Transcript SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS Tips for a Successful Project Selecting a Topic  Web pages 1. 2.     Use a search engine (Yahoo, etc.) Use Science Corner on the.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS
Tips for a Successful Project
Selecting a Topic
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Web pages
1.
2.
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Use a search engine (Yahoo, etc.)
Use Science Corner on the Vermilion Parish web site
(www.vrml.k12.la.us)
School library
Public library
University Library
Write to science services
How to Identify a Good Topic
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Topic has to be narrow, specific.
Topic must be realistic, practical (do you have
access to the equipment, etc.).
Topic must survive constraints from rules and
regulations.
Topic must match your interests!
Types of Projects
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Models
 Most
have limited creativity!
 An example of a creative model would be a design for
a more efficient airplane that would include
experiments supporting the theory behind the model
design.
Types of Projects
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Surveys
 Be
aware of rules!
 Before drawing conclusions use math (statistics) to
analyze your results.
 Use data tables and/or graphs over a period of time
in order to use extrapolation.
Type of Projects
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A repeat from the past
 An
example would be an illustration of a scientific law.
 This type of project might lack creativity!
 Look for an original application rather than a repeat.
 View things from a different angle!
 For example: write a computer program to simulate
Mendel’s genetics.
Types of Projects
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Original Investigation
 This
is the most difficult to plan or conduct!
 It requires more library research, more critical thinking
and lab work, but is also the closest to a scientific
approach.
Planning For Your Project
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Narrow your topic

For example: instead of studying the effects of acid rain on a
pond, investigate the effect of an acidic environment on a
specific plant in a lab situation.
Planning For Your Project
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Document what you read
 Use
index cards in a library search!
 For Books: Record author’s name, title, publisher, date
of publication
 For Magazines: Record author’s name, title, journal
name, publisher, volume number, and page number(s).
 For an Internet Source: Record author and URL.
Example of a Scientific Bibliography
Magazines
Young, M., “Pinhole Optics,” Applied Optics,10, 2763 (1971).
Fitch, J. M., ”The control of Luminous environment” Scientific
American, 219, 190 (Sep .1968).
Prigo, Robert, Bachman, C.H., “some observations on the process
of walking,” Physics teacher.14. 360 (1976).
Example of a Scientific Bibliography
Books
Goldstein, Herbert, Classical Mechanics, Addisson-Wesley,
Reading, MA (1950), p.308.
Uvarov, Boris, Grasshoppers and locusts: a handbook of general
acridology, Cambridge University Press, London vol.1 (1977)
p.479.
Plan Your Equipment
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Be realistic! Cut down on expenses.
If you are an exceptionally talented high school
student, you might be invited upon recommendation
of your teacher to be mentored by a university
professor. Therefore, you will have access to a
university lab under your mentor’s supervision.
Plan Your Equipment
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If you can construct some of your own equipment to
gather data, this is a plus because you demonstrate
creativity.
You may make the measurements at school by
making arrangements with a teacher.
Plan for Safety
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Avoid disease causing organisms, explosive gases,
and/or dangerous chemicals!
If your project presents any safety concerns, make
certain to work under the supervision of a qualified
scientist.
Always share your project with your science sponsor
at school! He or she will inform you about safety or
refer you to someone who can advise you.
Plan Your Time
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Keep a book where you will record your data and
an agenda, list of supplies, bibliography, etc.
Plan your time for each part of your project.
Set a realistic timeline, as well as a deadline.
This will train you in learning responsibility and
organization.
Realistic Planning: Timeline
Duration
What
Selecting topic
Refining topic
Preparing plans
Conducting experiments
Evaluating results
Preparing reports
Prepare the display Board
Presenting the project
Date due
Scientific Method
Hypothesis (Your Purpose)
Should be one, clear and brief sentence based on the
information gathered during research. The hypothesis is
followed by a brief statement explaining or justifying this
purpose.
Do not consider your experiment or project a failure if your
investigation does not confirm your hypothesis. Just say that your
hypothesis is not verified in your conclusion. The important point
is to arrive at the truth. You may suggest further research or
include a second phase in your project if the time permits.
Your Experiment
Outline steps: keep design as simple as possible (the
more complicated, the greater the chance of error).
Types
1) qualitative: careful observations without getting
involved in measurement or statistical analysis.
2) quantitative: measurements and collection of
numerical data (use the metric system); best type of
data because it permits you to use mathematics to
establish relations; not based on opinions, but facts.
Doing Your Experiment
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Include a control: vary the experimental conditions; if
the outcome is caused by another factor, this will
allow you to single out the results.
Keep accurate and regular records.
Objectivity: Do not discard a result that is not in
agreement with the rest of the study. Lone results
may be due to faulty or contaminated samples, math
errors, or give a clue to some interesting discovery.
Results
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Keep a notebook for recording any information,
observations and data (in tables, graphs, etc.). Do
not use scrap paper - use photographs, drawings,
diagrams, etc.
You must never commit results to memory.
Your Conclusion
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Must come directly and solely from the data in your notebook.
If you cannot arrive at any conclusion from your data, find a
different approach to your experiment.
Must be clear and concise. Do not hesitate to present all the
conclusions your data can support (especially if your project
has several phases).
Do not reach a conclusion that is not supported by your data!
The conclusion should suggest a direction for further study.
What To Include In Your Report
A Title
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Do not be vague.
Include both the dependent and independent
variables in your title.
In an engineering project, the title might be the
name of your design or your design versus its
performance in a given environment.
The Body
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Look at the format used in “Scientific American.”
Your whole report might be handwritten or typed.
If you have access to a computer, it is best to type
(your note book can be handwritten). If you type,
use double space, 1” margin on an eleven by eight
and half inch sheet of paper.
The Abstract
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The abstract is the summary of your scientific report.
Make certain that you write the abstract only after
you write the report so you may stick to the
essentials.
State Your Purpose
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Be brief! You want to familiarize the reader with
the problem you are intending to solve.
Explain what impact your investigation may have on
scientific or technical knowledge.
Explain Your Methods
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This is your procedure.
The materials you use.
This is the step-by-step investigation.
Follow-Up With Results
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These are your observations.
Your observations will be recorded in sentences and
paragraphs. Be clear concise simple and accurate.
You may use photos or schematic illustrations.
Record in tables and/or graphs.
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Graphs take a primordial place in the way the scientific community
communicates information .
They are almost always included in any scientific report.
Organization of Data in a Table
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The independent variable is written in the first
column.
For example: when you walk, the distance you walk is changing as a
function of time (D = f (t). Time is the independent variable and distance is
the dependent variable.
The time data will be in the first column and the distance data in the second
column.
Note: As shown in the next slide, if an SI unit is named after a person, it
has to be capitalized. The unit of current is named after the scientist
Ampere and the unit of potential is named after the scientist Volta. The
equation is V = R (I). The amount of volts depend on the amount of
current.
Example of a Data Table
Note: the independent variable is placed in the first column.
Current (Amperes)
Potential (Volts)
0.12
1.2001
0.14
1.3358
0.18
1.7871
0.20
2.0004
0.25
2.4715
Example of a Graph
Growth rate of Beans Plant
9
8
y = 0.4734x + 0.7195
R2 = 0.994
7
Growth (cm)
6
5
4
3
2
y = 0.2264x + 0.0629
R2 = 0.9966
1
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
Time (days)
Roots (cm)
Stem (cm)
12
14
16
Example of a Graph
% Light at Pecan Island on Dec 21 2000 and on June 21 2002
100
% Light (Relative Scale)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
5
10
15
Time 21
(hr)
% light on December
20
25
% light on June 21
30
Analyze Your Results
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Establish relationships or proportionality factors.
Determine how data are mathematically related.
 The
variables are directly proportional (straight line: y
= mx +b).
 The variable are inversely proportional (hyperbola: y
= k/x).
 The variables vary as a square function (parabola: y =
ax2 + bx+ c).
Conclude Your Report
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Use your analysis to establish conclusive statements.
The conclusion should always include suggestions for
further research to solve the problem or look at it
from a different angle. (What new problems or
questions were uncovered by the project?)
Include Your References
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This is your bibliography. (See examples on Slide #
10 and Slide #11.)
Your Board Display
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The Exhibit Size is Limited!
76 cm (30 inches) deep, front to back.
122cm (48 inches) wide, side to side.
274 cm (108 inches) high, floor to top.
Projects exceeding these dimensions are
automatically disqualified!
Presenting Your Project
Introduce yourself. Do not mention your school. Give
the title of your project.
Explain your purpose. Summarize any background
information. Discuss briefly how you developed
an interest in the topic.
Explain how you proceeded. Use your display to
support your explanations.
Examples of Displays
Examples of Displays
Examples of Displays
Examples of Displays
Presenting your Project
Emphasize results and conclusions. Point to your
exhibit to support your logic. This will help as you
present your project logically and sequentially.
Tell about applications or suggestions for further study
or suggestions to improve your project.
Invite questions from the judges.
Additional Tips
Practice makes perfect!!!!!
Practice in front of friends, teachers, parents.
Do not antagonize the judges!
Do not chew gum, wear extravagant clothing, etc.
People are impressed with good manners!
Additional Tips
Do not stand between the exhibit and the judges, but on
the side. Give them a copy of your abstract, peak
their interest, and maintain interest by periodic eye
contact.
Point to lab apparatus, charts, and photographs on
display. This will allow you to describe your project in
an appropriate sequence. Do not read directly from
your project. You should know what you are talking
about! This is your project!
Judging Criteria
Scientific Content and Application
Does the project have a clear hypothesis? Is the
problem specific and well stated? Are all variables
recognized and defined? If a control was necessary, was it
included? Is the data sufficient and relevant?
How do you communicate scientific thought? Do you use
scientific language, tables ,charts, and/or graphs? Is your
analysis based upon mathematical relationships? How did
you arrive at your conclusions?
Did it include ideas for further research? Does it contain
a bibliography?
Judging Criteria
Creativity and Originality
Did you construct a piece of equipment?
How did you get the idea for your project?
Judging Criteria
Thoroughness
Are your conclusions based on a single experiment or do you
have enough repetitions to obtain sufficient data?
Did you look at all possible approaches?