Transcript PACT Facts Science Update - Pauline

Science Fair: From Horror to Happy in Four (or so) Easy Steps
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1. Choose a kid friendly question (and help the kid answer
it!).
• What are your child's interests?
• What has your child been studying in science?
• If it’s over their heads, it’s out of their mind.
• http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/
2. Start early and follow a reasonable timeline.
• Remember - three times is a charm.
3. Let the question guide the project and the data guide
the answer.
• It’s ok if it doesn’t turn out the way your child hypothesized;
that’s science!
Science Fair: From Horror to Happy in Four (or so) Easy Steps
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4.For the judges…
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The title should be the question that’s being
investigated.
Focus on neat and “followable”. If you have to
make it pretty, do it with data display and
relevant digital pictures.
Include the data and an explanation of what it
means. (Check out this site for making graphs:
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAGraph/ )
Focus on science fundamentals.
Follow the rules!
The Rules
A few surprises…
• Your project may NOT have plants or plant
parts with it.
• Your project may NOT have any food with it.
• Your project may NOT have any water with
it.
• Your project MAY have teeth, hair, nails, or
dried animal bones with it.
• I don’t know what that last project is, but I’m
glad that I’m not involved.
The bottom line (Get it?! The bottom line!): Take pictures.
Title in the Form of a Question
Purpose/ Problem
What is the student trying to
find out?
Research
This can be experiential. “I
have noticed that
when….”
Hypothesis
What do you think will
happen? This should be
testable and based on the
research!
Procedures
This is what you did. This
should be listed out stepby-step. Variables should
be noted.
Materials
Listed alphabetically. This
section could be in the
middle column, too.
Results
This tells us what happened.
This should include
evidence of at least 3 trials
and can contain both
quantitative (numbers)
and qualitative
(observations) results.
This is a good place for
pictures.
Data
This section should include
labeled tables and/or
graphs. This is a good
section in which to garner
higher presentation points
with good looking, color
graphs. Sites such as
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskid
s/createAgraph/default.as
px are a good source.
Summary of Results/
Discussion
The data in a nutshell. What
does it all mean?
Conclusion
What did you learn? Was
the hypothesis
supported or not? What
would the student do
differently next time?
What other experiments
would the student like
to do based on these
results?
Acknowledgments
This is where you credit the
people that helped
(parents, teachers, etc)
by telling what part they
played in the project.
This can also serve as a
place to reference items
utilized for the research
section.
EX: Do males or females have better hand-eye
coordination?
The purpose of my science fair project is to
see if males or females have better hand-eye
coordination. I am interested in this topic
because my dad thinks that he is a better
driver than my mom is. He always says that
this is because men have better hand-eye
coordination. I think that the information that
I get from this project might help us to settle
their issue.
Hypothesis
Based on your research, what do YOU
think?
• In your mind, formulate a hypothesis
based on your research.
Procedures
1. Ask 4-6 friends or family
members to help. No fewer
than 2 of each gender!
2. Share your hypothesis (this
one keeps you honest).
3. Perform experiment.
Procedures
1. Have on member hold the cardboard piece
at the edge of the table so that the slot is
overhanging.
2. One member (the catcher) of the team puts
their fingers at the edges of the slot.
3. Another member will put the meter stick at
the opening of the slot and drop it.
4. The catcher tries to catch the meter stick as
quickly as possible.
5. Repeat 3 times and record/ average results.
6. Rotate positions.
VARIABLES!!!
• Manipulated/ Independent (the one that
we change): people who are doing the
experiment – specifically gender
• Dependent/ Responding (what changes
because of our change): how far the
meter stick falls (time to catch)
• Controlled (the things we keep the
same): test, materials, etc.
Trial 1
Name 1
Name 2
Name 3
Name 4
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Materials
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chart paper
Markers
Meter stick
Standard cardboard piece
GO!
Research
• Experience
1. Game
• “For real” research – books,
articles, online (be careful on this
one!)
1. Insurance stats
2. Piloting
Results, Data, Summary
• Pictures
• Data tables
• Notes
• Graphs
• No opinions – just the facts!
Conclusion
• BASED ON YOUR DATA
was your hypothesis
supported or not?
• What would you change
next time?
• Your thoughts
Acknowledgements
• My teacher
• Books or websites used for
ideas or research
• Thanks parents, students, etc.