2016 science fair packet
DESCRIPTION
Everything you need to know to be a part of the 2016 Science Fair!TRANSCRIPT
North Hills School District The Twenty-Second Annual
West View Elementary School Science Fair 2016
Calling all student scientists, artists, builders, and more!
The West View Elementary Science Fair is an annual event where you get to pick your project and then design it. Awards will be given based on the judges’ scores and also on your votes for 1) most creative project, 2) grossest project, and 3) your favorite project.
The first step (if you choose to accept this assignment) is to fill out the science fair application in this handout. You will need to decide whether you want to do an Exhibit, a Demonstration, or an Experiment:
What’s the difference between those three? Glad you asked!
An Exhibit is a simple display of interesting and cool things you have found. Examples might be a sea shell collection displaying different shapes or a rock/mineral collection displaying different colors or materials. You may collect and display information, pictures, drawings, or models that allow us to see what you have found.
A Demonstration is a display that shows “how something works.” Some examples are “how the human heart pumps blood,” “how a lock and dam system works,” or “how a tornado forms.” Think about the questions you have about your topic. Find out answers to your questions from the Internet, from the library, or from people you know that are knowledgeable about it. Write down where you got your information.
A journal is optional for exhibits and demonstrations. If you do keep one – use it like a scratch pad with your ideas, thoughts, and facts you find. In an Experiment, you will design a way to solve a problem then test if you actually have solved the
problem. You will design your experiment with the scientific method. First, what is the big
question – hypothesis - you are asking? Second, how have you designed your experiment to
answer the question? Third, what are the results you observed from your experiment? Fourth,
what conclusions can you make? You must keep a journal for an experiment– write down all
your planning, your thoughts, and your results and conclusions. A journal is required for an
experiment.
Keep in mind that you will make a table-top display of your project. Also, you'll have a unique
opportunity where a few special members of the community will ask you questions, such as:
1) Tell me what your project is about. 2) What did you do to prepare for your project? 3) What did you learn from your project? 4) What was most fun about your project?
Dates and Info to Remember
Application forms Due: Tuesday, January 8, 2016, to your teacher * Display boards are available at the school office for $2.00 Projects Due: Tuesday, Feb 2, 2016 from 5:00- 8:00 PM (in the gym) NOTE - To prevent the awful amount of traffic congestion we've faced in previous years, we ask that you DO NOT drop off your child's project in the morning! This year, we will be accepting projects Tuesday evening from 5:00-8:00 PM. We hope this makes drop-off easier for everyone! Parent’s Night: Thursday, February 5, 2016 from 5:00 – 6:00 PM Special awards such as Fan Favorite will be announced! Pick up of Student Projects: Thursday, February 5, 2016 from 6:00 PM Projects can be picked up at the end of Parent’s Night (Thursday). If possible, please wait until 6:00 PM to pick up projects so that other parents and children have ample time to see your child’s wonderful science displays. Any display not picked up during Parent's Night cannot be saved.
This project is being coordinated by the West View Science Fair Committee, and the many
willing volunteers of the West View PTA. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to
email your child’s teacher, or contact:
Mike & Rebecca DeSensi 412-613-4383 [email protected]
Ron Smart 412-641-0522 [email protected]
General Rules:
1. Projects are to be constructed by the student. Teachers, parents and friends may advise and guide, but should not build the project without the child's involvement. Any assistance provided should be documented in the journal.
2. Projects employing dangerous chemicals, explosives, or potentially hazardous substances, open flames, electricity not properly shielded, or poisonous plants will not be permitted.
3. NO LIVE ANIMALS OR INSECTS may be present. Use pictures in your display. 4. Entries will be judged by grade level. All participating students will receive an award
based on the display and the results from the judging session. 5. West View Elementary and The West View PTA assume no responsibility for the science
fair projects, but every effort will be made to give general protection against damage or loss.
Special Awards based on Students’ Votes (These are in addition to the awards based on the judges’ scores.) 1. Most Creative Project
a. Grade K-2 b. Grade 3-6
2. Grossest Project a. Grade K-2 b. Grade 3-6
3. Fan Favorite Project a. Grade K-2 b. Grade 3-6
Science Project Ideas and Examples These ideas are only suggestions. We encourage students to think of their own ideas for their science project. There are also a number of websites listed at the end that may give you good ideas. Exhibits – Making observations and organizing them according to a category or categories Plants and Animals ● Different bugs found in your backyard ● Different poisonous snakes or insects ● Different animals in your yard Earth and Space ● Geological layers ● Layers of the atmosphere Human Body ● Dominant traits exhibited in your family ● What vegetables do the members of my family like? ● Whose heart beats fastest?
Demonstrations – Showing how something works Plants and Animals ● How do plants drink water? ● What is photosynthesis? ● How does a chick breathe inside its shell? Human Body
What is DNA? How does it control our body? ● How do fingerprints identify who we are? ● How do germs make us sick? ● How do scabs and scars form? How do they protect our bodies? ● How does mucus (“snot”) protect our bodies? Physical Science ● How does a battery work? ● How does a magnifying glass work? ● What is centripetal force? How does it keep us from flying out of a roller coaster? ● How does salt melt the ice on our sidewalks? Experiments – Answer a big question using the scientific method. Design the experiment to test your guess. Plants and Insects ● What is the best fertilizer to make plants grow? ● Does moisture affect the direction of root growth? ● Do earthworms like light or darkness? Environment ● What type of car anti-freeze is the most environmentally friendly? ● How much space does garbage take up in a landfill? Human Body ● Does cold water affect your voice? ● Do boys have different pulse rates from girls? ● How do eyeglasses work? Physical Science ● Design a way to visualize magnetic field lines. ● How does a bar magnetic field interact with the earth’s magnetic field? ● How does the shape and mass of an object affect its velocity when sinking through water? ● What type of string is strongest? The most elastic? The least elastic? ● What affect does temperature have on glow sticks? Consumer Science ● Is bottled water better than tap water? ● Do all hairsprays work equally well? ● Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles? Mathematics
How does increasing the number of coin flips affect the number of time heads and tails show?
Does changing the shape of a ball of Play-Doh change how much water it displaces?
Reference books and books detailing science experiments are in a special section of the library.
Helpful web sites:
http://www.fossweb.com/
http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/projectguide
http://www.lewiscenter.org/users/mhuffine/subprojects/Department/ss.php
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/display.html
http://sciencebuddies.com
http://super-science-fair-projects.com/elementary-science-fair-projects.html
http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/elementary-project-ideas/a/1308/
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/scifair.htm
http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html
http://www.education.com/science-fair/
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/index.html#chemical
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/index.html
STEPS FOR STUDENTS
Step One -- The Preparation
Make sure you understand what is expected of you and what you need to do to enter the fair. Turn in the Science Fair Application Form to your science teacher or the office. Step Two -- The Project
Begin to work on your project. Decide whether you want to do an Exhibit, a Demonstration,
or an Experiment. The basic requirements for all students entering the fair are the same:
1. Design your exhibit. 2. Pick a topic. 3. Collect information, pictures, drawings, or models. 4. A journal is optional for exhibits. If you do keep one – use it like a scratch pad with
your ideas, thoughts, and facts you find. or
5. Design your demonstration. 6. Pick your topic. 7. What questions do you have about your topic? 8. Find out answers to your questions from the Internet, from the library, or from people
you know that are knowledgeable about it. Write down where you got your information. 9. Figure out the best way to display your work. 10. A journal is optional for demonstrations. If you do keep one – use it like a scratch pad
with your ideas, thoughts, and facts you find. or
11. Design an experiment. 12. Use the Scientific Method Worksheet to help you with your design. 13. Keep a journal – writing down all your planning, your thoughts, and your results and
conclusions. 14. Conduct your experiment and collect your data. 15. Figure out the best way to display your work to the public.
Step Three -- Displaying Your Project
Your display is a way of sharing what you have learned. A neat, attractive, colorful display
with a “catchy” title will grab people’s attention.
One of the most popular ways of displaying science projects is with a three-sided display. This type of display board is available at the school office for $2.00. If you are not using a commercially prepared display board, make a 3 sided backboard from heavy cardboard and hinge the sides with strong tape.
Science Journal
Step Four -- Be Prepared to Explain Your Project
You will explain your project to the judges so be prepared to answer the following questions: 1) Tell me what your project is about. 2) What did you do to prepare for your project? 3) What did you learn from your project? 4) What was most fun about your project?
Step Five -- The Presentation
● Bring your finished project to the side door of the gymnasium on Tuesday, February 2, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For experiments, make sure you bring in your journal with your project. Journals are optional for exhibits and demonstrations.
● Your project will be judged by one to three judges during the school day on Wednesday, February 3 and Thursday, February 4.
● Ask your teacher to bring the class for a tour through all of the science fair projects.
● Bring your parents and friends back to school Thursday, February 4 between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm to view your project, as well as the other great projects. Your project maybe picked up after 6:00 pm. Any remaining projects will be discarded.
Required For Experiments Only (especially 4th graders):
1) Science Fair Journal 2) Scientific Method Worksheet
Science Fair Journal
* Only required for experiments. Extra bonus points will be given if a journal is used for exhibits and demonstrations. You can use it as a place to keep notes and ideas.
Your journal is a day-to-day account of what you did and what you thought about as you did it. It’s like
a diary that you keep (scientists do this all the time) so that later you can go back over your work and
reflect on all that you did and exactly how you did it.
Also include your Big Question, your Hypothesis, your Experiment Design, your Data, and your
Conclusions.
Each entry should have a date listing, a brief summary of the activities, and perhaps, a description of your thoughts.
Examples:
April 5 My mom and I looked at pictures of flowers and decided to grow sunflowers or daisies. I might use blue or yellow food coloring. April 10 The first try didn’t work so well. The next one will be on newspaper and less vinegar. April 17 My dad and I bought the wood for our birdhouse from Home Depot. April 22 Today I worked on getting the seal around the top of my bottle to be airtight. I first tried modeling clay that my sister had, but it got really messy when wet. My mom suggested duct tape and so I tried that. It held up under the water, but it didn’t make an airtight seal. I then asked my dad and he suggested tub-and-tile sealer that was left over from a remodeling project. I put it around the top of my pop bottle and I have to wait until tomorrow for it to dry. The tube says it will provide a watertight seal and will not dry or crack. It smells really bad and I think there is some sort of chemical reaction going on because the fumes are toxic. I wonder if it makes any difference if I use a plastic bottle or a glass bottle.
Scientific Method Worksheet
(This form must accompany your EXPERIMENT, it is optional for exhibits and demonstrations)
● The Big Question – What do you want to find out or what problem are you solving? State this as a question.
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● Collect Information: Research your topic. What is known about your topic?
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● Form a Hypothesis: What do you think will happen? Why?
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● Test Your Hypothesis: Design your experiment to see if your hypothesis is correct. _______________________________________________________________________________
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● Record and Study Data _______________________________________________________________________________
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● Conclusion: What did you learn from your observations during your experiment? Why do you think the results turned out the way they did? _______________________________________________________________________________
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Science Fair Judge Rubric (1st – 6th grades)
Below is the rubric or requirements from which your Science Fair project will be judged. Please bear this in
mind as you are preparing your project for entrance. These measurements are what the judges will be using to
evaluate your project. This is not a competitive Science Fair with first and second place winners. The ribbon or
ribbons that you are rewarded will reflect the effort and quality of the job that you do.
Please jot down student’s comments Strongly Agree 4pts
Agree 3pts
Not Sure 2pts
Disagree 1pts
Strongly Disagree
0pt
“What is your project about?” (Student showed understanding)
“What did you do to prepare for your project?” (Student showed adequate preparation)
“What did you learn from your project?” (Student learned something new)
“What did you like about your project?” (Student found the project interesting)
Display board (Information is presented neatly and clearly)
Journal For Exhibits and Demonstrations: 1 extra point For Experiments: Journal has the big question, the experiment design, data, and conclusions.
Student: _______________________________________ Project Title: _______________________________________________________________ Grade: ______ Homeroom Teacher: ______________ Judge’s Score (Total Points): _____________ Judge’s Comments:
Science Fair Application Form
Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Grade: _________ Homeroom Teacher: ____________________________________________________________ Circle One: Exhibit Demonstration Experiment
Brief preliminary description of what you plan to do: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
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Does your project require electricity? Yes (_____) No (______)
The number of years (including this year) you have participated in the Science Fair: _______
RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR TEACHER BY Tuesday, January 8, 2016.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: (Complete only if interested in volunteering; otherwise please leave blank)
If you are available to help with the science fair, please check any of the below items and fill in your contact information. You do not need to be a member of the PTA to volunteer. More information will follow as we near the science fair event. __Monday Feb 1 evening - Science Fair set-up __Tuesday Feb 2 5:00-8:00PM - Project check-in __Thursday Feb 4 4:30-5:00 PM - Parents Night set-up __Thursday Feb 4 6:00-7:30 PM - Parents Night clean-up __Other (please indicate): Parent contact name: Parent contact email address: Parent contact phone: For any questions, please contact Mike DeSensi at [email protected]