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Tips for a Winning Science Fair Project

Tips for a Winning Science Fair Project . Choosing a Topic. Investigate The best projects are the ones that interest you! If you assume you know the answer…you don’t really have a question. Be sure a variable is tested. Choosing the Experiment. Consider the following… Materials

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Tips for a Winning Science Fair Project

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  1. Tips for a Winning Science Fair Project

  2. Choosing a Topic • Investigate • The best projects are the ones that interest you! • If you assume you know the answer…you don’t really have a question. • Be sure a variable is tested.

  3. Choosing the Experiment • Consider the following… • Materials • Variables (must be a controlled experiment) • Timeframe • Repeat a minimum of FIVE times. • Make sure results are measurable.

  4. Resources • http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/category0.html • Search the internet for science experiments related to hobbies/interests.

  5. PURPOSE • Purpose: The reason why the student is conducting this research and doing this experiment. • What lead the student to this experiment? • Noticed a problem to be solved. • Great interest in topic.

  6. PROBLEM (Question) • Problem: The question telling what the student is trying to find out. • EXAMPLE: How does increasing the incline of a ramp affect the distance a marble travels?

  7. RESEARCH • Focus on topic/subtopics • Have similar tests been done before? • Resources • Encyclopedias • Newspaper/Magazine articles • Books • Internet • ***Remember to cite all sources used Take notes!!

  8. Writing the Research Paper • Take notes during research. • Organize your notes by similar information (subtopics) to form paragraphs. • Make sure you use your own words!

  9. HYPOTHESIS • Hypothesis: An educated guess about the outcome of the experiment (before doing the experiment). • MUST be written AFTER research and BEFORE the experiment. • Use information from your research to support your hypothesis.

  10. Example Hypothesis • If the incline of a ramp is greater, then the marble will roll further. I base this on…

  11. SUBJECT(S) • Explain what organism, item or parameter the student is testing. Any matter, living or nonliving is the subject. • Example: Marble

  12. VARIABLE • Variable: The item that the student changes purposely. • This is the specific thing being manipulated/tested. • Only test 1 variable. • Example: Incline of ramp

  13. CONTROLS • Control(s): The parameters you keep the same so that the experiment is valid. • The items that do not change during the experiment that test the hypothesis. • Example: • Ramp size • Ramp material • Marble • Release point of marble

  14. MATERIALS • Materials: • A bulleted list of any supplies needed for the experiment. • Be sure to include the quantity of any items listed. • Example: • 1 Hot Wheels ramp • 1 marble • 3 Encyclopedias • Measuring tape • Tape

  15. PROCEDURES • Procedures: Step by step instructions of how to perform the experiment. • detailed so that someone would be able to repeat the experiment. • Use numbers to list steps beginning with a verb (like in a recipe). • Do not use pronouns in listing the steps. • It is highly recommended to use the metric system. • Each experimental trial must be done at least three times to increase the validity of the results.

  16. Example Procedures: • Place the one end of the ramp at the edge of an Encyclopedia. • Tape in the ramp in place. • Hold the marble at the top of the ramp and release. • Observe the marble roll down the ramp and record the distance it travels in cm. • Repeat steps 1-4 2 more times. Calculate the average. • Repeat steps 1-5 with 2 stacked Encyclopedias. • Repeat steps 1-5 with 3 stacked Encyclopedias.

  17. DATA NOTEBOOK • Record your observations of each trial • seeing, hearing, smelling • Include the date and time on each page. • Use a separate page for each trial. • Include pictures (illustrations or photographs)

  18. Recording Data • Use the metric system. • Find the most appropriate format • Data table (best to start with) • Line graph • Bar graph Make 2 charts/graphs for the board.

  19. Example Data Table:

  20. Conclusion • What was the outcome? • Was the hypothesis supported or rejected? • Write a complete sentence, restating the question. • Explain your answer.

  21. Application • How does it apply to our lives?

  22. Recommendations • What would you change? • Ideas for future experimentation.

  23. The Board • Follow order in packet…exactly • Neatness Counts! • Watch Spelling • Make it eye catching…but don’t over decorate.

  24. The Written Report • Follow guidelines in packet. • Different page for each item. • Include every item in the right order.

  25. Presentation • Practice • Be enthusiastic! • Know your project…every step! • Body language • Stand straight • Smile • Eye Contact • Be confident

  26. Questions???? • miranda.carpenter@imagineschools.com

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