Chaparral Elementary 2008/09

School Science Fair Bulletin 

Dear Parents and Students,

Science Fair Time is here again!  This year, it is scheduled for March 26th. All projects are due on March 25th, so they can be presented in class, and displayed the following day, in the Multipurpose Room. On March 27th, classes will have an opportunity to walk through the fair during school. Attached you will find information for the project/or report.

This year all students will have the option of choosing one of three projects: (1) The traditional science project following the scientific method (2) An invention where students apply basic science skills in a creative and productive manner and (3) A science research report where students learn about inventors, inventions, or science concepts.

Remember that the objective of a science project is to learn more about science. The project does not have to be highly complex to be successful. There are many ways to develop an excellent project that answers very basic and fundamental questions about an event or situation encountered on a daily basis. Encourage your child to pick a topic that will be interesting, appropriate, and fun. Students may work individually or with one partner.

Timeline:

Science Project Acknowledgement Form: Due Monday, March 9th

Science Project: Due Wednesday, March 25th  

Science Project Acknowledgement

Return to school by Monday, March 9th

I have read the following information on the Science Project. I understand that all students must choose a topic and create a project/report that is due by March 25th. My child has chosen to complete the following project (check one):

_______       Option 1: Science Project: Title & Hypothesis __________________________

_______       Option 2: Invention: Idea of Invention ______________________________

_______       Option 3: Research Report: Research Topic ___________________________

Parent signature _______________________________________________

Student signature ____________________________________________________

Chaparral Elementary School Science Fair Bulletin 

We are very proud of the effort you put into this project to make the fair successful and rewarding!  Students should attempt to pick a project relating to one of his/her grade level standards. See science standards at http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/scmain.asp.              

REQUIREMENTS:  Select from ONE of the projects:

1. SCIENCE PROJECT (Option 1):  Science Project Plan completed, turned in to teacher, signed by parent. A one page summary of the research report to include: Title of the projectPurpose-- what you wanted to find out

Hypothesis--what you thought would happen

Procedure--what you did, materials used, who helped you

Results--what happened, charts, tables

Conclusions--what you learned

Display Board that displays all of the above information plus pictures and/or                drawings

2. INVENTION (Option 2): A written report to include:

Title of the inventionProblem- What is the problem that I tried to solve?  Research/Procedure- What did I do to research the problem?

Materials- What materials would be needed in my invention?

Results- How did I solve the problem?  

Conclusions--What did you learn?  

Display Board that displays all of the above information plus pictures and/or        drawings

3. SCIENCE RESEARCH REPORT (Option 3): A written report to include:

Title of the inventor, invention, or science concept studied

Purpose- What is the reason that you chose the topic to study?  

Research/Procedure- What did the inventor or invention contribute to society? What was the scientific process that was followed?

Results/Conclusions- What did others learn science? What did you learn about science?   

Bibliography

Science Project (Option 1)

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Creating the Purpose

Research is the process of collecting information from your own experiences, knowledgeable sources, and data from exploratory experiments. Your first research is used to select a project topic. After you have selected a topic, you create a purpose for your report. What do you wish to find out? The problem is the scientific question to be solved. It is best expressed as an "open-ended" question, which is a question that is answered with a statement, not just a yes or a no. For example, "How does light affect the reproduction of bread mold on white bread?". Do limit your problem. Do choose a problem that can be solved experimentally. For example, the question "What is a mold?" can be answered by finding the definition of the word mold in the dictionary. But, "At room temperature, what is the growth rate of bread mold on white bread?" is a question that can be answered by experimentation.

Making a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is an idea about the solution to a problem, based on knowledge and research. While the hypothesis is a single statement, it is the key to a successful project. All of your project research is done with the goal of expressing a problem, proposing an answer to it (the hypothesis), and designing project experimentation. Then all of your project experimenting will be performed to test the hypothesis. The hypothesis should make a claim about how two factors relate. Do state facts from past experiences or observations on which you base your hypothesis. Do write down your hypothesis before beginning the project experimentation. Don't change your hypothesis even if experimentation does not support it. If time permits, repeat or redesign the experiment to confirm your results.

Conducting the Procedure

Gather all the necessary materials before starting the experiment and then start your project experimentation to test your hypothesis. The things that have an effect on the experiment are called variables. There are three kinds of variables that you need to identify in your experiments: independent, dependent, and controlled. The independent variable is the variable you purposely manipulate (change). The dependent variable is the variable that is being observed, which changes in response to the independent variable. The variables that are not changed are called controlled variables. Do have only one independent variable during an experiment. Do repeat the experiment more than once to verify your results. Do have a control. Do have more than one control, with each being identical. Do organize data.

List Project Results

Give a detailed explanation of what happened in your experiment.

Write the Project Conclusion

The project conclusion is a summary of the results of the project experimentation and a statement of how the results relate to the hypothesis. Reasons for experimental results that are contrary to the hypothesis are included. If applicable, the conclusion can end by giving ideas for further testing. If your results do not support your hypothesis: DON'T change your hypothesis. DON'T leave out experimental results that do not support your hypothesis. DO give possible reasons for the difference between your hypothesis and the experimental results. DO give ways that you can experiment further to find a solution. If your results support your hypothesis: You might say, for example, "My experimentation supports the idea that ... If I were to improve on this experiment, I would...".

Pictures/Drawings/Graph

Be sure to include pictures, drawings or graphs of your procedure or results.

Some information taken from Janice VanCleave's Guide to the Best Science Fair Projects,

Janice VanCleave (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997)

Ideas for Science Fair Projects

What factors influence plant growth?

Which materials do the best job of transmitting sound?

How does the shape of a lens bend light?

How can steel be kept from rusting?

Where does the air around your home contain the most particles of pollution?

How does taking a bath change the humidity in the bathroom?

Which filtering systems work best to clear water?

How does the color of light affect plant growth?

What conditions affect the growth of mold?

How does water move through a leaf?

How do icicles form?

How does dishwashing liquid clean away oil?

How can a rubber band transform energy?

How does smell affect taste?

How does a person's body temperature vary during the day?

How do different kinds of music affect heart rate?

What effect does heredity have on fingerprint characteristics?

How does a compass work?

What effect does cloud cover have on nighttime temperatures?

What is the average wind speed around your home?

Science Project Plans

 Write the purpose of your science project and what you’re planning to do. Include the resources and materials you will need to complete it.

The purpose is: _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

The title is: ________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

My hypothesis is: ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

References I may use: _________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Experiment I plan: ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Materials I need: _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

How I will record results: ______________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Parent signature _____________________________

Teacher signature ____________________________

Date ______________________________________

Invention (Option 2)

Finding an Idea: There are several ways to find ideas for inventions. One way is to ask people if there is anything they need. Another method is called brainstorming. You can brainstorm alone or with others. Think of the following questions: What does not work as well as you would like it to work? What job(s) would you like to see solved? What problem(s) would you like to see solved? If you could invent something to make your life easier, what would you invent? What is the most annoying problem you find at home? at school? at the airport? on the road? at the supermarket? at the bank? at the shopping center? Next, find a way to correct some of the problems. Your ideas for solving the problems can be a big step toward inventing a new or improved product. Keep in mind that your invention does not have to be a product. Instead, it can be a process for doing something. For example, it may be a better way of memorizing a list of objects, or a new card game.  

Research and Planning: Before an invention can be successful, you have to make a plan. Your plan should include all the steps you can think of, from beginning to end. When writing your plan, ask yourself questions such as these: What can I read about that will help me with my invention? Whom can I talk to about solving problems and planning properly? What materials will I need? How can I control the cost of my invention? What steps should I follow? How much time should I allow for each step? How can I test my invention? How can I be sure my invention is safe to use? Will people really use my invention? Don't be surprised if you have to change your plans along the way. Sometimes a plan will not work as well as you first thought it would. So keep an open mind for change. You may even discover a better way of completing a certain step.  

Complete the Invention: Identify the problem and possible solution. Give your invention a name. List the materials needed to illustrate your invention and to make a model of it. You will need paper, pencil, and crayons or markers to draw your invention. You might use cardboard, paper, clay, wood, plastic, yarn, paper clips, and so forth to make a model. You might also want to use an art book or a book on model-making from your school library. List, in order, the steps for completing your invention. Think of the possible problems that might occur. How would you solve them? Complete your invention. Ask your parents and teacher to help with the model. Follow your plan step by step. If you have difficulty with a certain part of your invention, talk to an expert. Try different things until you overcome the difficulty. Most of all, don't give up! Give all the important details of your process. To show that your idea works, you should test it. The results of your test should be written into your report. Be sure to make plans for displaying your invention.

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