Carie Callan Lopatka Orange County Regional Science and Engineering Fair

1. FCAT and Science Fair Carie Callan Lopatka Orange County Regional Science and Engineering Fair

2. Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Checks for knowledge of: • Understanding What You Read • Analyzing Primary Source Information • Comparing and Contrasting • Main Idea, Details and Patterns of Organization • Gathering, Analyzing and Evaluating Information • Synthesizing Information and Drawing Conclusions • Recognizing Cause-and-Effect Relationships • Narrative Writing

3. Understanding What You Read & Analyzing Primary Source Information • In the Science Fair process students must prepare a complete bibliographic search on their topic. • It can be established that they understand what they read by providing a written summary of the article including knowledge gained and article authenticity.

4. Comparing and Contrasting Science is always changing and through that change discovery is made. • Comparision and Contrast are key elements in any scientific experiment. Students observe similarities and differences between their control and experimental groups. In turn, correlating those changes with their variables.

5. Main Idea, Details and Patterns of Organization • During an independent science research project students must select a main idea of study. As they read their selected references they can make notes of any supporting details, ie. • Previously performed experiments on their topic • Appropriate dates or people involved • Results obtained • Patterns of Organization come into play as students begin to realize the actual steps of their experimentation and through trial and error reassess their procedure.

6. Gathering, Analyzing and Evaluating Informationthrough the Scientific Method

7. Recognizing Cause-and-Effect Relationships • Through the careful analysis of data, students should be able to recognize the presence or absence of cause-and-effect relationships.

8. Throughout the entire scientific process students are required to assimilateinformation gained from various sources: Their current experiment Related current articles Interviews with professionals Previous experiments Past experiences Students may then draw their own conclusions by considering the following: Hypothesis Data Results Information Common sense Synthesizing Information and Drawing Conclusions

9. Participating Counties For a complete list log on to http://www.fffs.ucf.edu/

10. Why Science Fair? • Science Fair is the real application of scientific principles and techniques, not just reading about what someone else did in a book. • You, your school and your students deserve recognition for all your hard work and dedication to the promotion of science education in your community.

11. Why Science Fair? • Science Fair brings FCAT to life (Reading, Writing, Math and Science) as well as integrates National Science Standards! • Student research promotes skills that are essential in the job force: * Teamwork * Honesty * Time Management * Responsibility * Discipline * Organization Skills

12. Valuable Resource “The Ultimate Guide to Science Fair Projects” Step by step student workbook Low cost guide for independent study Detailed instructions and glossary High School edition includes statistical analysis Middle and High School Editions Teacher Resource Edition www.awesomeguides.com