Science Fair Training

Presented by Ms. Valencia Scroggins

5th Grade Science Teacher

How To Do A Science Project1. Get an idea for your project.2. Start a daily log

a. Daily Workb. Data

3. Do a search for background information4. State the problem in a question form5. State your hypothesis6. Design the experiment

a. Control variables (independent dependent, control)7. Conduct the experiment8. Repeat the procedure9. Analyze the data (results)10. Make a conclusion11. Communicate your results in a summary or abstract

What is a Testable Question?

The key to a good and manageable investigation is to choose a topic of interest, then ask what is called a “testable question.” Testable questions are those that can be answered through hands-on investigation by the student. The key difference between a general interest science question and a testable question is that testable questions are always about changing one thing to see what the effect is on another thing.

Examples

Broad Questions (lead to science reports): How do plants grow?

Testable Questions (lead to investigations):What amount of water is best to grow

tomatoes? or What type of soil is best to grow petunias? or What amount of sunlight is best to grow daffodils?

Categories

• Biological – Projects that deal with the vital processes of LIVING organisms, plants, microorganisms, and animals (including humans), and how these processes are affected as a result of controlling a variable. Processes may include but are not limited to: such functions as growth, maintenance, breathing rate, pulse, learning, memory, vision, etc. Animals/insects being treated must be treated humanely.

Categories

Physical – Projects related to the natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, as well as earth and space sciences, which deal primarily with NON-LIVING materials. Topics may include but are not limited to: properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, various forms of energy, forces, motions, processes that shape the earth, weather, etc.

Categories

• Environmental – Projects that deal with HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. Projects may include the relationships of energy, population, pollution, resource allocation and depletion, conservation, transportation, and technology to the total human environment. Topics may include but are not limited to: ways that humans protect or improve the quality of life by wisely using, reusing, recycling, or reducing use of our natural resources; ways that technology impacts or resources; ways that humans negatively impact the quality of life by pollution, etc.

Experiment

“Is it a Physical or Chemical Change?”

Problem: Is it a Physical or Chemical Change?

Hypothesis: (What you are going to do?, What do you think will happen?, Why/How do you think it will happen?) When I combine baking soda and vinegar, a (physical, chemical) change will occur because ….(a solution is formed or a new product is formed.)

Materials: 1 cup vinegar, 1T baking soda, 1 balloon, 1-1L bottle, 1 funnel, 1 measuring cup, 1 tablespoon, paper towels, 1 tray, journal, pencil

Procedures:1. Using the funnel, measure 1 cup of vinegar into the

1-1L bottle.2. Using the funnel, measure 1T of baking soda into the

bottle.3. Quickly, place the balloon opening over the bottle

opening.4. Repeat steps 1-3, multiple times.5. Record observations.

What did you observe (see) happen?Observations: The solution fizzed and bubbled.

The balloon “blew up” (expanded).Why/How do you think it happened?What is in the balloon?How did it get there?Is it a physical or chemical reaction?How do you know?What is happening with the baking soda and

vinegar molecules?

Control VariablesIt is important that you complete your experiment with only one

variable (same seeds, water, and soil… just changed the type of light/dark) and with repeated trials (grow 3 cotton seeds in the light and 3 in the dark) to make sure your results are valid and accurate and for back up in case one try doesn’t work.

Independent Variable The variable you are “messing with”.Dependent Variable The variable that you will record and

measure. The changes “depend” on the independent variable.Control Variable All aspects of this variable must remain

constant.

Results: When I combined the baking soda and vinegar, the substances combined to form a chemical reaction which resulted in the production of carbon dioxide, which expanded the balloon.

Conclusion: When I combined the baking soda and vinegar, my hypothesis was (valid, invalid, inconclusive) because the baking soda and vinegar resulted in a chemical reaction producing a gas which is one property that a chemical change has occurred.

Data CollectionCollected data should be in metric units and

measurable.

Quantitative Data1.Uses numbers to describe the amount of something. 2.Involves tools such as rulers, timers, graduated cylinders, etc. 3.Uses standard metric units (For instance, meters and centimeters for length, grams for mass, and degrees Celsius for volume. 4.May involve the use of a scale such as in the example below.

Qualitative DataUses words to describe the data Describes physical properties such as how something looks, feels, smells, tastes, or sounds.

As data is collected it can be organized into lists and tables. Organizing data will be helpful for identifying relationships later when making an analysis. Students can make use of technology such as spreadsheets to organize their data.

Graph

Information now must be put into a form which others can easily understand it. A line, circle, or bar graphs and/or tables need to be created. It must be labeled, clear, neat and placed in the journal.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Growth in mm

A B C D

Plants

Directional Plants

East

West

North

Bibliography Format

BOOK:One Author – Wheeler, Richard. Sherman’s March.

New York: Harper and Row, 1978.ENCYCLOPEDIA:“Wolf.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 1990.INTERNET:Marley, Samuel. “A Five-Step Approach to

Understanding Faulkner.” Netscape. 2February1998. http://www.ark.ship./~info.

Daily Log Entries

• DAILY LOG & OBSERVATIONS• Your Daily Log will be recorded as though it were a “science

fair diary”. • Your daily log should begin from the very 1st day of your

project. It will include all of the information (question, title, materials, procedures, data tables, graphs, results, conclusion, and any pictures you want to include) from the beginning to the end of your project. Remember to date each entry. This part of the project should be several pages and include many details. It will be displayed in your journal with the final project, so be neat!

Example10/20/07 Today I thought of my Science Fair question. It is……………. My title is……….10/21/07 I went to the library and found some books on my topic. I’ve been thinking about my

project and I learned a couple of interesting things…………..10/26/07 I came up with my hypothesis for my experiment. It is……………10/28/07 My materials I need to begin my project include three Marigolds plants, 1000mL of

soil, and 1000mL of tap water,……………11/2/07 My procedures are as follows: Step 1: Gather materials – 3 Marigold plants, 1000mL soil, …………. Step 2: Measure each plant in mm and record in log.11/5/07 Today I measured both the 3 plants growing on the window sill and the 3 plants

growing in my closet. I noticed some interesting things….

Science Fair Experiment Video

“Seven Steps to Preparing a Science Fair Project”

Source: United Streaming

Summary_of_Seven_Steps_to_Preparing_a_Science_Fair_Project.asf

Science Fair Project Questions

Thank you for coming

and happy experimenting!