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How to do a Science Fair Project

Return to Science Project Page. How to do a Science Fair Project. For the Lake Central School Corporation. What is a Science Fair Project?. Return to Science Project Page. A Science Fair Project is an experiment or test that answers a question about a topic that interests you. .

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How to do a Science Fair Project

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  1. Return to Science Project Page How to do a Science Fair Project For the Lake Central School Corporation

  2. What is a Science Fair Project? Return to Science Project Page • A Science Fair Project is an experiment or test that answers a question about a topic that interests you. Click here for project idea assistance.

  3. Steps of the Scientific Method for Your Science Fair Project Return to Science Project Page • Topic • Problem • Research • Hypothesis • Procedure • Experiment & Record Data • Analysis/Results • Conclusion (Click here for an outline of the steps ) Click here for Printable Resource Guides for each step.

  4. How to get Started…..Ask and Plan Return to Science Project Page • FIRST, ASK your parents for permission! Click here for Lake Central Fair Entry Form • PLANNING is the key to a great Science Fair Project. (See Science Fair Sample Proposal Sheet) • Let your parents or teachers help you plan out what you want to do! • Keep a scientific log, journal, or notebook. (Click here)

  5. First ask yourself, What am I interested in? Music, cooking, books, …? Check out some of the lists of project ideas (See Resources & Topics) Choose a project on a subject that you are interested in!! Where do you start?Choose a topic Return to Science Project Page Topic Ideashttp://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml

  6. Your Problem Return to Science Project Page • What are you trying to discover? • Be sure your problem is stated in the form of a question that can be tested by a hypothesis. • How to develop a testable question?

  7. READ!!! Research your topic…. Read books, magazines, browse the Internet, ask teachers, scientists, or professionals. These sources will be used for your RESEARCH PAPER. Keep a record of where all the information came from!!! Where should I do this? Now that I have Chosen a topic… Return to Science Project Page

  8. Research Paper Return to Science Project Page Paper should include….. • Title Page • Essay Click here for Guide Click here for outline • Works Cited Page See Doing Background Research @ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab

  9. Hypothesis Return to Science Project Page • After Researching your topic, your should now be ready to make your hypothesis or educated guess? • This is a statement that can be tested by a experiment. • If….., then I believe……because…….. If I test the effects different salts have on melting ice, then I believe rock salt will melt ice the fastest because it contains calcium sulphate which allows ice to melt at colder temperatures. Example: See Constructing a Hypothesis @ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab

  10. Procedure Explains how to conduct the experiment. The steps should be numbered and in order so that the experiment can be repeated exactly the same way. Identify the control and variable. Return to Science Project Page (See Science Fair Proposal Sheet) See Testing Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment @ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab

  11. ATTENTION!!! Return to Science Project Page If you are using one of the following subjects in your experiment, PLEASE let your teacher and science coordinator know: • Human test subjects • Animal test subjects • Mold, fungus, bacteria, germs, or other weird stuff • Coordinator must give you additional safety approval forms! • Regional and State Required Forms: http://www.iun.edu/~sciencef/sfw/forms.htm

  12. Always Identify Return to Science Project Page Controls –factors that are exactly the same Example for plant growth: Same amount and type of soil, sunlight, fertilizer, seeds, pots, room temperature, etc. for the different plant trials Variable- The one factor that is changed Example for plant growth: Each plant trial is given different amounts of water See Constructing a Hypothesis @ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab

  13. Experiment Return to Science Project Page • Once you have planned out your procedures, it is time to conduct your experiment. • Experiment should be conducted a minimum of 3 trials. • Make observations frequently and consistently and regularly. • Record observations in science notebook or journal. • Get your parents permission and let them help and watch, too! See Testing Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment @ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab

  14. Why do I have to conduct my experiment3 or more times? If you performed the experiment only once, an error may have been made. ALWAYS REPEAT YOUR EXPERIMENT TRIALS AT LEAST 3 TIMES! This allows for accuracy. Return to Science Project Page

  15. Record Results Return to Science Project Page • Record your observations! • Observations can be measurable and descriptive – Record Both! Example of Notebook/Journal Entry Date: observations 11/13/08: Growth-The plant grew 3mm Observation- the leaves looked bright green and healthy. MEASURABLE OBSERVATIONS ARE PREFERRED!

  16. Analysis/Results Return to Science Project Page • Make sense of your observations by arranging your data in forms of tables and charts. • Line plots, averaging, circle and bar graphs, etc. • Charts and Graphs should ALWAYS be labeled including units of measurements. (Click here for assistance) See Analyzing Your Data and Drawing a Conclusion @ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab

  17. Conclusion Return to Science Project Page • Analyze your experimental data and observations. • Answer your original problem. • Did you prove or disprove your hypothesis? • What could you do differently if you were to conduct this experiment again?

  18. Display Board Return to Science Project Page Plan first! Click for example or plan outline See Do’s and Don’ts Include: -Title -Materials -Problem -Pictures -Hypothesis -Tables/Charts/Drawings -Procedures - Results -Variable/Controls - Conclusions http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml?gclid=CJCP2uDgt5MCFQQmGgodFnv_Dg

  19. Presenting Your Project Return to Science Project Page • Before you present –Make sure your you didn’t miss anything (See page 19) • Use your Display Board and materials used for visuals to guide your presentation. • See Judging Rubric pages 20 - 23 See Communicating Your Results @ http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml?From=Tab

  20. Important Things to Remember throughout your project: Return to Science Project Page • From the very beginning, Keep notes on your project. • Write down what you do each time you work on your research project. This will help you write your report. • Keep up with where your information you obtained your information!!

  21. CAUTION!!! Return to Science Project Page • NEVER!!copy someone’s project! Use the ideas to make your own project. • You can use the same project, just do the work yourself!

  22. Remember Return to Science Project Page • Your teachers and parents will be happy to help you!!! • But do the work yourself!!! • Make sure that the results of your experiment answers the question you have asked and proves or disprove your hypothesis!

  23. Teacher Resources Return to Science Project Page • Science Buddies • http://www.sciencebuddies.org/ • Teacher Guide http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/teachers-guide-to-science-projects.pdf Scientific Method Poster http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/scientific-method-poster.pdf

  24. Helpful Websites Return to Science Project Page • Listed are some interesting sites that may be helpful for your science project. There are many more reliable sites available. Please be sure that an adult monitors student time spent on the Internet. • http://www.sciencebuddies.org/ • http://www.juliantrubin.com/branchesofsciencefair.html • http://classroom.jc-schools.net/coleytech/sciencefair/ • http://mathforum.org/teachers/mathproject.html • http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html • http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/ • http://www.cool-science-projects.com/index.html • http://users.rcn.com/tedrowan/primer.html

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