SCIENCE FAIR Mini-Lesson #1

Warm-Up: Science Fair IntroAnswer the following questions on the notecard provided.

1. List 4 favorite activities or hobbies2. List 3 news or science headlines that

interest you3. List 2 recent inventions that caught

your attention or you are fascinated by

4. List 1 thing you would change about the world if you could.

Why is the Science Fair Important?• It SHOULD require students to demonstrate

their skills as a scientist

• It SHOULD involve an interesting problem students want to solve

• It SHOULD heighten student interest in science

• A science fair project SHOULD NOT be a means to torture students

www.sciencebuddies.org• Find all of your reading assignments for

the science fair

• Find most of your worksheets required for the science fair

• Use topic selector

• Ask an expert

Starting The Science Fair Journey….

1. Parent Letter (give to parents / guardians)

2. Schedule

3. Background Research Plan Worksheet & Bibliography Worksheet

TODAY…..1. Take 2 column notes on the reading, “The

Steps of the Scientific Method” and “Your Question”

– 3 main ideas and 8 details TOTAL– In your composition book (title: Science Fair

Mini-Lesson #1)– You will have 20 minutes to complete– If you finish early, begin scanning the topic book

on your desk

Questions from Reading1. When should you do background

research?

2. What should an experiment measure?

3. What sort of topics should we avoid?

RULES FOR TOPICS- NO to vertebrates- YES to insects, worms, sow bugs- NO to humans- NO to models- NO to bacteria & mold- NO to tissues, DNA, hazardous substances,

controlled chemicals

What to look for in a topic?

• Are you interested in it?

• Is there a factor that can be changed? • Can the changed factor be measured

easily?

• Is it age appropriate?

TODAY YOU WILL WRITE YOUR PROPOSAL….

• DO use the topic books to help

• DON’T think just because its in the topic book that I will approve it

• DO fill out the “Student Proposal Plan” for a topic you wish to perform

• DON’T ask me to look at your topic until you are 100% sure it will be approved & do not start the research until you have my approval!!!

• You must have your topic chosen and proposal plan submitted by the beginning of next week

• If you are approved, proceed with:- “Background research plan worksheet”: you must have 10 relevant questions total

- “Bibliography worksheet”: you must have AT LEAST 3 sources total