december 12 science fair science fair project requirements: l. logbook 2. display board 3. abstract...

December 12

Science Fair

Science Fair Project Requirements:

l. logbook 2. display board3. abstract4. models and/or visual aids

• dated record of all work done on the science

project1. detailed

notes2. original

observations 3. data from the

experiment

• Start-to-finish, dated record of all work done on the project.

• Every entry should include the date it was made.

• May be handwritten or typed. • Use a composition book. • Must be organized with the following

6 sections (use professional looking tabs to clearly label each section):

1.Daily Activity Log - personal thoughts, interviews, plans, actions

• For example: 3/15/11 - did background

research on Internet today; notes are recorded in background info section of this log book

2.Background Info – • research-from books,

Internet, interviews, etc. • include a works cited

page in this section (websites, books used, etc.)

3. Scientific Method of Investigation • Problem/Research Question - 1 - 2

sentences • Hypothesis - 1 - 2 sentences • Variables - list independent

variable, dependent variable, controlled variables (constants)

• Equipment & Materials - list • Procedure - numbered list

Variables •It is important for an experiment to be a fair test.

•You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same.

Independent Variable

•One thing that you changed in your experiment.

•If you are testing the growth of plants in different light levels, the independent variable is the amount of light each group of plants receives.

Dependent Variable

•Quantity that you are measuring in your experiment

•If you are testing the growth of plants in different light levels, the dependent variable might be the height of the plants grown in different light levels.

Controlled variables

•Variables that were held constant for all groups.

•If you are testing the growth of plants in different light levels, the controlled variable might be the type of plants, the pot size, the amount of dirt and the amount of water.

4.Raw Data, Observations - use tables, notes, etc., to record your experimental results

5.Findings & Interpretations

• Interpret your results.• What do they say?

6. Conclusions & Recommendations

• State whether or not your hypothesis was correct and why.

• Make recommendations for improving your project & for further study.

Science Fair Project Requirements:

•The purpose of the display is to show what you have done.

•The exhibit should be visually appealing, using color and photos to show the work you have done.

•Photographs that are dated and labeled are useful to relay the progress of the experiment, and/or the outcome of the experiment.

The objective of a display board is to present the main

areas and conclusions of your project so that

others can easily understand what you

accomplished. 

Think of the display board as a commercial for your

project. 

TitleThe title of your project. Your name.

Data and Graphics Present any significant data, graphs, and pictures in this section.  Visual representations of your results, if done effectively, are worth thousands of words.

Problem/ PurposeState the problem that you were originally concerned with and explain why you selected the topic you did?

HypothesisState your hypothesis as an if/then statement.

ProcedureState the procedures you followed.  What experiments did you perform and why?

ResultsWhat did you find out from your data?  Explain the results here.

ConclusionsWas your hypothesis right or wrong?  Can you make a new statement that you know to be true based on your research?

RecommendationsFrom everything you learned would you make any recommendations for further research? Write your ideas for research in this section.

• brief overview of your project work

• include the title, your name, and brief summaries of the problem, hypothesis, procedures, data and conclusions 

• no more than one typed page with 1 - 2 paragraphs

• Did you create any models or experimental setups that are important in explaining your work? 

• 3-D objects and pictures are often more effective than words at communicating complex ideas. 

DISPLAY BOARD LAYOUT EXAMPLE

DISPLAY BOARD LAYOUT EXAMPLE

What not

to do !

SCIENCE FAIRIMPORTANT DATES!

• August 13: Science Fair Letter to Parents Due • August 17: Science Fair Project Question Due• August 31: Research (at least 2 full pages) & Hypothesis Due• September 14: Procedure Due• September 28: 1stLog Book Check (at least two weeks of data)• November 16: Last Log Book Check ( at least two months of

data)

• November 26-December 7: Entire Project Due

• (Display board, bibliography, abstract & log book)

• December 12: Judging will be done at school;

Teacher & Parent Resources • http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/

teacher_resources.shtml

• http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/printable_project_logbook.pdf

• http://www.yoursciencefairprojects.com/science-fair-experiment-idea.html

• http://www.fair.science-resources.org/timeline.htm

• http://rves.fort-mill.k12.sc.us/resources/science-fair

• http://www.pajaritoeec.org/education/science_fair_resources/science_fair_logbook.pdf

• http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/

REQUIREMENTS POINTS

Project Question– DUE: August 17,24

/10

Research- 2 full pages – include works cited DUE: August 31

/40

Hypothesis DUE: August 31

/10

Procedure DUE: September 14 /10

Log Book Check DUE: September 28

/30

Completed Logbook DUE: November 16 /50

Abstract (typed summary) DUE: November 26-December 7

/50

Display Board (use of models/pictures, followed directions, neatness, clarity, creativity) DUE: November 26-December 7

/300

TOTAL /500