Dear Parent:
Your child will be completing a science project this school year to be presented on March 3rd,
2016. A science-fair project challenges a student to solve a question using the scientific
method. It is a great way to excite children about science, teach them to think like scientists,
develop their organizational skills, and enhance their writing and oral-presentation skills.
I will be giving students handouts in class that explain the process of conducting a science-fair
project and guide them on their way. But the bulk of the students’ work will be completed at
home. I hope that you will offer your child support and encouragement and monitor his or her
progress in the coming weeks. At the same time I ask that you keep in mind that the project is
your child’s responsibility. By limiting your involvement, your child will receive the full
educational benefits of the science fair. It should be noted that a successful project does not
have to cost a lot of money. Some of the best projects can be completed using materials found
around the home!
The project must be experimental in nature as opposed to research oriented or a
demonstration. In other words, students must do an experiment to determine the answer to
their question instead of just looking it up in a book. We encourage students to pick topics that
they are genuinely interested in, since they will be working on these projects for the next
several weeks.
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Students are not allowed to do experiments with humans or animals. (ex. “what is the
best method to throw a basketball?” would not be allowed)
Due to the season students are not allowed to do experiments with live plants (unless
the plants or vegetables are already harvested and sold as a food)
Students are not allowed to do experiments involving explosions, toxic chemicals,
weaponry or anything deemed unsafe by your student’s science teacher.
Final presentation of Science Fair projects will be on March 3rd with the top three winners in
each grade level being awarded at the annual NIAA Science Night event. Attached is a checklist
that breaks down the project, detailing a 9 week plan for completion. I suggest you use this
checklist to help your child plan his or her project and stay on track. Also attached are
guidelines and requirements for the science fair.
Please contact me if you have questions. Thank you in advance for supporting your child
in such an exciting process of discovery.
Dale A. Worley, M.Ed.
5th Grade Science
dworley@newmanacademy.org
Blank Science Journals, samples, and
other valuable information can be
downloaded from the NIAA Science
Fair Portal
www.niaascifair.weebly.com
Basic Requirements
 Your project must be on a full-size tri fold board (36” x 48”) and
everything on the display MUST BE TYPED!
 Your project must be an experiment and not a demonstration
 Your project must have a title
 Your project must have an independent variable and dependent
variables and controls
 Run at least 3 trials for your experiment

Your project must include at least 2 pictures, or illustrations or drawings
 Your project must include at least one chart, or bar graph, or data table.
More data is always better! You may need to change the graph type in
your Science Journal.
 Your project must have your Science Journal placed in front of it when
being judged
 Your project must include the Scientific Method Headings for each step
 Everything on your project must be glued or taped down. No staples!
 You may bring your experiment or its props to place in front of your
trifold board on Mar. 3rd.
You must keep this packet, timeline sheets, and all other information in your school binder.
Your binder should be brought every day to school. You do not have to bring your trifold and/or
experiment until you are directed by your teacher.
DUE DATES
Date
Jan 5th
Jan 11th
Jan 25th
Jan 29th
Mar. 1st
Mar. 3rd
Assignment
3 Science Fair Ideas written in the form of an
investigative question
Hypothesis-, written as an If…Then
statement based off your question
List of your independent variable,
dependent variables, and controls
Materials and Procedure (typed or neatly
written)
Science Journal Competed
Science Fair Trifold Board with all info
Grade
HW Grade
HW Grade
Daily Grade
Daily Grade
Test Grade
Test Grade
SIGN AND CUT OFF THE BOTTOM AND RETURN TO YOUR SCIECNE TEACHER
PARENT/STUDENT AGREEMENT
Print Student Name:_______________________
Date:_______________
I’ve read and understood the requirements of my child for this Science Fair project. My child
has also read the rubric understands the guidelines presented. My child understands this is a
mandatory project and it will consist of many grades. My child understands later steps for this
project cannot be completed till certain assignments/tasks have been completed (e.g.
hypothesis written) but they must also practice good time management in order to have the
project completed on time. My child understands he/she will present the tri-fold display board
(36"x48" ) on March 3rd , 2016 for a project test grade. Failure to do so will significantly impact
their grade.
Student signature: _______________
Parent signature:__________________
Science-Fair Timeline and Checklist
WEEK
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
ACTION
Make sure you read the rubric and you understand what you
need to do for your science fair project. Ask questions if you are
unsure about any part of the assignment.
Choose a topic: use the internet, books, and other library
resources. Keep notes on all sources.
With your topics in mind, draft a purpose, hypothesis, materials
list, and procedure for your project. Write this on your draft
science journal.
Remember it must an experiment and not just a demonstration.
Discuss your project with your teacher.
If your teacher approves the project, gather materials and begin
your project.
DUE DATE
QUESTIONDUE JAN 5th
Ask professionals (teachers, doctors, librarians, and so on) for
advice and help on how to refine your project and procedure.
VARIABLESDUE JAN 25TH
Determine what your variables are: dependent, independent,
controls.
Purchase your trifold board (36”x48”) if you have not done so
yet.
Finalize materials list and procedure steps for your experiment.
MATERIALS/
PROCEDURE
DUE JAN 29th
HYPOTHESISDUE JAN 11TH
Perform your revised experiment and collect data.
Keep carefully written records of your results. Be as specific as
you can. Include time of your observations, amount size, and
type of materials, and so on.
Take photos to document your progress.
Make data tables and graphs to organize your progress. Draw
conclusions from your results.
Write your project report. Finalize your science fair journal.
7
Week
8
Week
9
Construct a display. Mount graphs, charts, illustrations,
photographs, and useful information. Be neat! Check the rubric
to see what is exactly required on the display board.
Add finishing touches to your project. Submit completed
Science Journal. Present your findings at the science fair.
SCI JOURNAL
MAR 1st
SCI FAIRMARCH 3rd

Science Fair Handouts
Students, the following pages contain the
assignments you will turn in to your Science
teacher on the due date. The due dates are
written on the assignments. You will turn in the
sheet or half sheet to your Science teacher. He
or she will evaluate it and provide you feedback
to make sure you have a successful Science Fair.
Once they have been graded you need to
carefully take the information and transfer it to
your Science Fair Journal. Your Journal should
be neatly written in/typed and organized.
My Question:
Due Jan. 5th
Pick 3 good questions that are not related to each other for your Science Fair. Remember what
is allowed and what is restricted. You might get your first choice, so have two backup questions
you are interested in doing a Science Fair on. Once your questions has been approved, type or
write this in your Science Journal.
1st Choice:
2nd Choice:
3rd Choice:
My Variables: DUE JAN 25th (Note this is due after the Hypothesis below ).
Once this has been
approved, type or write this in your Science Journal.
My independent variable or the one thing I plan to change, is:
My dependent variable or the change I will measure is:
My controlled variables or the things I will keep the same are:
Cut the Hypothesis off and keep the section above. The section above is due Jan. 25th and the section
below is due Jan. 11th.
-
--------------------------------------------------------------
My Hypothesis:
DUE JAN 11th A hypothesis is a possible answer to a research question.
Reread your question. Your hypothesis must be an If…then… statement. Once this has been approved,
type or write this in your Science Journal. Based on my research, my hypothesis is:
My Procedure: DUE JAN 29th
Be exact in the amount and type of materials you need. List
all steps involved in conducting the actual experiment to included repeat the experiment with
the independent variable. Once this has been approved type or write this in your Science Journal
Materials:
Procedure Steps: Use another sheet of paper if you need to write more steps
USEFUL WEB SITES:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml
http://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/2011/types-of-variables-2/
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/science_fair_experiment.html
https://sciencebob.com/
*** www.niaascifair.weebly.com ***
*** Blank Science Journals, samples, and other valuable information can be downloaded from the NIAA
Science Fair Portal ***
Project Topic: How Fabric Type Affects a Pillowcase’s Drying Time
Project Title:
Drip Drop Dry
1. My Question: How does the type of fabric-flannel, cotton, or
satin---affect how long a cloth pillowcase takes to dry?
2. My Purpose: The purpose of my experiment is to: find out if
The following document is
a sample on how the
Journal should look. Your
data charts/graphs may
look different based off
your data collection. Your
journal’s information
should be longer in content
and information.
different materials dry more quickly than others.
3. My Variables:
My independent variable or the one thing I plan to change, is:
the pillowcase cloth’s material.
My dependent variable or the change I will measure is: the time it takes for a wet pillowcase
to dry.
My controlled variables or the things I will keep the same are: the pillowcase’s size and shape,
soak the pillowcase in the same temperature of water for the same amount of
time, same location for the pillowcase to dry.
4. My Research
I interviewed two experts in fabrics: the owner of my local dry cleaner, who
said that satin is a very fast-drying material, and a fashion designer, who said
the same thing. I also conducted research on the internet, according to
www.cottonlife.com, cotton holds moisture extremely well.
5.
My Hypothesis
If the pillowcase is made out of satin, then it will dry faster than a pillowcase
made out of flannel and the cotton will take the longest
6. My Procedure
Materials: satin pillowcase, cotton pillowcase, flannel pillowcase, washtub,
cold water, bathroom scale, thermometer, drying rack, bath tub, clock, date
sheet
Procedure Steps:
1. Fill the washtub completely with cold water and record the temperature.
2. Place all pillowcases in the water.
3. Leave the pillowcases in the water for 1 hour to soak.
4. While the pillowcases are soaking, set up the drying rack in the bathtub.
5. After 1 hour, remove the soaked pillowcases and weigh each one again.
Record each pillowcase’s wet weight.
6. Hang each pillowcase on a top bar of the drying rack.
7. Allow the pillowcases to line dry.
8. Weight each pillowcase every 1 hour.
9. The first pillowcase to reach its dry weight from step 1 is the fastest
drying.
10. Continue to let the remaining pillowcases dry. Continue weighing them
every 1 hour until all three have reached their dry weight from step 1.
11. Run experiment at least 2 more times and average the dry timing and
record data in your table.
7. My Data
Dependent Variable
Independent
Variable
Flannel
.4
Wet
Weight
(in pounds)
.8
Cotton
.3
.7
.6
.5
.4
.3
.3
Satin
.2
.6
.5
.4
.2
.2
.2
(Pillowcase
fabric))
Dry Weight
(in pounds)
Hour 1
(in pounds)
Hour 2
(in pounds)
Hour 3
(in pounds)
Hour 4
(in pounds)
Hour 5
(in pounds)
.8
.7
.6
.5
.4
8. Graph My Data
Pillowcases Fabric Type Drying Time
5
Drying Time (in hours)
4
3
2
1
0
Flannel
Cotton
Satin
Type of Fabric
9. My Conclusions
Based off my results, I conclude that the first half of my hypothesis was
correct but the second half was wrong. A satin pillowcase dries faster than a
cotton or flannel pillowcase. But I also hypothesized that a cotton pillowcase
would take the longest to dry. My data shows that the flannel pillowcase
took the longest time to dry. If I could do this experiment again, I would use
a more sensitive scale. Then I could get more accurate results.