The Science Fair
All fourth and fifth graders at La Honda will be participating in a science fair this year. It is scheduled for the evening of Open House in April.
So if it is scheduled for April, why are we getting this assignment now?
A science fair is a lot like a science convention that real scientists go to, to share the ideas they have researched and proved.
“Various types of scientists from all over the world, come up with wacky new ideas. They prove their ideas to themselves. Then they get together in cool places like Orlando, Florida, for a convention.” (Haduch, p. 7)
"The point of a science fair is not how pretty, or dramatic, or dynamic a project is, but rather what the science behind it, is. In other words, a science fair is an opportunity to “do” science, not just memorize stuff and write answers to questions. It is an opportunity for you to do the kind of science you like to do, not what your teacher assigns." (Haduch)
Now that does not mean free for all. There will still be judging, and it will be a competition so presentation counts, creativity counts, originality counts, and following the criteria counts.
So in this packet, you will find all the information you need to do a successful science fair project. You will even find some nifty ideas. The real reason you are getting this assignment now is so you have plenty of time to organize your project. A science fair project is not an overnight kind of thing. The best Science Fair projects are those that answer a question about something that makes you curious and then proves to people that your idea is correct.
Please read over the information in this packet carefully. Please include your parents or guardians in this.
1. Use the Scientific Method (included in this handout)
2. Present your Project using a Science Board (you can get these at Staples or I can order them for you at a discount, if enough people are interested)
3. Present your project to the Class orally, describing what you have done, why, and how, and what your results are.
Wow! Only three requirements?? Well not exactly. The Scientific Method involves 12 Steps.
The Scientific Method
1. See, hear, taste, smell, and feel stuff and realize that something makes you curious.
2. Read, learn, and think as much as you can about the thing that makes you curious.
3. Understand one of two things may happen:
a. You’re not curious anymore. This is good. Your research taught you something. You’re smarter and wiser.
b. You’re still curious. This is better. You may have opened the door to the next great scientific discovery, or at least a great science fair project. Proceed to Step 4.
4. Put your remaining curiosity into a single question you would like to answer.
5. Take a guess at the answer. From now on your job is to find out for sure if your guess is right or wrong. Step 4 and 5 are known as your hypothesis.
6. Decide what you need to figure out if your answer is right or wrong. Do experiments? Talk to experts? Do a survey? Go to some special library that none of your friends have ever heard of?
7. Do the experiments, talk to the experts; go to the libraries, etc.
8. Think about your question and guess. It is now time to tell the world what you found out.
9. Write down all the important stuff about your project. Describe your question, your guess, what you used to find out about your question, what you used to go about answering your question., and finally the answer to the question.
10. Organize your information so it fits on a science board.
11. Use your science board to display what you found out, at the Science Fair.
12. Take your bows, accept your awards, and realize you are cool. (Haduch)
What your Project should look like
The Science Board
Step One to be included on your board: The title of your project/experiment/idea, etc. This goes in the center of the board.
Step Two to be included on your board: Your Question. It goes on the top on the left side
Seep Three: Your Hypothesis: It goes on the Left side under the question.
Step Four: Information on what you used to figure out the answer to your question. This is your Materials and Procedures. This may be two separate headings or one with both in it. This goes on the bottom left.
So far your board should look like this:
Step five is the photos, drawings, data, etc. from your experiment or project. If you did a survey provide the survey results. If you did an experiment, show in drawings or photos steps to the experiment. This goes in the center below the title. This is the part of the project that people want to look at.
Step Six: On the table in front of the board you should have your experiment if it is something you can demonstrate to the judges, or if it is something you built, made, etc, the completed project should be there. If it an audience participation thing, then the any thing you need the visitors to do should be there.
Now
your project should look like this: Photos,
pictures, graphs, charts
Step Seven: The Results. This should be on the top of the right hand side
Step Eight: Your conclusion. Was your hypothesis right or wrong? What did you learn? Was your question answered?
Step Nine: Anything additional you would like to add
These are the minimum requirements for your board and project. Based on your Internet research on the Scientific Method or your particular project, you may add additional information which will mean your board will look slightly different. Don’t forget to include the minimum however.
Your
final project will look something like this:
Good Luck and Have fun!!!
