light will alter the growth rate of a
plant.
– Is leaf size related to the amount of light received by a plant?
• V. Transport
• (projects in food, water, and waste movement within plant cells)
– Transpiration in plant leaves
– Determining root size by leaf size
– Food storage time
– Capillary action
• VI. Fungi and Simple Plants
– Other host for bread molds
– Gathering airborne mold spores
– Testing algae as a nutrient
– Symbiosis with lichens
– Temperature affect on the production of carbon
dioxide by yeast
– What is the best environment in which to grow
mushrooms?
– What are the steps in the lifecycle of a
mushroom?
– What environment is needed for moss to grow
and flourish?
• VII. Environment & Health
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Shrubs as natural sound barriers
Water purification
Compare plant growth & air pollutants
Plant sensitivity to sulfur dioxide
Plant sensitivity to nitrogen dioxide
What is the effect of acid rain upon the growth of roots?
What are the ecosystem effects of replacing native
wildflowers with foreign varieties of flowers? Effect of
acid rain on the germination of bean seeds?
Determine the pH of local water sources
What climatic changes causes pH fluctuation?
Do different varieties of the same fruit have the same level
of vitamin C?
What effect does cigarette smoke have on plant
transpiration?
• VII. Environment & Health (cont.)
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Does nicotine affect plant growth?
How does cigarette smoke affect plant growth?
Does caffeine affect plant growth?
Does the use of insecticides affect the growth of
vegetables?
What is the effect of Tobacco Mosaic Virus on common
vegetables?
What effect does ozone have on plant growth?
Which type of grass is the most drought resistant?
Why is ethylene gas important in the fresh fruit and
vegetable industries?
• VIII. Chemicals
– Influence of hormones on plant cell development
– Changes in plant growth caused by application of growth
hormone
– Can chemical hormone treatment replace cooling for
bulbs?
– Liquid fertilizer affects on flowering of bulbs
– At what concentration will 2, 4-D fail to kill weeds?
– What is the highest concentration of 2, 4-D that will
stimulate plant growth? Lowest concentration?
– Compare the effects on plant growth of a natural auxin and
a synthetic hormone
– What effect do auxins have on algae cells that live in
water?
– What happens to cuttings if you add various auxins,
natural & synthetic in combination with a cytokinin
(another type of plant growth substance)?
• VIII. Chemicals (cont.)
– Some known effects of auxins include causing leaves to
fall and preventing potatoes from rotting. Can you
discover any new effects that auxins have on plants?
– How do organic pesticides compare in effectiveness with
synthetic chemical pesticides?
– What effect do pesticides have on earthworms?
– Creating organic fertilizers
– Comparing lawn care methods (synthetic vs organic)
– How do different types of fertilizers affect plant growth?
– How close does a pesticide have to be to protect a plant?
– What is the effect of MSG, sodium, and glutamate on
plant growth?
– What is the effect of different nitrogen concentrations on
plant growth?
• VIII. Chemicals (cont.)
– Which brand of chemical fertilizer produces the greatest
growth?
– Which is the best medium for new cuttings - plain water,
water with synthetic auxin added or water with fertilizer
added?
– Is food waste (tea bags, coffee grounds, orange rinds,
banana peels, etc.) a good fertilizer for plants or does it
harm their growth?
– Would it help plant growth to add vitamins (A, E, C) to
the soil?
– Will fruit extract help bean cuttings re-grow root cells?