Science Exit
Project Proposals
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THE FOUR TYPES OF EXIT PROJECTS
Controlled experiment
A controlled experiment is an experiment in which you change one thing (independent variable) and measure
how this change affects something else (dependent variable). In a controlled experiment you design an
investigation based upon background research and your hypothesis. You want to repeat this investigation at
least 3 times to ensure you get the most accurate results.
Design project
A design project is an investigation in which you change multiple things (independent variables) in order to
achieve a goal. Complete background research, create a hypothesis, and test it. As with all experiments, each
time you investigate something it should be tested 3 times. For example you may wish to design a paper rocket
that will travel the furthest distance. You might change the fin length, the body length, and the nose shape. You
complete a controlled experiment for each variable you change (for example here you would complete 1
controlled experiment for the fins, one for the body and one for the nose). Once you have the results of these
experiments, you create the final product and test it via a controlled experiment to see if it has met your goal.
Remember to complete each investigation 3 times.
Field Study
A field study is an investigation in which you choose to observe and measure how one thing (Independent
variable) affects another (dependent variable). For this type of investigation you do not change anything in the
environment yourself but rather take data on the conditions that already exist. Based on background research
and your hypothesis you may choose to obtain data in different locations, at different times, etc. In an
investigation with animals you will be observing and quantifying the animals’ behaviors or location (dependent
variable) based upon factors you choose (independent variable).
Secondary Research
A secondary research investigation comes from numeric data (collected by other scientists). After obtaining
background information, you will create a hypothesis about how one thing (independent variable) affects
another (dependent variable). By comparing data sets on these two variables, you will be able to determine
whether or not your hypothesis is supported. In general you will want to use multiple datasets that have not been
compared to each other before.
Testable Questions
be a “testable question” you must be able to measure the results, such as length, weight, distance, time,
temperature, etc. It should also follow this sentence frame,
“How does ___________ affect ___________?”
Independent Variable
(The ONE thing that is being changed)
Dependent Variable
(What is being measured)
PLANTS:
 How does the amount of water effect the growth of plants?
 How does the amount of light effect the growth of plants?
 How does the type of dirt (sand vs. potting soil) effect the growth of a plant?
 How does music effect the growth of a plant?
 How does temperature effect the growth of a plant?
 How does sugar added to water affect the length of time before cut flowers begin to wilt?
 How does fertilizer effect the growth of a plant?
FOOD:
 How does the ratio of salt added to an ice cream maker effect the amount of time it takes to make ice
cream?
 How does eliminating half of the butter in a chocolate chip cookie recipe affect the cookie’s height?
 How does the temperature of an oven effect how long it takes for a cookie to bake?
 How does the diameter of a container affect the height of a baking soda/vinegar reaction?
 How does temperature affect the length of time it takes for mold to grow on bread?
 How does moisture affect the length of time it takes for mold to grow on bread?
PAPER AIRPLANES:
 How does the amount of weight added to the nose of a paper airplane affect the length of its flight?
 How does the length of the wing span affect the length of paper airplane’s flight?
 How does the type of paper (copy paper vs. construction paper) effect the distance a paper airplane will
fly?
BALLS:
 How does the size of a rubber ball affect the height of its bounce?
 How does the type of surface effect how far a ball will roll?
 How does the size of a ball effect the distance the ball will roll?
BALLS (continued):
 How does the height of a ramp affect the distance a ball rolls?
 How does the type of surface effect the height a ball will bounce?
 How does the amount of air pressure in a ball affect the height a ball will bounce?
 How does the height from which I drop a ball effect the height of the initial bounce?
BRAND COMPARISON: (Remember you can NOT use the brand name in the experiment. The product must
be labeled and identified as Brand “A”, Brand “B”, Brand “C”, etc.)
 How does the brand of bubble gum affect the size of a bubble blown?
 How does the brand of diaper affect how much liquid the diaper can hold?
 How does the brand of paper towel affect how much liquid it can hold?
TOY CARS:
 How does the weight of a toy car affect the distance the car rolls down a ramp?
 How does the size of the wheels affect the distance a toy car rolls down a ramp?
 How does the height of a ramp affect the distance a toy car rolls?
 How does adding weights affect the distance a toy car travels?
MISCELLANEOUS:
 How does the type of surface you use to stick a suction cup to effect the amount of time the suction cup
will remain on the surface?
 How does the speed that I approach a jump with (standing, jogging, sprinting) effect the length of a
jump?
 How does the type of material (cotton, plastic, rubber) affect the amount of water it can absorb?
 How does the length of a string affect the amount of times a pendulum will swing before coming to a
rest?
 How does the design of a bridge affect the amount of weight it can hold?
 How does the type of liquid used to make ice cubes affect the rate at which it melts?
 How does the kind of sugar affect the size of a crystal?
Science Exit Project Proposal
Write down three possible testable questions that you would like your exit project to be based on.
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List the materials you would need to investigate each question.
Question 1 Materials
Question 2 Materials
Questions 3 Materials
What is the independent variable for
this question?
What is the independent variable for
this question?
What is the independent variable for
this question?
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What is the dependent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
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Gathering Background Research
Helps students gain in depth knowledge about the topic and processes they will be observing during the
investigation.
Sparks ideas about different variables to test when setting up the investigation.
Provides the basis for predicting what will happen in the investigation when making a hypothesis.
Provides the understanding needed to interpret and explain the results to others –especially a science fair
judge!
To do a good introduction, assume that your audience knows a little science but is not familiar with your topic
or subject at all. Quotes from books or other experts are appropriate as long as you document the source and use
correct citation.
The following are example questions to answer for a topic/subject of Acids----What is an acid?
-How are acids made?
-When where they discovered?
-What do acids do?
-what are acids used for?
-How do you identify an acid?
-What happens when you put acid on something? (explain everything you can find so others understand what
you are doing)
Remember you are NOT trying to answer your testable question. You will find the answer to your question when
you conduct the experiment.
Lastly, after laying the ground work, discuss specifically the part of the topic you are experimenting with
include discussion about how the variables might affect your experiment. If you take quotes directly from a site
be sure to cite it, by putting the name of the website in parenthesis after the quote. Below is an example.
Background Research
The amount of acid that touches an object impacts the amount of damage done to an object. “Examples
of damage that may occur to a material acid is put on includes; melting, holes, color change, and temperature
change” (Discovery Education). Variables in a situation where the effect of how changing the amount of acid
changes the amount of damage done are as follows: starting temperature of the material, type of material, how
the acid is applied, and how long the acid is left on the material.
It is important to keep the starting temperature for all samples the same because acids act differently in
different temperatures. Also it is important to keep them all the same because the ending temperature recorded
might get inflated because the starting temp is higher. “Material is another variable that influence the action of
acids. Since the effect of the amount is being tested the material each amount is put on needs to be the same”
(National Geographic).
Literature Cited- (Your sources must be alphabetically listed by the website name)
Format: “Website Name”. URL.
Example:
1. “Discovery Education”. http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/ECDAB70D-444546EC-BE80-F0697B223DEA.
2. “National Geographic”. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/04/ocean-acidification/kolbert-text.
Choose only one of the three testable questions to do the background research on.
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Background Research
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Literature Cited
Format: “Website Name”. URL.
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Making a Hypothesis
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A hypothesis predicts the effect that a change made in the independent variable will have on the
dependent variable.
Sample: I think (independent variable) will affect (dependent variable) and I expect (predicted results)
because (scientific reasoning obtained from background research).
Sample Hypothesis: I think Lysol will affect the growth of bacteria and I expect the Lysol to kill the
bacteria because Lysol advertises that it kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
Make a hypothesis for the same testable question that you chose to do your background research on. Please
remember that the aim of the background research is to help you support your hypothesis.
Rewrite the testable question that you chose to do your background research on:
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Writing a Procedure
Often times if you found an experiment online the procedure can be found there as well. If you are conducting
an original investigation then you would have to write your own procedure. Even if you are taking a procedure
from the internet it is important to make sure that the following are included:
 There must a minimum of three repeated trials so that the results are accurate
 There must be a control variable present when conducting a controlled experiment(A control variable is
a factor that remains unchanged during a comparison between two other variables.)
o Example of a control variable: In an experiment testing the effect of temperature on plant
growth, the control variable would be room temperature.
 Please make sure that your procedure is in a list form NOT in a paragraph
Write a procedure for the testable question that you have chosen to conduct your investigation on.
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