Science Fair Project For the 2013-2014 school year, all Crestdale students will be required to conduct a research-based science fair investigation. The entire process will be designed to guide students through the Scientific Method, as a scientist would use it, to investigate a specific research question. Students will utilize research skills, create a hypothesis, design and conduct an experiment, record and analyze data, and create an abstract to share their results. All students will be participating in the 2013 classroom science fairs as a requirement of the project. Students are encouraged to then participate in the school and regional science fairs! What Do I Need To Turn In? There are three components to this assignment that will count as formal grades. Project Abstract- A four-paragraph essay giving an overview of the project. Project Report- A detailed report of the entire scientific process undertaken by the students. Project Board- A display board providing a visual overview of the process, procedure, and results of our student scientists. TOPICS One class period of science will be spent researching and brainstorming a research-based question that can be investigated for the project. This research-based question will need to relate to the appropriate grade level as listed below. 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Energy Earth’s Atmosphere and Weather Disease Earth Science Human Body Systems Ecosystems The Solar System The Cell Evolution Ecosystems Heredity/Genetics Chemistry Plants Micro-organisms The Hydrosphere Forces and Motion Simple Machines Project Abstract The Project Abstract is a brief overview of the Science Fair project as a whole. It will take the form of a four-paragraph essay. The Abstract is to be typed, in size 12 Times New Roman font. The essay should break down as follows: o o o o 1st Paragraph- Introduction to your science fair project. What did you do? What was the purpose of your investigation? 2nd Paragraph- Summarizes the procedure that you carried out as an experiment during your investigation. 3rd Paragraph- Briefly discusses the observations and data that was gathered during your experiment 4th Paragraph- Summarizes your data analysis and conclusions from your investigation Project Report The Project Report is the details of the entire process of your science fair investigation. A copy of the project report will be provided that will be used to input all of the information. The final copy of the Project Report should be typed in size 12 Times New Roman font. A word file of the format for the Project Report will be available on the Crestdale website and the science teacher wikis. Project Board The Project Board is a visual aid that will be used to help share student information from the science fair projects. See the project board visual for how the board will be organized. The project board MUST include: A title for the science fair project Statement of the research question being investigated Statement of the student’s hypothesis Brief description of the procedure followed Photos of the process/procedure and data graphs Data analysis Conclusions based on the data Works Cited information The following pages include a timeline of when you will complete sections of the project, the rubric, the project board organization and the project report template. All teachers will be assisting with this project as it encompasses all content areas. Tasks must be completed in order so do not fall behind! Ask questions early if you need clarification! Most of all have FUN experimenting!!! Project Timeline The following are required checkpoints throughout the project. Oct. 2/Oct. 3 (A-day/B-day) Science: Students will be introduced to the project and will begin brainstorming ideas for investigation topics. Oct. 10/Oct. 11 (A-day/B-day) Science: Students will submit a RESEARCH BASED QUESTION for approval by their science teacher. Oct. 14/Oct. 15 (A-day/B-day) Social Studies: Students will do BACKGROUND RESEARCH on their topic with the aid of their Social Studies teacher. Oct. 24/Oct. 25 (A-day/B-day) Science: Students will submit a HYPOTHESIS to their science teacher for approval. Nov.6/Nov. 7 (A-day/B-day) Science: Students will submit a detailed procedure for an EXPERIMENT that will be carried out to test their hypothesis Nov. 8 Math: Students will plan out what DATA AND OBSERVATIONS they will collect and how these DATA AND OBSERVATIONS will be organized Nov. 8-Dec 1 Students on their own outside of school: Students will need to carry out their EXPERIMENT and collect their DATA for their research question Dec. 2 Math: Students will organize and graph the DATA AND OBSERVATIONS from their experiment Dec. 6 Language Arts: Students will work on writing the PROJECT ABSTRACT as an overview of their project Dec. 8/Dec. 9 (A-day/B-Day) Science: Students will work on their PROJECT BOARD and ask any last questions they have before the project is due. Dec. 12/Dec. 13 Science: Project Board, Project Abstract, and Project Report DUE; classroom science fairs will be conducted on each grade level