Transcript Science Fair - Ms. Pineda`s Class

Science Fair
May 2015
Why Science Fair?
• To learn, understand, and apply the
scientific method.
• To acquire skills of research using a
variety of resources such as the Internet,
interviews, books, magazines, etc.
• To help develop skills of interpretation
and analysis of data.
Why Science Fair?
• To help develop skills in communicating
both verbally and in writing.
• To stimulate interest, curiosity, and desire
to explore the mysteries of the world.
• To show a connection between what is
learned in the classroom and how it
applies to real life.
When is the Science Fair?
• Our Second Annual Science Fair will be held
and judged at our school from May 11-15, and
showcased during Open House on May 20,
2015.
• You will be given a detailed schedule of due
dates for different parts of the project at a
later time.
Guidelines
• Students are NOT allowed to do projects that
are potentially dangerous.
• Projects involving testing with controlled
substances such as alcohol, tobacco, etc. are
NOT allowed.
• All students are required to complete and
submit a science fair project.
• You may work with another student in your
class.
Teacher Approval
• Teachers must approve your projects before
you begin. We will consider safety,
complexity, availability of resources, and
appropriateness.
What Kinds of Projects are Allowed?
• Experimental projects that use the scientific
method with a testable question are allowed.
Ex. How Does Caffeine Affect the Growth
Rate of Roses?
• Projects NOT allowed:
• Research Projects
– Ex. What is a Tornado?
• Models
– Ex. A model of a volcano, cell, or human body.
Science Project Categories
• Physical: Projects related to the physical
sciences such as physics, chemistry, and
astronomy that deal primarily with non-living
materials.
– Example: Does Storage Temperature Affect
Orange Juice’s Acidity?
– Example: Evaporation Rate of Water…What Effect
Does Surface Area Have on the Evaporation Rate
of Water?
Science Project Categories
• Biological: Projects that deal with the vital
processes of living organisms and how these
processes are affected as a result of
manipulating the variable.
– Example: Bold Mold…What Factors Drive Mold
Growth?
– Example: Does Eye Color Affect a Person’s Ability
to Identify Colors?
– Example: Lung Capacity…Do Boys and Girls Have
the Same Lung Capacity?
Science Project Categories
• Behavioral: Projects related to how different
factors relate to human behaviors and
performance.
– Example: How Long Does it Take to Remember
Something?
– Example: Music and Memory…How Does Music
Affect Concentration?
– Example: Does the Weather Really Affect Mood?
How Do I Get Started?
To begin deciding on a topic, you should
consider the following questions…
• What are my interests?
• What would I like to learn?
• Do I have a question about something?
Turn Your Idea Into a Project!
Once you come up with an idea, determine
what question will be answered through the
project. This will be the purpose of the entire
project. Turn in your question for teacher
approval!
Science Fair Logbook
• When you are ready to begin your project,
everything must be recorded in a notebook.
This is called your Project Log, or Logbook.
• Use a composition book or spiral notebook.
• Organize the logbook into 6 sections:
1. Daily Activity Log
2. Background Info
3. Scientific Method
4. Data/Observations
5. Findings
6. Conclusions
Science Fair Logbook
• The log starts on the day your question is
approved.
• Each new entry must be dated.
• This log is handwritten.
• All observations and metric measurements are
to be recorded.
Logbook
1. Daily Activity Log
– Includes personal thoughts, plans, and actions.
Ex. 2/2/15 - Did background research on Internet today.
Notes are recorded in background info section of log.
2. Background Info
– Includes research from books, Internet,
interviews, etc.
– Include a bibliography in this section.
Logbook
3. Scientific Method
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Purpose (Research Question)
Hypothesis (1-2 sentences)
Variables
Equipment & Materials
Procedure
Logbook
4. Data and Observations
– Use tables, notes, pictures, etc. to record your
experimental results.
5. Findings
--Interpret your results. What do they say?
6. Conclusion
– State whether or not your hypothesis was
correct and why.
Project Overview:
1. Purpose
• State your purpose as a question.
• There are two preferred formats for writing
your question:
1. How does ________ affect the ________ of
________?
or
1. What are the effects of ________ on the
_______ of __________?
Project Overview:
Variables
• You must have variables in your experimental
procedure.
1. Independent Variable—the variable you are testing.
2. Dependent Variable—the variable that you will
record and measure. It’s changes “depend” on the
independent variable.
3. Control Variable—all aspects of the experiment that
remain constant.
Ex. “How Does Caffeine Affect the Growth Rate of
Roses?”
Project Overview
2. Research
• Research your problem. This must be done
AFTER you form your question, but BEFORE
you form your hypothesis.
• Become an expert on your topic.
• Use the Internet, books, professionals,
magazines, journal articles, etc.
• Write down any ideas and where you got
them. This will be needed for your
Bibliography.
Project Overview
3. Form Your Hypothesis
• A hypothesis is a statement about what you
think will happen in your experiment.
• It is always stated in a positive manner.
• Avoid statements like “I think,” and “I predict.”
• The hypothesis must be in the form of
“If__________, then________.”
Project Overview
4. Plan Your Procedure
• The procedure is the step-by-step experiment
that you will carry out to test your hypothesis.
Project Overview:
5. Gather Your Materials
• You must provide a detailed list of everything
used in the experiment.
• This includes all needed equipment as well.
• Include what, how much, and what kind of
things used.
Non-Example:
Example:
Water
6-liters of distilled water
Seeds
10 Lima Bean Seeds
Project Overview:
6. Procedure/Method
• You are now ready to conduct your
experiment.
• Refer to your step-by-step procedure so that
you do not make any mistakes.
• Be sure to observe, measure, and record data
in your log throughout the experiment.
• Remember, the more times you carry out the
experiment the more reliable and accurate the
results.
Project Overview:
7. Analyze the Data
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Analyze the results of your experiment.
What does the data say?
What do your measurements show?
These are your “findings.”
Project Overview:
8. Draw a Conclusion
• What happened during the experiment?
• Did you prove your hypothesis correct or
incorrect?
• You do not lose points if your hypothesis is
wrong.
• What did you learn from your experiment?
Project Overview:
9. Prepare Display Board
• Make neat and attractive titles for your display
board.
• Include a title for the following:
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Title
Purpose (Question)
Hypothesis
Procedure
Results
Conclusion
Data & Graphics
Project Overview:
10. Prepare Display Board
• Prepare your diagrams, pictures, charts,
graphs, tables, and notes.
• The purpose of the display board is to show
what you have done.
• The board should be visually appealing.
Project Overview:
11. Construct your Display Board
Sample Presentation Boards
Sample Presentation Boards
Sample Presentation Boards
Finally…THE END
• Are you excited????
• Start thinking about your topics NOW!!!
• The Second Annual ACRMA#7 Science Fair will
be here before you know it!!!
• Any questions?