Science Fair Information Junior 2014

August 30, 2013

Dear OLPH 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade Families,

        

         Your child will be taking part in a science fair, an exciting event that encourages students to think like young scientists. During the next few weeks your child will be designing a science project that uses the scientific method to solve a problem. We hope you agree that the educational benefits are numerous, as students develop skills in researching, writing, oral presentation, creative thinking, and problem solving.

         We ask that you encourage your child and monitor his or her progress along the way.  Your support is vital to a successful project, but please do not allow your involvement to extend any further in order to assure equity and promote student learning.  Take your child to the library, give your child access to internet resources, and provide supplies needed to complete the experiment.  Guide your child whenever and wherever you can, but let the final project reflect your child's individual effort and design. 

         Please review the attached packet for details about the science fair.  It is in a question/answer format that addresses the most frequently asked questions about science fair projects.  You may also find this information, as well as Power Point file showing projects from the Inland Science and Engineering Fair attached to the assignment listing in Gradelink.

         Please let me know if you'd like more information on creating a successful science fair project. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to watching your child enjoy this unique opportunity for scientific discovery.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Becerra

Science Fair Coordinator, OLPH Catholic School

cbecerra@olphschoolindio.com

ckbecerra@gmail.com (summer email)

OLPH Science Fair Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Science Fair important?  A science project is an active, fun approach to science, something you do rather than something you only read about or watch someone else do. You gain self confidence through completing and sharing this accomplishment.

2. When is the project due? The project is due in the middle of January 2013. Each student will be assigned a day during that week to present the project to the class. The actual Science Fair date is January 23. This is when judges come to the school to determine the ribbon awards for grades 4-8.
3. Does my project need to be approved? Yes.  We need to know your project follows regulations- safety and otherwise.  The due date for approval will be during the month of October, 2012.

4. Why is the due date different from the date of the Science Fair?  The project needs to be graded before presenting to the judges. You will be interviewed by me so that I can better understand how you understand the project.

5. What do I need to turn in on the due date?  You need to turn in your journal notebook if you have one (a composition notebook or binder), report (typed), and board.

6. What should be written/put in the journal notebook?  The journal is your handwritten record the rough draft of your project and an informal record you keep while your work is in progress.  It is a “diary” of your project containing your daily notes, thoughts, and actions.  We expect to see the journal to review how your project progressed from your first idea, to your research, through any mistakes and/or changes you made, and finally your final experiment.  Drawings, smudges, and scribbled notes are all proof of your work in progress throughout the project. 

7. What should be written/put in the report?  The report should be typed.  It should have the following elements:
• Title page
• Research- summarize the background science of your project
• Question- must be testable, preferably not a “yes” or “no” question
• Hypothesis- an educated prediction of the outcome of your project. Write your hypothesis as a statement of fact that you will prove right or wrong.
• Materials- a list of the materials you used
• Project design- the step by step procedure, like a recipe of the experiment
• Data in the form of graphs, charts, or photos
• Data analysis- a description of the data in a paragraph or two.
• Conclusion- a paragraph describing if your hypothesis was correct and how your experiment relates to the basic science behind the project. This may include a future question, which lets us know how you would continue exploring this project in the future.
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography- a list of the resources you used to help you with the project. This can include books, magazines, journals, websites, or individual people.
8. What should be on the board? The same elements that are in the report, except your title page becomes the title of your board. Print your report twice, then use one copy for the board.  I suggest altering the font for some elements to make them easier to read on the board.  Neatness and organization count.  Do not attach delicate, breakable, or dangerous items to the board.  Photographs should NOT include the face of the participant.

9. What type of project should I do if I am in 6^th, 7^th, or 8^th grade?  Choose a project that is interesting to you.  Make sure that you are taking measurements as part of the project (length, width, height, weight, mass, volume, numbers, pH, etc).  You must also include an independent variable, dependent variable, and control group.  The categories for junior division (grades 6-8) are:
• Aerodynamics/hydrodynamic-aerodynamics and propulsion of:  air, land, water, and space vehicles; structures; natural objects.  Also includes studies of fluid flow.
• Applied mechanics and structures- Testing and analysis of strength and stiffness of structures.
• Behavioral and social sciences- similar to elementary category
• Biochemistry/molecular biology- chemistry of living things.
• Chemistry- chemistry (nonbiological, inorganic)
• Cognitive science-studies of thinking, learning, memory, perception in humans
• Earth and planetary sciences- similar to earth science category in elementary
• Electronics and electromagnetics- electrical circuits, computer design, electro-optics, electromagnetic applications, antennas, and propagation
• Environmental engineering- recycling, reclamation, restoration, composting, bioremediation
• Environmental science- similar to environmental education category in elementary
• Mammalian biology- growth and developmental biology, anatomy, and physiology of mammals (nonhuman)
• Materials science- materials characteristics and non-moving properties (durability, insulation)
• Mathematics and software- similar to the math category in elementary
• Microbiology- epidemiology, genetics, growth, physiology of microbes.
• Pharmacology/toxicology- effects of chemicals at the cellular or higher level on plants and animals
• Physics/astronomy- physical properties of matter, light, acoustics, thermal properties, solar physics, astrophysics, orbital physics, observational astronomy
• Plant biology- genetics, growth, physiology of plants
• Product science- similar to consumer science in elementary
• Zoology- growth, developmental biology, anatomy, physiology of animals other than mammals.

10. I don’t know what to do for science fair.  What do I do?  First, you should explore any topic in science that interests you and think of a question related to it.  Then design your project around that question.  If you can’t think of anything, then explore various resources.  Go to the library and look for books about science fair.  Look for project ideas on the internet.  Talk to people who have interesting jobs in science (doctors, nurses, psychologists, computer technicians, etc).  Remember, you want to do something interesting to you.  I will not assign you a project.

11. How will the project be graded?  How will the project be judged?  I will use a rubric that follows the guidelines of the Inland Science and Engineering Fair for grading.  The same rubric will be used by the judges.  However, the grading and the judging are separate- your grade is not your score on the judging day, and vice versa.

12. What are variables and control groups? The independent variable is the variable you have the freedom to control and change.  The dependent variable is the one you observe or measure, and depends on the conditions of the experiment.  The control group has all of the same variables as the experimental group except for the independent variable.  Your control group is your point of comparison.

13. How many times should I perform my procedure? The standard is to perform the procedure at least five times.  For example, if you are growing plants you need five to observe for your experiment.  If you are doing a survey, you should include at least five people (more would be preferable).  If you are testing a catapult design, you need to test it under the same conditions five times.