Science Fair 2014

Science Fair2014 6th Grade Science Mrs. Weis

What is a Science Fair? • A science fair is your opportunity to investigate something that interests you! • You will use the scientific method to conduct your investigation. • You will create a Science Fair display board with the scientific method. • You will write a one-page report. • You will give a five-minute presentation in class. • You will create a bibliography using the MLA style.

Using The Scientific Method • Step 1:Identify the problem • Think of some kind of experiment that you would like to try. Remember that you must be able to measure the experiment each day or have several different samples in your experiment. • Write down your problem. Make sure that there is a purpose to your experiment. • Explain how you have set up your experiment and the materials used.

Using The Scientific Method • Step 2: Research the Problem • Look up information about your topic. • Don’t forget to write down information for your bibliography. • Use at least three different sources including books, magazines, Internet, interviews, encyclopedias, etc. • Write down what you expect to happen before you try your experiment. • Be specific! Make a chart of the numbers that you are predicting and give reasons for your guesses. • Include other guesses such as height, color, condition, size, time, etc.

Using The Scientific Method • Step 3: Formulate a Hypothesis • Write down what you expect to happen before you try your experiment. Be specific. • Include other guesses such as height, color, condition, size, time, etc.

Using The Scientific Method • Step 4: Conduct an Experiment • Do your experiment, keep and record good data. • Begin a daily journal recording the progress of your experiment if needed. • Be sure to record numbers and observations.

Using The Scientific Method • Step 6: Organize your results • Record your results in full (make charts, graphs, and diagrams)

Using The Scientific Method • Step 6: Reach a Conclusion • Compare what you thought was going to happen to what did happen. • Explain what you learned from your experiment. • Explain the importance of your results.

Using The Scientific Method • Step 7: Future Directions • Explain how you would improve this experiment if you did it again. What would you change? How would you make it better?

Topic Ideas • Plants • Will vitamins affect the growth of a plant? • Do weed killers affect house plants? • How do the moon phases affect plant germination? • How fast do roots grow? • Does the amount of light on plants affect their growth? • Does the amount of water given plants affect their growth? • What is the effect of detergent on bean seeds? • Under what color light do plants grow best?

Topic Ideas • Plants continued • In what kind of material (sand, clay, etc) do seeds grow best? • What is the effect of chlorinated water on plant growth? • How does the number of seeds produced by different plants compare? • Will a frozen seed sprout? • Will plants grow better in soil or water? • What can be done to increase the decomposing rate of plants?

Topic Ideas • Animals • What kind of life can be found in 1 square meter of backyard soil? • How does a bird embryo grow in an egg? • Can mice distinguish color? • How do mealworms respond to light? • How does an earthworm react to light and darkness? • Do different kinds of caterpillars eat different amounts of food? • Do mint plants repel insects?

Topic Ideas • Animals continued • What color of flowers attract hummingbirds best? • What colors attract moths and other insects at night? • Does temperature affect the flash rate of fireflies? • At what rate do pets drink water? • What is the effect of temperature on the activity of (mealworms, crickets, etc)?

Topic Ideas • Earth Science • Does the moon rise every night at the same time and in the same location? • How accurate are long-range weather forecasts? • Is rainwater absorbed at the same rate in different kinds of soil? • From which direction does the wind blow most frequently? • How warm is it under the snow?

Topic Ideas • Physical Science • What is the effect of heat when dissolving sugar? Salt? • Why is salt put on icy sidewalks? • What is the acidity of various household products? • How fast do fabrics burn? • What kind of materials can put out a fire? • Can seawater be “desalted” by freezing? • What is the best shape for a kite? • Which holds materials together better, a nail or a screw? • Do all objects fall at the same speed?

Topic Ideas • Physical Science continued • On what kind of surface will a ball roll fastest? • Which kind of metal conducts heat best? • Does sound travel best through solid, liquid, or gas? • Do all colors fade at the same rate?

Topic Ideas • Consumer Science • Which chewing gum holds its flavor the best? • Which detergent breaks up oil the best? • Which detergent makes the most bubbles? • Which brand of popcorn pops the fastest? • Which type of diaper holds the most water? • How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll Center of a Tootsie Pop? • Will a banana brown faster on the counter or in the refrigerator? • Will an ice cube melt faster in a cup of water or a cup of pop?

Topic Ideas • Consumer Science continued • Which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels? • Which cheese grows mold the fastest? • Which bread grows mold the fastest?

Project Boards • This is how you will set up your project board.

Project Boards • Guidelines: • You will use a standard, three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36" tall by 48" wide. These can be purchased at Wal-Mart. • Organize your information like a newspaper so that your audience can quickly follow the thread of your experiment by reading from top to bottom, then left to right. Include each step of your science fair project: Abstract, question, hypothesis, variables, background research, and so on.

Project Boards • Use a font size of at least 16 points for your main body text. Anything smaller is too hard to read. • Stick with the Times New Roman font. • Use italics or bold for emphasis, not for all your text. • Don't place your text on top of a picture; that makes it difficult to read. • Don't use ALL CAPS; THEY ARE MUCH HARDER TO READ

Project Boards • Examples:

Project Boards • Examples

Additional assignments • Beside your project board, you will also complete the following assignments. Each of these must be typed in 12 or 16 point Times New Roman font and double spaced. • Statement of purpose for the research–why did you choose this topic? What are you hoping to learn? • At least three journals – Each journal will include a written summary of what you have done on your project so far. • Report – this will be a one or two-page summary of your entire research project.

Important Dates • Friday, February 21st– Topic Choice, Purpose for the experiment (in at least 50 words), and Hypothesis are due. (25 points) • Thursday, April 3rd – All journals are due. (25 points) • Monday, April 7th – Completed Project board (100 points), and typed report (50 points) are due. Presentations will begin this day (50 points). • Friday, April 25th – Science Fair

What if we have a snow day?What if I am absent? • If we have a snow day on the day that something is due, then the very next day we are in school, your assignment will be due. • If you are absent when something is due, you are expected to turn the assignment in the very next day you are in school.

Late assignments • If you are in school and do not turn in your assignment on the assigned day, you will lose 2 points for each day that the assignment is turned in late. • If your assignment is more than 5 school days late, you will receive a zero for the assignment.

Can my parents come to the Science Fair? • No, the science fair is for the students and faculty only.

Any questions?

Science Fair 2014