WCE SCIENCE FAIR 2020 - GUIDE FOR 4th AND 5TH

GRADE

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade1

ContentsTimeline...................................................................................................................... 3What kind of projects can I do....................................................................................4Where do I find ideas for a science fair project?.........................................................5How do I go about doing a Science Fair?....................................................................6What should a project board look like?.......................................................................8Rules........................................................................................................................ 10What are the judges looking for?..............................................................................11WILCHESTER SCIENCE FAIR 2020 - SUBMISSION FORM............................................13

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade2

Timeline

17th January Student Information Sessions for 4th and 5th graders

15th & 23rd January Parent Information Sessions (7pm)

3rd February Deadline for Students to submit Sign up sheets to Homeroom teachers

7th February Teachers to submit Signup sheets to Science Fair Leads

4th March

Science Fair Project Display and judging in GymNote:

Students need to set up their projects between 7.20 and 7.55 am in the Gym.

All Students and Families are welcome to see and enjoy the science fair between 1-3 pm on 28th Feb.

Judging will happen between 9 am and 1 pm. During this time, Gym will not be available to parents or students

5th March Award Ceremony and Celebration – 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade3

What kind of projects can I doYou should do an EXPERIMENT!!! An experiment requires the students to do different tests to confirm or disprove a hypothesis. Some examples are – effect of sunlight on plants, how much weight can a paper boat hold, build a telescope etc. You should NOT do a model or display that shows how something works but does not involve conducting experiments. Examples – solar system model, how does an electric car work etc. These ARE NOT good projects for science fair.

Diagram Credit - https://www.spps.org/cms/lib/MN01910242/Centricity/Domain/3019/science_fair_planning_guide.pdf

So why do we prefer experiments for Science Fair? Well, they are fun, and they use the Scientific Method, just like real scientists.

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade4

Where do I find ideas for a science fair project?Here are some websites that have great science fair project ideas. You can also look for ideas in the library.

Science Buddies - https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-projects?gclid=CjwKCAiA0uLgBRABEiwAecFnk95MSB4J4GgfFVeNByo598pJ1irliQIo8r9ea-CKec1dBZgLPvufahoCHxkQAvD_BwE#browsegradeprojects

Education.com - https://www.education.com/science-fair/fifth-grade/https://www.education.com/science-fair/fourth-grade/

https://www.1000sciencefairprojects.com/

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

http://sciencefair.math.iit.edu/projects/

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade5

How do I go about doing a Science Fair?1. You can do the science fair on your own or with a partner2. Think of a subject that interests you3. Come up with a good problem/ question. Here are some examples:

4. Do research and come up with a hypothesis. Here is an example of a hypothesis. It is okay for you to be wrong here. It is fun to learn something new through your science project experience. If you are comparing different brands, instead of using the actual brand name, use code word like Brand X, Brand Y etc. See an example below:

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade6

Diagram Credit - https://www.spps.org/cms/lib/MN01910242/Centricity/Domain/3019/science_fair_planning_guide.pdf

5. Conduct experiments to check your hypothesis. There are a few things involved here.

Find your camera/electronic device that you will use to take pictures and videos.

Gather all materials. Write down a procedure for how you will conduct the experiment. Identify your variables. Variables are any factors that can change an

experiment. For example, if you are studying plant growth, water, sunlight, and soil are all variables. You should only test one variable at a time.

o For example, if you are testing water’s effect on different plants, you should keep the soil and sunlight in the same conditions. The variable that is changing (in this case water) is the independent or manipulated variable.

o The other variables that are kept the same (soil and sunlight in this example) are controlled variables.

o The results of the experiment you do is a dependent or responding variable. In this case, it would be the plant growth.

Test many times (preferably atleast 5 times) by changing the variables Remember to take pictures and have fun!

6. Record all the data from the experiments neatly. Create graphs and charts to analyze the data

7. Write a conclusion based on the data you collected. Is your hypothesis correct? What did you learn?

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade7

How can this be used in the real world?8.  Organize everything on a standard 3-part folded project display board. You

can find these at Michaels, Walmart, Target, Dollar Stores etc.

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade8

What should a project board look like?

Diagram Credit - https://www.spps.org/cms/lib/MN01910242/Centricity/Domain/3019/science_fair_planning_guide.pdf

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade9

Some tips for the poster board Be specific. For example, “The plants which were fed plant food grew an

average of 3 inches taller in the two-week period than the plants which did not receive plant food.” Or, “The plants which were fed plant food grew an average of 4 more leaves in the two-week period than the plants which were not fed.” These sentences are more informative than, “The plants which were fed plant food grew more.”

Include whether your hypothesis was correct. If you learned something new or unexpected, this will be different than your hypothesis.

Try to explain why the results occurred. If you encountered problems during your work, you may discuss what impact these issues may have had on your results. Scientists are always learning from unexpected results. For example if you were testing plant food, you may discover that one of the controlled variables could have been set differently. You could write: “None of the plants grew as much as I expected. I think I should have watered all of them more.”

Try to think of other uses for your experiment. “Farmers should use plant food to help their crops grow better.”

Make note of where/how you got your project idea. If you chose an idea you’ve seen before, simply state that you saw it before and were interested in it. Include the title and author of any book used. If the project was an original idea of your own, explain why you became interested in it.

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade10

Rules• Fourth and fifth graders may work in pairs or alone. Once you turn in your

project sheet with a partner listed, you cannot change your partner.• Cost of your project is paid by student himself/herself. No reimbursement

from PTA or school is available• Your project should be displayed on a standard 3-part folded display board

which can be purchased at a number of stores including office supply stores, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Walgreens or Walmart.

• Any other demonstration can be displayed in the area right in front of the display board.

• Except for the title, the main parts of your project should be identified with a heading. (Problem, Hypothesis, Materials, etc.)

• Make sure the information on the display board is neat and check your spelling. You may type or handwrite your work.

• Write your name(s) and your teacher’s name on the BACK CENTER & BOTTOM of the display board in standard sized print. Do not write your name on the front of the display board or in the two (2) side flaps or in huge lettering.

• No Guns used in your experiment - no BB guns, water guns, Nerf guns, marshmallow guns

• No animals or insects can be involved in your project – alive or dead. You can use animal products available at the grocery store like chicken eggs or bones, cooking ingredients, etc.

• No experiments on siblings, please.• No deliberate growing of bacteria in petri dishes, as harmful bacteria could

potentially be grown.• No experiments that could cause danger to someone.

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade11

What are the judges looking for?

CRITERIA POINT ALLOCATIONTITLE: The title should be clear and easy to identify

No title = 0 pts Poor title = 1 pt Good title = 2 pts

PROBLEM: To what degree is the problem new and/or different and how well is it written? The problem should be clearly asked in the form of a question.

No problem statement = 0 pts Incomplete problem statement = 1 pt

Complete problem statement and well-written = 2 pts

Complete, well-written problem statement and idea is new and/or different = 3 pts

HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis should be a testable prediction and written in a complete sentence

No hypothesis = 0 pts Incomplete hypothesis = 1 pt Hypothesis present, but not

completely testable = 2 pts Well-written, testable

hypothesis = 3 pts

MATERIALS: Materials list should include all materials that need to be gathered.

No materials list = 0 pts Incomplete materials list = 1 pt Complete list = 2 pts

PROCEDURES: To what degree are the experiment’s steps clear?

Steps are not listed and/or numbered = 0

Steps are incomplete and not listed step-by-step = 1 pt

Steps are complete and listed step-by-step = 2 pts

Controlled variable identified clearly and correctly = 0-2 pts

Manipulated variable identified clearly and correctly = 0-2 pts

Responding variable identified clearly and correctly = 0-2 pts

A minimum of three trials were performed = 2 pts

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade12

OBSERVATIONS: Did the student collect enough data to support the results?

No quantitative data collected = 0 pts

Insufficient data collected = 1 pt

Sufficient data collected (data for minimum of three trials) = 2 pts

Data collected above expectations = 3 pts

Data shown in table format = 2 pts

Graphs are well presented and easy to understand = 0-2 pts

Display includes at least 1 relevant hand-drawn graph = 2 pts

CONCLUSION: How well are the results interpreted?

No interpretation of data = 0 pts; Partial interpretation of data = 1 pt Correct and appropriate interpretation of data = 2 pts

Comprehensive, significant interpretation of data (use of math skills such as averages or percentages) =

Conclusion includes basic conclusive sentence = 2 pts

Hypothesis is reviewed = 2 pts Student refers specifically to

data = 2 pts Student cites application to

situation outside of experiment = 2 pts

CREATIVITY Project is a creative and interesting idea = 0-5 pts

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade13

WILCHESTER SCIENCE FAIR 2020 - SUBMISSION FORM

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO YOUR HOME ROOM TEACHER NO LATER THAN FEB 3rd, 2020

IF YOU HAVE A PARTNER, EACH STUDENT NEEDS TO COMPLETE A FORM

STUDENT INFORMATION

STUDENT NAME

GRADE HOMEROOM TEACHER

PARENT NAME EMAIL

PHONE #

PARTNER INFORMATION

PARTNER NAME

GRADE HOMEROOM TEACHER

PROJECT INFO

PROBLEM STATEMENT

HYPOTHESIS

WCE SCIENCE FAIR GUIDE – 4th and 5th Grade14