5 th Grade STEM Fair

1. 5th Grade STEM Fair This presentation is meant to be used over a time period of days or months a little piece at a time. Refer to your curriculum map lesson plan. This is just an outline and can be used in different ways to fit your class. Teacher notes are included. You may want to print the notes pages for reference.

2. Week 1 Log/Questions

3. Essential Questions • What is a STEM Fair Project? • What is a STEM Fair Log? • What is a testable STEM Fair Question?

4. What is a STEM Fair Project? A STEM Fair project is a unique way for students to pose questions for which they must seek out answers and to satisfy their own curiosity about the world around them. We use the Scientific Method to help us with this process.

5. Scientific Method Scientists do not always follow these steps in this order or even go through all of them every time, but for STEM Fair we will. Ask a question and state a purpose. Research Hypothesis Procedures(variables, materials, step by step directions.) Collect data. Create a graph. Draw a conclusion.

6. What is a STEM Log? It is a written account of everything you think and do as you work on your STEM fair project. Your log is like a diary or journal of your progress in your investigation. Keep everything you write in your log even if you change your mind or start over.

7. Log • The first thing you need to do to begin a STEM fair project is to begin writing in a log. • Projects without logs will be disqualified. • The log IS the project. The show board is just a commercial for the project. • Each entry should be dated. • Research notes, measurements, observations, and test results should be included.

8. Sample Data Log Entry • 9/4/2012 My teacher said it is time for STEM fair. I don’t like it because it is a lot of work, but I get to work with a partner and I am really excited. I think it would be cool if I could come up with a topic. I kind of have 1 in mind. • 9/5/2012 I shared my ideas with my teacher. She loved my idea about experimenting with worms. • 9/6/2012 My teacher said I had to have a question that I want to try to answer about worms without harming the worms. I wonder if worms like the dark more than sunny places? I always see worms after it rains. I wonder if worms don’t like being wet? I wonder where I can get worms?

9. Log • Write today’s date on the first page of your log. • Write what you know, think, and wonder about STEM Fair.

10. Topics/Questions

11. Brainstorming Topics(Grades 3-5) Make a list of things you are interested in. The things you like do not need to have anything to do with science or school it’s just a list of things you like. Can you think of 20 or more?

12. Think of as many questions as you can about the things you listed. A list might look like this one: Things I Like Questions Baseball Does a baseball roll farther on artificial grass? Paper Airplanes How does the shape of the wing affect how far a paper airplane glides? Rocks Do most rocks erode in the rain? Can some rocks float? Playing outside What are good ways to cool off when you are hot?

13. What is a Good Question for STEM Fair?

14. A good question cannot be answered yes or no. (There are exceptions to this rule) • Good: How does the type of water affect the growth rate of a plant? • Bad: Can plants grow in water?

15. A good question tells you what you need to measure. • Good: How does the species of the orange affect the amount of juice it has? • Bad: Are oranges juicy?

16. You can investigate the question yourself. • Good: How do shade trees affect temperature of areas on our playground? • Bad: What are the temperatures on Venus? (though you can look it up, you cannot build a rocket, go to Venus and study this on your own and get back before the due date)

17. The answer is a fact, not an opinion. • Good: How does the brand of soap affect the amount of bubbles produced? • Bad: What kind of soap smells the best?

18. What is a Good Question? A good science investigation question: • Can not be answered with one word such as yes, no, or purple. • Tells you what you need to measure. • Is something you can investigate yourself. • Is answered with a fact, not an opinion.

19. Example of log entry for question: August 20, 2011 I saw a picture of icebergs floating. They look really cool and pretty. Ice floats in a glass of water too. I wonder if ice is lighter than water. My question is: Does the mass of water change when it goes from a liquid to a solid. No, How does going from a liquid to a solid affect the mass of ice? is better. The boat in the picture floats too. Is the boat wood or metal? I think metal sinks, but metal boats float. I know wood will float..

20. Choose a question from your list that fits the STEM Fair question criteria and explain why you chose the question in your log.

21. Research Involving Animals • Human/Animal Research form MUST be filled out prior to the beginning of the project. • No surgery or dissection may take place • Neither physiological or psychological harm to the animal can result • Must be supervised by an adult.

22. End of Week 1

23. Week 2 Purpose / Research

24. Essential Questions What is a STEM Fair Purpose? Where do scientist’s look to find information?

25. Purpose The purpose of the project should tell what you want to find out. The purpose of my project is to find out… It is really just restating the question.

26. Examples Question: Will a cable-stayed bridge or a beam bridge support the most weight? Purpose: The purpose of my project is to find out if a cable-stayed bridge or a beam bridge will support the most weight. Question: Does the shape of a container affect the amount of evaporation that occurs? Purpose: The purpose of my project is to find out how the shape of a liquid container will affect how much liquid will evaporate.

27. Research

28. Research • Before you can begin your project, you need to learn more about the topic. • You will write the information you learn in your STEM Fair log. • You will use this information to make your hypothesis.

29. Complete a STEM Log Entry about your project. Think about the materials you might use, ideas for conducting you investigation, or any other thoughts you might have.

30. End of Week 2

31. Week 3 Hypothesis

32. Essential Question How do you use research to form a hypothesis?

33. Hypothesis • The hypothesis is what you predict will happen when you perform the experiment based on your research. • It doesn’t matter whether you are right or wrong; in your conclusion, you will tell if your hypothesis was correct or not. • It is what you think the results of your experiment will be and WHY you think that.

34. Hypothesis Based on my research, I think… will happen because ... Remember to use the information from your research to explain why you think this will happen!

35. End of Week 3

36. Week 4 . Materials

37. Essential Question How do you find and formulate a materials list?

38. Materials • This is a list of ALL the materials you need to perform your experiment. • You must also include how much and which types. .

39. Example of Materials List Materials • 2 – 16oz Office Depot clear plastic cups • 130ml tap water • 1 Thermometer • 16 oz of ice from cafeteria ice maker

40. Materials HOW, WHEN, and WHERE will you get you materials? Explain in your log.

41. End of Week 4

42. Week 5 Variables

43. Essential Questions • What is a manipulated (independent) variable? • What is a Responding (dependent) variable? • What is a constant (control) variable?

44. Variables There are 3 kinds of variables. You will list the variables for your STEM Fair project today. • Manipulated (Independent ) What you are changing on purpose. What I change . . . 2. Responding (Dependent ) The change you are measuring. What I measure . . . 3. Held Constant (Control) Everything that stays the same. What I keep the same . . .

45. Examples of VARIABLES:

46. List your VARIABLES:

47. End of Week 5

48. Step by Step Directions Week 6

49. Essential Question What are Step by Step directions and how are they used in a STEM Fair project?

50. Step by Step Directions – • These are like a recipe. • Anyone who reads them will be able to duplicate the investigation and get the same results.