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Resources for Science Fair SuccessStudents Using the Scientific Method

Mary Tweedy

Science Curriculum Support Specialist

Division of Mathematics, Science, and Advanced Academics

Elementary Science Leaders & CoachesMeeting

Sept. 20 – 24, 2010

Correlated to the Elementary Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Inventions Fair Handbook 2010-2011

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Overview

Elementary Science Project Fair Resources Hands-0n Inquiry Based Project: Reaction

Time!• A Science Fair Project TE Planning Form• A Science Fair Project Student Planning Form

A Science Fair Project Power Point Guide A Science Fair Project Power Point Template

Guided InquiryReaction Time

Scientific Method Do research on a topic Identify a testable question Form hypothesis Design an experiment: identify the variables, gather materials,

& write procedures Conduct the experiment Collect and record data Analyze data/results Draw conclusions & make applications Communicate the results

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Step 1: Choose a Topic. Get a notebook to record all information

collected for your project. Do research to learn as much as you can

about the experiment topic. Ask questions about your topic that you want

to answer and make sure you can observe and measure data.

More research may be needed after you decide what to investigate in your experiment.

Try the library and the internet. Cite your sources in the Bibliography.

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Topic: Human Reaction Time to a Stimulus

stimulus response

response time

motor neurons

sensory neurons

Nervous System

neurons

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What Does Reaction Time Involve?Our body uses our 5 senses to recognize a change outside

or inside the body called a stimulus. Special cells in the nervous system called neurons carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord.

Sensory neurons detect a stimulus. Then additional

neurons carry the message to the spinal cord and brain. The brain interprets the information and decides on an action. The message is carried back to the motor neurons. They direct the muscles to carry out a response. All of this happens in a fraction of a second.

This is measured as reaction time.

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Step 2 Ask a Question

Identify a question that can be answered by performing an experiment.

An experiment is a set of

steps you follow to test a hypothesis.

This question will be the Problem Statement.

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Problem Statement

Is the reaction time for your dominant hand faster, the same or slower than your nondominant hand?

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Step 3: Make a Hypothesis

Look at the Problem Statement and identify the one factor that can be tested. This is the manipulated or independent variable.

Form an idea or educated prediction that can be tested by an experiment.

Write down your Hypothesis: “If …. then (this) will happen.”

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Hypothesis

If the reaction time for both the dominant hand and nondominant hand are tested, then the reaction time will be faster for

the dominant hand.

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Step 4: Plan the Investigation

Identify and record the factors that can affect the results of the experiment under Variables.

1. Independent (manipulated) variable or the factor that is changed in the experiment. (See previous Step 3.)

2. Dependent (responding) variable or the data to be collected during the experiment.

3. Constant / Control variables or all the factors to be kept the same in the experiment.

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VariablesConstant Variables:Same ruler

Same drop and catch directions

Same partner

Same conversion chart

Manipulated Variable: Dominant hand

Nondominant hand

Responding Variable: Centimeter mark on ruler when caught

Reaction time in seconds

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Step 4 Planning Continued Write your procedures or the steps you will follow in your experiment. Each procedure step needs to be numbered. Each step needs to begin with a verb. These procedures will insure that all variables

are kept the same (constant) or controlled except the one you are testing.

Figure out and collect the materials needed for the experiment.

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Materials1 ruler with centimeter markings

two students to work as partners

Centimeters to Seconds Conversion Chart

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Procedures 1. Hold the ruler (partner 2) vertically with the 0 cm end facing down

while the other (partner 1) holds his or her thumb and pointer finger from his or her dominant hand at the bottom of the ruler—ready to catch the ruler when it is dropped.

2. Drop the ruler without warning (partner 2) and partner 1 tries to catch it as quickly as possible with his/her dominant hand.

3. Observe the centimeter mark on the ruler where the ruler was caught (use the mark closest to the bottom of the thumb). Record the number.

4. Use the conversion chart to change the centimeter measurements to a specific time in seconds. Record the time.

5. Repeat steps 1.-4. five more times and find the average.6. Repeat steps 1. – 5. with your nondominant hand.7. Change partner roles and repeat steps 1. – 6.

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Step 5: Collect, Organize, and Display Data

Start the experiment. Observe and record the quantitative data

(numbers or measurements) collected during the experiment on a data table.

Repeat the experiment three or more times to confirm results.

Take pictures during the experiment. Graph your data from all trials. (Dry Mix) Display under Data. Restate your data in a narrative form under

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Data

Partner 1 Hands

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average

Dominant .20 .235 .20 .24 .19 .21

NonDominant

.18 .21 225 225 175 .20

Reaction Time in Seconds

Partner 2 Hands

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Average

Dominant .225 .185 .195 .24 .19 .21

NonDominant

.22 .195 .17 .23 .165 .20

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Data

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Results

Data from the five trials shows that partner 1’s dominant hand an average reaction time of .21 seconds and the nondominant hand an average reaction time of .20 seconds.

Data from the five trials shows that partner 2’s dominant hand an average reaction time of .21 seconds and the nondominant hand an average reaction time of .20 seconds.

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Step 6: Drawing Conclusions* What was investigated? (Describe the problem

statement.) Restate your hypothesis, and tell if it was

supported (true) or not supported (false). What were the major findings? (Explain your

results.)

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Conclusion

This purpose of this project was to investigate if the reaction time for a person’s dominant hand is faster, the same or slower than the nondominant hand.

It was hypothesized that the dominant hand would be faster. The hypothesis was not supported. The major findings showed that the dominant hand was slower by an average of .01 of a second than the nondominant hand. However, since .01 of a second difference is so close, the results could be considered inconclusive.

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Step 7 Making Applications

What recommendations do you have for further study and for improving the experiment?

Explain what you learned from your experiment that could be applied in real life.

List any new questions that your experiment lead you to ask that could be tested in a new investigation.

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Application

The project may have been improved by compiling and reporting on a larger sample of the students’ reaction times. The data collected by each pair of students completing a project could be averaged together. If there are other classes doing the same project, their data could also be used in making a revised conclusion.

The findings from this investigation lead me to think that although hand domination affects a person’s ability to do specialized activities such as writing my name, it doesn’t always affect reaction time to a stimulus in my day-to-day life.

On average do boys and girls of the same age have the

reaction time is a new question that could be investigated. 24

Step 8 Abstract and Bibliography

Describe your purpose and hypothesis. Briefly describe your procedure. Describe and explain your results. Explain your conclusion and state if your

hypothesis was supported or not by the results. Give possible reasons.

Write about your project’s applications. List your bibliography of three or more sources.

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AbstractThis purpose of this project was to investigate if the reaction time for a person’s dominant hand is faster, the same or slower than the non -dominant hand. It was hypothesized that the dominant hand would be faster.

A partner and I alternated dropping a ruler with the other catching a ruler and observing the centimeter mark where the ruler was caught. A conversion chart was used to change the centimeter mark to seconds.

The results showed that the dominant hand was slower by an average of .01 of a second than the non-dominant hand. This did not support the hypothesis. However, since .01 of a second difference is so close, the results could also be considered inconclusive.

The project may have been improved by compiling and reporting on a larger sample of the students’ reaction times.

The findings from this investigation lead me to think that although hand domination affects a person’s ability to do specialized activities such as writing my name it doesn’t always affect reaction time to a stimulus in my day-to-day life.

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Bibliography

“Home Connections: Act Fast!” Science and Children. National Science Teachers’ Association, September 2003, pp. 53 – 54

www.SciLinks.org Keyword: Nervous System, code: SC090302

Oracle Think Quest: http://library.thinkquest.org/3007/nervous.html

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Communicate Your Inquiry

You can use the science fair blank template to create a Power Point presentation.

You can duplicate your Power Point presentation and display on a Science Fair Project Board.

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Guided InquiryReaction Time

Scientific Method Do research on a topic Identify a testable question Form hypothesis Design an experiment: identify the variables, gather materials,

& write procedures Conduct the experiment Collect and record data Analyze data/results Draw conclusions & make applications Communicate the results

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