Mentor Training Meeting #1Nov 1, 2012

First Buddy Meeting

Come to the commons immediately after school (no later than 3:15pm) Nov. 5, 2012. Check in and get 1) Mentor-Buddy worksheet, 2) your Buddy’s Contact Information Page & 2) photo.

Wait for your buddy under his/her school sign.  Remember to bring a photo of yourself to give to the buddy.

Greet your buddy as your NEW BEST FRIEND. MEET the Parent. Bond with them in this 1st meeting. Be professional! (Exchange emails & phone numbers)

Go over the Safety Quiz and Contract, and obtain parent signature on necessary form.

Look through experiment ideas in binder together, and narrow down a possible project area: biology, chemistry, physics, geology, botany, etc…

What’s a Science Fair Project A science fair project is a unique way for students to pose

their own question and answer it

By using the scientific method, the science fair project will be an independent research of a science topic ~ all work and ideas are yours, giving you “ownership” of the research problem and results!

Science Fair Project Overview

1) Getting StartedThe Scientific MethodTestable Question

2) Doing Background ResearchFinding InformationBackground Report Bibliography / Work Cited

3) Constructing a Hypothesis

VariablesHypothesis

4) Testing Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment

Experimental ProcedureMaterials ListConducting an Experiment

5) Analyzing Your Data and Drawing a Conclusion

Data Analysis & GraphsConclusions

6) Communicating Your ResultsFinal ReportDisplay BoardScience Fair Judging

The Scientific Method It is a process used to explore observations and answer

questions

Use the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships

Your buddy (with your help) will design an experiment so that when you change something on purpose, something else changes in response to that

The scientific method will help you help the student to focus on ONE science fair project question, construct a hypothesis, design, execute, and evaluate the experiment

The Scientific Method

Buddy’s Tasks for Science Fair

Form a Testable Question, devise an experiment to find a possible answer

Conduct thorough Background Research on the topic

Make a Hypothesis in the “If .... then ... because” format

o For example, if green tea extract is applied to a growing culture of E.coli, then the bacteria will not grow because green tea extract stops bacterial reproduction.

REMEMBER: THIS IS NOT YOUR PROJECT - IT IS YOUR BUDDY'S.  You will help guide them along the way.

Buddy’s Tasksfor Science Fair (cont.)

Complete the experiment. Be safe, use multiple trials, and record data

Analyze the data and form a conclusion

Further research: Include a statement about any additional questions that arose during the experiment that could be used for future research

Prepare the final written report & project board

Safety: buddies are not allowed to use hazardous chemicals of any sort  or hazardous microbes.... other potential hazardous items must be approved by Mrs.B!

Review the RULES in your Mentor Binder along with your buddy!

Safety Rules

Review Safety Contract with Buddy and Buddy’s Parent

Buddy must not use hazardous chemicals or microbes other than those approved by Mrs. B

Refer to RULES in binder, and/or check with Mrs. B or your mentor trainer if unsure

Buddy must wear proper protective gloves, aprons & goggles if using any approved chemicals

If the project needs any special equipment, check with Mrs. B to borrow/check-out the necessary supplies from her lab

Helpful Resources Science Buddies ~ a really good information site about

science projects : http://www.sciencebuddies.org/  

Check out its “Topic Selection Wizard”!http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml#helpmefindaproject

Other helpful sites:

http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html

http://www.tryscience.org/experiments/experiments_home.html

Also, look in the Binder’s Project Ideas section for more idea sites. Not only are there more ideas, there are also procedures etc…at several of these websites.

November Tasks

In the month of November (between Buddy Meetings 1 & 2), you will help your buddy:

Set up a lab notebook

Choose a project topic (get approval from Mrs. Bandrowski)

Review Safety with buddy in the first meeting

Create a Testable Question about the topic

Do Background Research on the topic

Create a Hypothesis~ an "If...then.. because" statement

Most of these students have never done a science fair project before, so be patient with them! Use consistent email protocol to communicate with them.

Like a teacher, you are there to help GUIDE the student through the process from beginning to end. DO NOT DROP OUT ON YOUR BUDDY! Check your buddy’s school fair date, if applicable

DON’T just give the answers… ASK your buddy questions that will make them think. You are there to help them.. not do it for them. Make it clear to the buddy’s parent that your role is not to conduct the experiment for the buddy. You are their mentor – not their partner!

Do NOT procrastinate! Deadlines are firm!

Remember the buddy may need more time to work on something than you would.

Bring your mentor binder and photo of yourself to the Mentor-Buddy meeting next Monday, November 5 after school, 3:15 PM to 5:30 PM. Don’t forget!

Reminders