STEM FairSTEM Fair

Oliver Beach ElementaryOliver Beach Elementary

Wednesday, April 23, 2014Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Step 1: Summary and Approval Step 1: Summary and Approval FormForm

Step 2: BACKGROUND INFORMATIONStep 2: BACKGROUND INFORMATION(Research Report)(Research Report)

The next step in your project is to The next step in your project is to collect as much factual information collect as much factual information as you can about your topic. This is as you can about your topic. This is not about your experiments and not about your experiments and should not include any predictions. should not include any predictions. Your research report should be at Your research report should be at least 2 paragraphs. Each paragraph least 2 paragraphs. Each paragraph should be about 4 – 6 sentences. should be about 4 – 6 sentences. You need to include a bibliography.You need to include a bibliography.

Sources of Background Sources of Background InformationInformation

Books Magazines Books Magazines NewspapersNewspapers

Interview Internet

BibliographyBibliographyAll resources that you use in your project must be All resources that you use in your project must be listed with your research report. Make sure you listed with your research report. Make sure you list each one alphabetically and in proper format. list each one alphabetically and in proper format. You should have at least 3 references. The more You should have at least 3 references. The more references you have, the better your project will references you have, the better your project will be.be.

Author’s last name, First name, Title of the book, where published: publisher, year published, pages used

Sample:

Hemphill, Gene, Lima Beans and You, New York, NY: Hyde Publishing Corporation,2004, pp.34-43

Log BookLog Book

Inside the log book: brainstorm Inside the log book: brainstorm project topics, take notes for your project topics, take notes for your research report. Record your: research report. Record your: question, hypothesis, materials, question, hypothesis, materials, procedure, variables, chart, drawings procedure, variables, chart, drawings and diagrams, graph, written results and diagrams, graph, written results and conclusion.and conclusion.

Step 3: PROBLEM StatementStep 3: PROBLEM Statement(Question)(Question)

The first step in the scientific The first step in the scientific method is to identify your method is to identify your problem. It should be written in problem. It should be written in the form of a question. You can the form of a question. You can use your problem as the title of use your problem as the title of your science fair project.your science fair project.

Testable QuestionsTestable Questions• What is a Testable Question?What is a Testable Question?

• Testable questions are those that can be answered through Testable questions are those that can be answered through hands-on investigation by the student. The key difference hands-on investigation by the student. The key difference between a general interest science question and a testable between a general interest science question and a testable question is that testable questions are always about changing question is that testable questions are always about changing one thing to see what the effect is on another thing.one thing to see what the effect is on another thing.

• A good question A good question must lead to an investigation must lead to an investigation (experiment(experiment) ) notnot a report, a demonstration or model. The a report, a demonstration or model. The question may ask about the question may ask about the effecteffect of one thing upon another. of one thing upon another.

• should be one from which you can collect data (ideally should be one from which you can collect data (ideally measurements or direct observation) measurements or direct observation) rather thanrather than opinions. opinions.

• should be specific rather than really broad.should be specific rather than really broad.• is one which the materials needed to experiment with are is one which the materials needed to experiment with are

easy to findeasy to find..

Examples of “testable” questions:Examples of “testable” questions:

• How does temperature affect the bounce of How does temperature affect the bounce of a basketball?a basketball?

• How does changing the height of a ramp How does changing the height of a ramp affect how far a car will travel?affect how far a car will travel?

• What affect does the color or type of light What affect does the color or type of light have on plant growth?have on plant growth?

• What affect does the type of soil have on What affect does the type of soil have on the growth of a tomato plant?the growth of a tomato plant?

• What affect does the surface have on the What affect does the surface have on the distance a car or skate board will travel?distance a car or skate board will travel?

• How does temperature affect the strength How does temperature affect the strength of a magnet?of a magnet?

Examples of poor Examples of poor questions:questions:

• Question: Question: How do volcanoes erupt?How do volcanoes erupt?

• Reason: Reason: This project would be a model not an This project would be a model not an experiment, is too vague (broad), and will not involve experiment, is too vague (broad), and will not involve data collection.data collection.

• Question: Question: What are optical illusions and how do What are optical illusions and how do people see them?people see them?

• Reason: Reason: This question is not an experiment and This question is not an experiment and asks for opinions not data.asks for opinions not data.

• Question: Question: What effect does caffeine have on the What effect does caffeine have on the bloodstream?bloodstream?

• Reason: Reason: This project is one for which students This project is one for which students would not have the materials necessary to test it OR would not have the materials necessary to test it OR would involve the ingestion of caffeine to observe would involve the ingestion of caffeine to observe reactions in a vertebrate animal (including humans) reactions in a vertebrate animal (including humans) and would be disqualified.and would be disqualified.

Step 4: Form a HYPOTHESISStep 4: Form a HYPOTHESIS

Now that you understand your project a little Now that you understand your project a little better you have to predict what your better you have to predict what your experiment’s results will be. This is your experiment’s results will be. This is your hypothesis. A hypothesis is no ordinary guess. It hypothesis. A hypothesis is no ordinary guess. It is an “educated” guess, because you will is an “educated” guess, because you will use use your background research your background research to help you predict to help you predict the results of your experiment before you actually the results of your experiment before you actually perform it.perform it.

Write your hypothesis as an “If/Then/because” Write your hypothesis as an “If/Then/because” statement.statement.

If I water the plants, then they

will grow, because most

plants need water in order to survive.

Step 5: MATERIALSStep 5: MATERIALS

Materials: Materials: List all the materials List all the materials you plan to use in your you plan to use in your experiment. Make sure you list experiment. Make sure you list the amounts and units. (how the amounts and units. (how many? How much?) If possible many? How much?) If possible use the metric system. Make use the metric system. Make sure you have enough to sure you have enough to complete 3 trials. (especially complete 3 trials. (especially plants)plants)

Step 6: PROCEDUREStep 6: PROCEDURE

•Procedure:Procedure: List all the steps of List all the steps of your experiment in the exact order your experiment in the exact order you will perform them. (numbered you will perform them. (numbered steps) Be clear, but keep it simple. steps) Be clear, but keep it simple. Other people should be able to Other people should be able to replicate your experiment by replicate your experiment by following your procedure.following your procedure.

Step 7: Identify VARIABLESStep 7: Identify VARIABLESControlled: Controlled: In every experiment, there In every experiment, there

are factors that remain the same. These are factors that remain the same. These are the controlled variablesare the controlled variables

Independent: Independent: The one factor in your The one factor in your experiment that is intentionally changed experiment that is intentionally changed in your investigation is the independent in your investigation is the independent variable. (You can have variable. (You can have only one only one independent variable.)independent variable.)

Dependent: Dependent: The factor that is being The factor that is being observed and measured. This is the observed and measured. This is the dependent variable.dependent variable.

Step 8: Perform your Step 8: Perform your EXPERIMENTEXPERIMENT

After recording steps 3 – 7 in your log After recording steps 3 – 7 in your log book, show them to your teacher. If your book, show them to your teacher. If your teacher approves them, you are now teacher approves them, you are now ready to begin experimenting!ready to begin experimenting!

It’s a good idea to have an adult present

when experimenting!

Repeat the experimentRepeat the experiment

After you have finished your After you have finished your experiment run it at least two more experiment run it at least two more times. You must complete times. You must complete at least at least three trialsthree trials. The more the test are . The more the test are repeated, the more accurate your repeated, the more accurate your results will be. Find the results will be. Find the mean/average of these three trials.mean/average of these three trials.

Steps 9 and 10: Results and Written Steps 9 and 10: Results and Written Results Results

Observe, record, and analyze your data. Observe, record, and analyze your data.

Remember to keep a record (log book) of all Remember to keep a record (log book) of all the data you have gathered in your the data you have gathered in your experiment. Use data chart or table, graph experiment. Use data chart or table, graph (line or bar), diagrams and photographs to (line or bar), diagrams and photographs to help show your data. Using your data and help show your data. Using your data and observations, tell your findings. Give only observations, tell your findings. Give only the facts to back up your results.the facts to back up your results.

Step 11: State your CONCLUSIONSStep 11: State your CONCLUSIONS

You should begin your conclusion by saying if your You should begin your conclusion by saying if your hypothesis was supported by your data or not hypothesis was supported by your data or not supported by your data. You should answer your supported by your data. You should answer your original question. You should include inferences that original question. You should include inferences that can be made from the results of the experiment. Tell can be made from the results of the experiment. Tell about any problems that happened during your about any problems that happened during your experiment that may have affected the results. experiment that may have affected the results. Include any questions the could be investigated in the Include any questions the could be investigated in the future, related to your original investigation. At the future, related to your original investigation. At the end of your conclusion, tell how your project could end of your conclusion, tell how your project could contribute to real life situations. This is known as your contribute to real life situations. This is known as your application.application.

Step 12: Construct your Step 12: Construct your BackboardBackboard

Experimental Projects …Experimental Projects …• What is an experimental project?What is an experimental project?

A good experimental project involves the student A good experimental project involves the student in a journey of discovery, driven by curiosity. It in a journey of discovery, driven by curiosity. It must be based on a testable question or problem. must be based on a testable question or problem. It includes a problem or question; hypothesis; It includes a problem or question; hypothesis; independent, dependent, and controlled independent, dependent, and controlled variables; data display in the form of a graph or variables; data display in the form of a graph or chart showing the results of the manipulation of chart showing the results of the manipulation of the independent variable; a conclusion including the independent variable; a conclusion including a restatement of the problem or question, a a restatement of the problem or question, a statement of support or non-support of the statement of support or non-support of the hypothesis, an explanation and analysis of the hypothesis, an explanation and analysis of the results, and a description of further research.results, and a description of further research.

Experimental Projects (cont.)Experimental Projects (cont.)• Acceptable examples:Acceptable examples:

include any question that is answered by doing an include any question that is answered by doing an experiment or investigation and includes the control of experiment or investigation and includes the control of independent, dependent, and controlled variables.independent, dependent, and controlled variables.

• Unacceptable examples:Unacceptable examples: The growth of bacteria from our environment such as The growth of bacteria from our environment such as

washed/unwashed hands, cutting boards, kitchen spongeswashed/unwashed hands, cutting boards, kitchen sponges The use of vertebrate animals (including humans) as test The use of vertebrate animals (including humans) as test

subjectssubjects The use of controlled substances such as drugs, alcohol, The use of controlled substances such as drugs, alcohol,

or dangerous chemicalsor dangerous chemicals Models or demonstrations such as volcanoesModels or demonstrations such as volcanoes

Observational Projects …Observational Projects …

• What is an observational project?What is an observational project?Projects based on a question formed from prior Projects based on a question formed from prior observations and includes a hypothesis, data observations and includes a hypothesis, data collected by scientists, observation, or surveys collected by scientists, observation, or surveys of people , animals, or the environment of people , animals, or the environment displayed in the form of a chart or graph, an displayed in the form of a chart or graph, an explanation of the data identifying patterns explanation of the data identifying patterns and trends, and a conclusion that answers the and trends, and a conclusion that answers the question. question.

Observational Projects (cont.)Observational Projects (cont.)• Acceptable examples:Acceptable examples:

Weather questions involving the use of data collected by Weather questions involving the use of data collected by scientists in the fieldscientists in the field

Astronomy questions involving data from satellites, probes, Astronomy questions involving data from satellites, probes, space missions, or telescopesspace missions, or telescopes

Physical science questions involving mathematical conceptsPhysical science questions involving mathematical concepts Environmental questions involving movement or behavior of Environmental questions involving movement or behavior of

animalsanimals

• Unacceptable examples:Unacceptable examples: Any project that involves the giving of food, water, exercise, Any project that involves the giving of food, water, exercise,

or learning to any vertebrate animal (including humans)or learning to any vertebrate animal (including humans) Reports based on a collection of facts not centered on a Reports based on a collection of facts not centered on a

questionquestion

http://www.bcps.org/offices/science/STEM/

Link to BCPS website to help Link to BCPS website to help students and inform parentsstudents and inform parents

Our Students at work!Our Students at work!

Our DisplaysOur Displays

Our DisplaysOur Displays

WebsitesWebsites

•http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Getting-Started.html

•http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx

•http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

•http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/projects.html

In an experiment, the variable that is being tested is the

Independent variable

Control variable

Dependent variable

A hypothesis is most closely related to which of the following?

A law

A wild guess

A theory

An educated prediction

After you record your data from an experiment you should

Publish your results and share them with your peers

Pack up and go home.

Form a hypothesis.

Summarize your findings in a conclusion and state whether your findings support your hypothesis or not.

What is the first step of the scientific method?

Publish your results

Research background information

Make an observation

Form a hypothesis