Transcript Science Fair - Santee School District

Science Fair
What is a science fair?
How can you help your child?
Why a Science Fair Project?
1. Work across the curriculum.
2. Conduct independent research.
3. Utilize the scientific method.
4. Develop writing skills.
5. Employ mathematical and analytical skills.
6. Give oral presentations.
7. Find the answers to their own questions.
8. Carry an idea through to completion.
Why a Science Fair continued…
9. Work to deadline.
10. Respect humane and safety considerations.
11. Document procedures.
12. Create artistic displays.
13. Integrate into one activity all of the skills that are
usually taught separately.
What Does a Science Fair Project Contain?
1. A Notebook.
2. A display/backboard.
3. Apparatus.
Rio Seco Science Fair
Project Guide
• RSSFGuide2009-2010.doc
How Do I Start?
One of the hardest parts of the science fair project is
coming up with the idea. What are you interested in? Is
there a question you’ve always wanted to know the answer
to?
Is it testable? Is it measurable?
How to get ideas:
1. Look on the internet on science fair idea
websites..
http://www.sciencebuddies.com/
Science Fair on About.com
2. Look in the science textbook. Many labs can
be converted into science fair projects.
a. Are You Getting Your Vitamins? (8th grade
textbook P. 324) – testing beverages for Vit. C.
b. Which antacid neutralizes stomach acid with
the smallest number of drops? (8th grade P. 280)
c. What factors affect the speed of rotation of a
lawn sprinkler? (8th grade P. 423).
d. How can cut flowers stay fresher for a longer
period of time? (7th grade P. 27).
e. Is there a relationship between exercise and the
amount of carbon dioxide you exhale? (7th grade
P. 128).
3. Go to the Santee library and check out a science fair
ideas book.
4. Borrow a science fair book from Dr. Shevinsky.
What’s Next?
Once you have picked the project you’re interested
in it’s time for background research.
What is the science behind your project? Use the
science textbook, encyclopedia, and then, maybe,
the internet. Students must use at least two print
resources for their research.
If you have used an idea from the textbook the
background research is the chapter and section
where the idea was found.
Some good web sites:
http://www.howstuffworks.com
http://www.ask.com
http://www.sciencebuddies.com/
For chemistry experiments:
http://www.chem4kids.com
Plan the Experiment
What materials do you need?
What procedure are you going to follow?
a. Plan a controlled experiment with only
one manipulated variable.
b. There must be at least one responding
variable which is measurable.
c. What is the control?
d. How many times will the experiment be
repeated? (number of trials?)
Does temperature affect a chemical reaction?
Problem: Does changing the temperature of a solution affect the
amount of carbon dioxide produced when mixing baking soda and
vinegar?
Hypothesis:
Suggested Materials:
Baking soda
Ice cubes
Vinegar
Thermometer
Bottle
Measuring spoons
Balloons
Microwave
Procedure (Suggested, can be modified)
1. Take a 1 liter bottle, add 500 ml room temperature
vinegar to the bottle.
2. Add 5 ml. baking soda to a 9” balloon.
3. Put the balloon on the bottle and shake the baking
soda into the vinegar.
4. After the solution stops bubbling measure the
circumference of the balloon in cm.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 9X at room temperature.
6. Repeat steps 1-4 10X at 50°C.
7. Repeat steps 1-4 10X at 5°C.
Perform the Experiment.
At home, under adult supervision. Forms are needed
for:
•Hazard form to use bacteria, mold, fungi, chemicals,
fire – anything which not handled properly can cause
injury.
•Certificate of compliance of research involving
humans – for projects involving human
subjects/interviewees.
•Forms at http://www.gsdsef.org.
•No experiments using vertebrate animals (can be
discussed).
Present the Experiment
1. Charts – data must be quantitative
(NUMBERS), units must be METRIC (cm.,
grams, mL, °C).
Temp.
Circum. Of
balloon
2. Graphs-manipulated variable on x-axis,
responding variable on y-axis.
Responding
Variable
(what was
measured)
Circum. Of
Balloon (cm)
Manipulated (what was changed)
Variable (Temp.)
Results
A narrative of the data, written in complete
sentences. A retelling of the numbers in the
charts and graphs.
For example: At 25°C the average circumference
of the balloon was…
Conclusion
An explanation of the data. Was the hypothesis
supported by the data or not? Were any problems
encountered while performing the experiment?
Explain the data using what was learned from the
background research. For example: There was
more CO2 produced at room temperature than in
the cold. Most chemical reactions work faster at
warmer temperatures than cold temperatures
because molecules move faster at warmer
temperatures than cold temperatures.
Works Cited
At least 5 references. Listed in alphabetical
order according to MLA standards. (See
Science Fair Project Guide.)
Standards for Judging
1. Creativeness – originality of problem,
uniqueness of approach, ingenious use of
equipment and materials.
2. Scientific Thought – depth of study and effort
in employing scientific procedures in the
solution of a clearly defined problem.
3. Thoroughness – the study is complete within
the scope of the problem. Scientific literature
has been searched, experiments have been
repeated, careful records have been kept.
Timeline
Assignment
Due Date:
1. Idea for project
October 27
2. Background Research
November 15
3. Problem & Hypothesis
November 19
4. Experimental Design
November 29
5. Data
December 6
6. Results & Conclusion
December 13
7. Abstract
December 15
8. Report
January 18
8. Backboard
January 31
9. Rio Seco Science Fair
February 3-4
10. Judging for GSDSEF
February 14-15
11. SSD Science Fair
TBA
12. GSDSEF
March 22-27
Greater San Diego Science and
Engineering Fair
www.gsdsef.org
Projects to Avoid
Ideas for projects
Rules and regulations
Standards for judging
E-mail: [email protected]