Science /STEM Fair Handbook 2019-2020

Coming soon Date and schedule TBA

Mandatory for all MAP/PAP Science students!

If you have any questions please contact your science teacher.

Science Investigation & Engineering Projects

Students Name: _______________________Student Signature: ____________________

Parents Name: ________________________Parents Signature:____________________

My child and I have read this booklet in its entirety and will refer to it during the science fair process. We know and

understand when each section is due and that it is the student’s responsibility to turn work in on time.

Parent/Guardian phone number: ____________________________________

Parent/Guardian e-mail address: ____________________________________

TASK 1 – Set Up a blank Science Fair Notebook

Step 1: Students will document their science fair journey in their notebook. Compile a neatly hand written Science Fair bound Composition Notebook. Scientist record and document their findings as they discover new information.

*Students will practice documenting steps to completing successful experiment.

1. Place your First and last name on the front of your science fair notebook. 2. Create a title page and table of content page on the first 2 pages of your journal

TASK 2 - Select your project topic

1. Choose from “8” project categories: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Space, Engineering, Environmental Science/Plants, Math/Computer Science, Physics

2. Choose at least 3 topics and submit it to your teacher. Teacher will approve one of your choices.

Be sure to select topics that you are interested in. Also, consider amount of time it will require, types of materials, safety requirements and grade level appropriateness of the topics.

If you need help, your teacher may suggest or assign a project to you.

When Choosing a Project:

To maintain the highest level of safety for our students, the district has placed restrictions on certain projects.

Topic Allow Not Allowed

Animals The use of invertebrate animals, such as insects and worms

The use of vertebrate animals, dead or alive

Microorganisms Use of baker’s yeast, brewer’s yeast, Lactobacillus, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, oil-eating bacteria, and algae-eating bacteria, and non-pathogenic protists

The use of bacteria or other microorganisms, unless listed in the allowed section

Body Tissues Use of sterilized teeth if obtained from a dentist

The use of blood, DNA, tissue, or body fluids, unless listed in the allowed section

Hazardous Chemicals and Devices

The use of hazardous chemicals or devices (including Class I and Class

II lasers) will require a Risk Assessment Form to be completed and turned into your teacher

The use of firearms or explosives, illegal or prescription drugs, tobacco, fireworks, Class III or Class IV lasers, or ethyl alcohol

(drinkable alcohol)

Human Subjects

The use of human subjects will require a Human Subject Form to be completed and turned into your teacher

Some investigations that may harm a human, such as the ingestion of materials; certain types of exercises; certain types of psychological questions; exposure to inappropriate material; etc.

TASK 3 – Project Proposal / Purpose

1. Add the purpose or goal of your teacher approved project to your Science fair notebook 2. Title This Page Project Proposal

Describe the main purpose(s) or goal(s) for your project

Proposal Example :

The grocery store, in my neighborhood, usually sales off brand products at a cheaper rate. My problem is most of the name

brand items are too expensive. I want to test, Can students tell the difference between off brand drinks and name brand drinks of

different companies. My independent variable is the different types of drinks, where my dependent variable is the amount of students

that are capable of distinguishing the difference between a variety of drinks. I will test my experiment by offering 5 name brand drinks

and comparing them to 5 off brand drinks. I will survey 20 students and record their responses.

TASK 4 - Background Research

1. Conduct background research and write a summary

5-6 paragraphs

Include at least 3-4 references, and cite it properly 2. Include your background research in your Science fair notebook. 3. Title This page Background Research 4. Create a separate Page for References.

*Your background information should include the following kinds of information:

a. What is your topic? b. What do we know about our topic/ What have you learned about your topic? c. What is the history of your topic? d. How is your topic Important to consumers? e. How is your topic scientific? f. Who invented /created /discovered g. What is Unique about your topic? h. What interesting facts have been discovered?

TASK 5 – Question/Problem

5. Add your question to your Science Fair composition notebook. Title this page Problem. Make sure your question is testable. Your question should not be a yes or no answer.

A scientific question usually starts with: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where.

* The question should be interesting enough to read about, then work on for the next few weeks. There should be at least three sources of written information on the subject. You want to be able to build on the experience of others! The question should contain one factor (variable) that you can change in your experiment and at least one factor (variable) that you can measure.

TASK 6 – Hypothesis

6. Add your hypothesis to your Science Fair composition notebook. Title this page Hypothesis

If you are doing “Comparative Investigation” o Write hypothesis in an if…..…then…… statement

If you are doing “Engineering Design” Project o Write the problem statement for your engineering project. o How do you plan to assemble, what do you plan to represent.

Example: If you cover a wound with a bandage, then it will heal with less scarring.

TASK 7- Design/plan your investigation

7. Design and plan your investigation or build your engineering design prototype. Add your materials, safety considerations, and procedures to your Science Fair composition notebook. Title this page Procedures. Title a separate page Variables (Dependent, Independent, Control)

*Your procedures should be detailed and specific so another scientist can retest your experiment to check your results.

This should include: a. An explanation of all project variables: - Independent variable: the one you change - Dependent variable: the one that you observe or measure - Constant variables: other variables which could affect the outcome but which you keep constant -- Control Group: the group in which the independent variable is not present or is in its normal state *Design /Engineering process -Material(s) -Procedure -Safety (If any

TASK 8 - Collect, Organize and Explain Data/Observations

1. Gather Data from your Experiment Add the following information to your Science Fair composition notebook. Title this page Data.

*Record observations you have made during your experiment document the things that went wrong. Take pictures and videos of your trials.

Comparative Experiment

Observation and Pictures

Data Table and Graph

Engineering Design Construction Pictures

Label all of your data and pictures

Data Table/Chart Data Graph

TASK 9 - Draw Conclusions and Explain

1. Add your conclusion to your Science Fair composition notebook.

Explain whether your observations support your purpose/goal or not.

If you had a hypothesis, state whether your data supported this hypothesis or not.

State the main points that you have learned from this experiment or project.

*Your conclusion should reflect what you learned during your experiment. Conclusions are written in paragraph format with a minimum of 5 sentences.

TASK 10 – Display Board

Creating your Display Boards / Diagram / Model

Create a 3 trifold Display board to display your science experiment

*You want a nice-looking display, but remember this is only a very small portion of your score. How much you learned,

your experimental design, and your data are what are most important. Photographs and diagrams help show what you

are doing. Make sure your display demonstrates your understanding of your project.

TASK 11 – Class Presentation

Be prepared to present your Project to teacher and class mates. Students receiving 80% and above will be invited to the campus science.

Students should be prepared to explain the project design and results

Students should not be reading from their board.

State the main points that you have learned from this experiment or project.

Presentation of the science project plays a HUGE role in the student’s success in campus and district science fair.

*Practice presenting your project in front of parents to get out all your jitters. You are the expert of your project.

Science/Stem Fair Task Due Dates (Tate Revised 11/21/19)

TASK Number Due Date TASK 1 – Set Up a Blank Science Fair Notebook

Tuesday, Dec 3rd

TASK 2 – Select your project topic ***This is for a daily grade***

Tuesday, Dec 3rd

TASK 3 – Project Proposal

Tuesday, Dec 3rd

TASK 4 – Background Research

Thursday, Dec 12th

TASK 5 – Question/Problem

Thursday, Dec 12th

TASK 6 – Hypothesis (Educated Guess)

Thursday, Dec 12th

TASK 7 – Design/plan your investigation (Materials, Variables, Procedures) ****This is for a daily grade****

Thursday, Dec 12th

TASK 8 – Collect, Organize Data/ Observations (data chart and graph or pictures)

Monday, Jan 6th

TASK 9 – Draw Conclusions and Explain what happened in your project

Monday, Jan 6th

TASK 10 – Display Board (Creatively show your project off)

Monday, Jan 6th

TASK 11 – In Class Presentations ****This is for a Lab grade****

Week 1/6 -1/10

TASK 12 – Campus Science Fair (80% and above to be eligible to partake)

Friday, Jan 17th

TASK 13 – AISD District Science Fair (placement at the campus fair 1-5 place in your category)

Thursday, Feb 6th

Resources:

BrainPop: Science Projects username: alvinisd042, password: brainpop901

YouTube Video, DIY Space: How to Do a Science Fair Project – Overview tinyurl.com/wmhc8de

Thought Co. Science Fair Project Ideas tinyurl.com/re8bxbf