Science Fun Night How do I create an

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Science Fun NightHow do I create an
Award-Winning Science Fair Project?

• Oakland Elementary School
• Presented by
• Miss Lockridge, Mrs. Mayfield
• and Mrs. McKelvey

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Why Should You Do A Project?

• You will learn to think like a scientist.
• You will learn to do experiments.
• You can choose something that you want to learn
  about.
• Doing a project can be lots of fun!

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Science Fair Categories

• Behavioral/Social Science- Anything that deals
  with the way a person, animal, substance, or
  machine reacts under given circumstances.
  Example Which Dog Food Do Dogs Prefer?
• Biology- Anything that deals with the science of
  life-growth, reproduction, origin, structure,
  development-plants, humans, and animals. Example
  How Long Does it Take a Caterpillar to Change
  into a Butterfly?
• Chemistry- Anything that deals with the
  structure, composition, and properties of
  substances. Example What is a Solution?
• General Science- Deals with consumer Science.
  Example Which Paper Towel is Worth Your Money?
• Mathematics/Computer Science- Anything that deals
  with a quantity, mathematical operation, or the
  computer. Example How does the Wattage of Light
  Bulb Affect Energy Use?
• Physics- Anything that deals with motion, matter,
  energy, and their interactions. Example Which
  type of Battery Makes Cars Run the Longest?

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What Do Judges Look For in a Science Project?

• Scientific Thought (30 points) Does the project
  follow the scientific method? Is the problem
  clearly and concisely stated? Are the procedures
  appropriate, organized, and thorough results
  accurate and complete conclusions based upon the
  results? Does it represent real study and
  effort?
• Creative Ability (30 points) Does the project
  show original thinking or a unique approach?
  Does it demonstrate ideas arrived at by the
  student?
• Thoroughness (10 points) Does the project tell
  a complete story? Does it explain what the
  student learned? Did the student use the
  literature? Is a list of references or
  bibliography available?
• Clarity (10 points) Are the problem,
  procedures, results, and conclusions presented
  clearly and in a logical order?
• Dramatic Value (10 points) Are all parts of the
  project well done? (exhibit, paper, abstract,
  log of work, etc.) Is proper emphasis given to
  important ideas?
• Technical Skill (10 points) Does the project
  show effort and good craftsmanship by the
  student? Has the student acknowledged help they
  received from others? Is the written material
  both organized and accurate?

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Choosing a Topic

• 1. What are you curious about?
• 2. Decide what youre curious about, then focus
  on something in particular.
• 3. www.sciencebuddies.org

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Project Ideas

• How long does it take the heart to return to
  normal after exercise?
• What do elementary students fear the most?
• What age group has the best memory?
• Which fruit drinks have the best nutrition?
• Under what kind of light does a plant grow
  better?

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Plan It Out

• Allow plenty of time to experiment and collect
  data - even simple experiments do not always go
  as you might expect the first time, or even the
  second time. Also leave time to write an
  abstract and put together an exhibit.

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Choosing Your Title

• Your title must be in the form of a question.
• It asks what you are wanting to know.

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Title

• How Does the Speed of the Meteorite Affect the
  Diameter of the Crater?

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State the Purpose

• Think of the reason youre doing your project.
• What do you want to discover?

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Purpose

• My purpose is to determine if the speed of the
  meteorite affects the diameter of the crater upon
  impact.

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Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a thoughtful guess about what you
  think will happen when you do your experiment.
• A hypothesis should always be made before you
  start your experimenting.

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Hypothesis

• If the speed of the meteorite is faster, the
  diameter of the crater will be bigger.

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Materials

• Think of everything you will need to conduct your
  experiment.
• Make a list of these materials. Dont leave out
  anything.
• Be sure to include measurements.

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Materials

• 3 tennis balls
• 12 pounds of flour
• Large, deep container
• Metric ruler
• Meter stick
• String
• Data table

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Conduct Experiment

• Test your hypothesis carefully.
• Record everything you do.
• Draw or take pictures (student must not be
  identified) and make graphs.
• All projects MUST have some type of chart or
  graph.

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PROCEDURE

• The procedure is the steps you must follow when
  you conduct your experiment. The procedure should
  be numbered and in order.

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Procedure

• Step 1 Fill container with flour
• Step 2 Shake the container to make sure flour is
  distributed evenly
• Step 3 Label tennis balls as 30 cm, 60 cm, and
  90 cm
• Step 4 Use the meter stick to measure the height
  from which to drop each tennis ball
• Step 5 Drop the first tennis ball from the
  height of 30 cm
• Step 6 Carefully remove the tennis ball labeled
  30 cm from the container without disturbing the
  crater left behind
• Step 7 Use string to measure the diameter of the
  crater
• Step 8 Measure the length of the string in
  centimeters with a metric ruler
• Step 9 Record diameter on data table
• Step 10 Shake the container to make sure flour
  is distributed evenly
• Step 11 Repeat steps 5-10 for the 60 and 90 cm
  tennis balls
• Step 12 Create a graph of the data recorded

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CHARTS, GRAPHS, TABLES
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RESULTS

• The results is the section that tells
• what happened when you did your
• experiment.

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Results

• In our experiment the data showed that an object
  dropped from a higher distance increased its
  speed, making the diameter of the crater larger.

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CONCLUSION

• Analyze your data and decide if your hypothesis
  was correct.
• The conclusion should also tell what you learned
  when you did your experiment.
• In your conclusion you should also tell what you
  would do differently if you had this project to
  do over.

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Conclusion

• Our data supported our hypothesis by showing if
  the speed of the meteorite is faster, the
  diameter of the crater will be bigger.

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References and Acknowledgements

• It is permissible to receive help.
• If you receive help, the Acknowledgement part is
  where you thank everybody or give credit.
• You should tell who helped you, and how they
  helped. (EXAMPLE I want to thank my dad for
  helping me cut the pieces of wood.)
• You should list websites and resources that you
  used to complete your project.
• This is also included in your report.

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Displaying Your Work

• Your display should be attractive and interesting
  for the judges to see your results. Make good use
  of your space. Make headings stand out. Draw
  graphs and diagrams clearly with correct labels.

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N o Project Display May Contain Any Of The
Following Objects

• 1. Live plants or animals
• 2. Human or animal fluids or body parts
• 3. Dried plant material insect, shell, or fossil
  collections are permissible
• 4. Any food for humans or animals
• 5. Drugs of any kind, including such
  non-prescription items as aspirin or toothpaste
  6. Chemicals of any kind (exceptions include
  minerals or crystals, natural or grown by the
  student)

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Continued

• 7. Soils or wastes
• 8. Portrait photographs, name, or address which
  clearly identify the contestant are forbidden.
  Photos showing the contestant involved in the
  project are acceptable.
• 9. Dangerous materials (weapons, poisons, sharp
  edges, needles, syringes, pipettes, unshielded
  live electrical wires, compressed gas tanks,
  matches, flames, lasers,etc.) Bare wire and
  exposed switches may be used in circuits of 12
  volts or less.
• Name, grade level, teachers name and school can
  be placed on the back of the display board.

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Abstract

• An abstract is a general summary of your
  project. It is 3-4 sentences explaining the main
  parts of your experiment.
• Your abstract should be placed in a folder, not
  attached to your display board.

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WRITING THE REPORT

• If your project is chosen to go to the Regional
  Upstate Science Fair, you will have to write a
  report!
• Your report should restate your project on paper.
• It should include purpose, hypothesis,
  procedure, results, and conclusion.
• Here is where you talk about your experiment.
• Use library books, encyclopedias, magazines,
  newspapers, etc., to find information about your
  subject.
• You should read about your subject, then write a
  report in your own words. DO NOT copy the
  information word for word.
• A report can be done on the computer or hand
  written.

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• PAST PROJECTS

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Projects are due February 4at 900 am.
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Thank you for coming tonight!Good luck!