how to do a science fair project...science fair project purpose: the purpose of my project this year...
TRANSCRIPT
How To Do A Science Fair Project
Shenandoah Valley
Elementary
STEP #1: COMPLETING A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
• Brainstorm ideas that interest you
• Choose one topic to focus on
• Begin a logbook (This should include photos, diagrams, safety & enthusiasm)
STEP #2: WHAT TYPE OF PROJECT IS IT?
There are 5 basic Science Fair Project types:• Collection – “I’ll be collecting something in order to
identify it.”• Experiment – “I’ll be altering one condition, while
keeping others constant and watching what happens to another condition.”
• Invention – “I’ll be doing a series of experiments to create a product or a process.”
• Model – “I’ll be building something to show how it works or to show a scaled model.”
• Observation – “I’ll be watching a natural situation tofind a pattern.”
EXAMPLES
Experiment: What effect does the amount of weight have on the distance a paper airplane travels?
IV = weight (measured in paper clips)DV = distance paper airplane traveled in cmCV = same amount of force (paper airplane launcher), same location, same size/wt. paper clips
Observation: What is my dog’s behavior at the front door whenhe greets someone that he knows compared to a stranger?
IV = person at door (known or stranger)DV = observed behavior of dogCV = observation done at front door, done after door bell rings (not knocking), observations recorded in same wayControl= none
STEP #3: GATHER INFORMATION
• Take lots of notes in your log book!
• Be a detective…
• Collect information about your topic
• Prepare your bibliography as you go
STEP #4: STATE THE PROBLEM AND DEFINE THE VARIABLES
• Decide on your specific problem and define its variables
• Your problem should be written in the form of a question (It should only be one sentence)
• Example: What is the effect of (IV) on the (DV) of/in (your object or system you are studying)?
• What is the effect of mass on the flight distance of a paper airplane?
VARIABLES
• Independent Variable (IV) -What you change in the experiment?(There is only one IV)
• Dependent Variable (DV) -What you observe and measure to see if it responds(You need to have a way to numerically measure the results - grams, meters, hours, days, etc.)
• Constant Variable (CV) -Conditions that are kept the same
STEP #5: DEVELOP A HYPOTHEISIS
• A hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between the IV and the DV.
• It should be written in an “If ..., then”
statement
• Example: If mass (IV) is added to a paper airplane, then its flight distance (DV) will decrease.
• If my dog greets someone that he knows (IV) at the front door, then he will wag his tail and sit quietly(DV). If my dog greets a stranger at the front door then he will jump up on the person and bark.
• Gather your materials and make a list
• Make a step-by-step list of directions (procedure)
• Do a trial run
• Prepare a data table
• Follow your procedure exactly
• Graph the results and summarize your results in a short written statement
STEP #6: FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES
and do the experiment!
STEP #7: CONCLUSION AND REFLECTION
• Your conclusion should be a reaction to your hypothesis and it should connect to your results, as well as your background information
• Your scientific worth should tell why studying your topic is important and reflected on what they learned.
• Your future study should tell what your next step would be if you were to repeat this experiment or continue the study. Were there any surprises? What would you do differently or to continue the project?
CREATING YOUR DISPLAY:
Title of Project
Problem
Hypothesis
Background Info.
Variables
Materials
Procedure
Data Table/Graph
Summary ofResults
Conclusion And Reflection
Logbook On Base
Science Fair Project
PURPOSE:The purpose of my project this yearIs to make my brother disappear.
HYPOTHESIS:The world would be a better placeIf my brother vanished without a trace.
MATERIALS:3 erasersWhite-outDisappearing ink1 younger brother1 kitchen sink
PROCEDURE:Chop up the erasers.Add the white-out and the ink.Rub it on the brotherWhile he's standing in the sink.
RESULTS:The kid was disappearing!I had almost proved my theorem!When all at once my mom came homeAnd made me re-appear him.
CONCLUSION:Experiment a failure.My brother is still here.But I'm already planningFor the science fair next year.
~ Carol Diggory Shields, Almost Late to School and More School Poems
HELPFUL WEBSITES
• http://sciencefairstl.org
• http://www.parkwayschools.net/pages/ParkwayC2/Programs_Depts/4866708780963077506/Teaching_Learning_and_Accounta/HighSchoolTeam/Science/Science_Fair_Documents/Forms
