CSES Science Fair
May 14, 2014 and May 15, 2014
Dear Third Grade Parents,
This year’s Science Fair will be a collaborative effort between home and school. Your child may
work alone or with a partner from our homeroom. In school the students have been learning about
testable questions.
This week, they will plan their Science Fair testable question and science investigation at home
(the materials list should be approved by parents) and return the forms to school no later than Tuesday,
4/8 for teacher approval.
Once approved by me, the students will complete the investigation and collect data at home
(partner groups will need to set up a designated house and times after school to complete this step).
Students should NOT begin the investigation until they receive final approval on 4/10!
Once results are collected, students will bring in this information on 5/6 and complete the display
board in school (boards will be provided by the school). They will practice their science presentations in
class as well. Please see the timeline below:
4/1/14 Science Investigation Proposal Sheet goes home
4/8/14 All Proposal Sheets must be returned to school for teacher approval
4/10/14 Approved Science Investigation Proposal Sheets are returned to students
5/6/14 All Investigations are completed at home and results and data are brought to school
5/6/14 – 5/13/14 Students will have time to complete their display boards and practice presentations in
school
A detailed Science Fair schedule will be sent home when details are finalized.
Here is a tentative schedule:
5/14-2nd and 3rd grade will present projects to the school
5/15-4th and 5th grade will present projects to the school
There will also be an evening Science Fair event for 4th and 5th grade on 5/15. Projects from other
grades will be displayed for the evening event as well.
Please see the Science Investigation Proposal Sheet coming home today! Also, remember to keep it
simple. See attached sheet for possible ideas.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Talvac
Name__________________________
Science Fair Testable Question and Investigation Proposal
Return this sheet to school by Tuesday 4/8/14
*Only one
proposal sheet per
group needs to be
turned in (with at
least one parent
signature)
1) List your name and your partner’s name (if you are working with a partner):
________________________________________________________
2) What is your testable question?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3) What variable will you change (independent variable)?
________________________________________________________________________
4) How will you collect your data?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5) What materials will you need (be sure to include materials you will need to collect and
record your data)?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Parent Sign Off
I have reviewed the information above and agree that:
1) All materials will be available
2) My child (and their partner) will be able to meet outside of school to complete the
investigation
3) My child (and their partner) will be able to collect proper data and return all results to
school no later than Tuesday, 5/6/14.
X______________________________
Date:________________
Science Fair Project Ideas
You can use any of the project ideas below or develop your own!
Remember: The independent variable is the variable you are changing. The dependent variable is the change that
occurs due to the independent variable.
*Think about our paper airplanes
Don’t forget to take LOTS of pictures throughout your experiment.
experiment!
Independent variable: Where you placed the
 How does the brand of paper towel affect its absorbency?
paperclip on the paper airplane
Independent variable: Brand of paper towel
Dependent variable: How far the paper
Dependent variable: How much liquid it absorbs
airplane traveled
 How does the environment a piece of bread is placed in affect the amount of mold that grows?
Independent variable: Environment (dark, light, wet, dry, etc)
Dependent variable: Amount of mold that grows
 How does sunlight affect plant growth?
Independent variable: Amount of sunlight
Dependent variable: Height of the plant
 How does the liquid used to water a plant affect its growth?
Independent variable: Liquid (juice, water, salt water, bottled water, tap water, soda, vinegar, etc) used to water plants
Dependent variable: Height of the plant
 How does the environment an ice-cube is placed in affect its rate of melting?
Independent variable: Surface/environment (concrete, stone, wood, grass, asphalt, etc)
Dependent variable: Time it takes to melt completely
 How does the liquid used to make an ice-cube affect its rate of melting?
Independent variable: Liquid (juice, water, salt water, bottled water, tap water, soda, vinegar, etc) used to make ice
cubes
Dependent variable: Time it takes to melt completely
 How does the steepness of a ramp affect the distance a ball travels?
Independent variable: Steepness of ramp
Dependent variable: Distance ball traveled
 How does the type/brand of ball affect the height the ball bounces?
Independent variable: Type or brand of ball
Dependent variable: Height ball bounces
 How does the type of vinegar affect the amount of separation/time it takes for the vinegar and oil to separate?
Independent variable: Type of vinegar
Dependent variable: Amount of separation from oil or time it takes to separate from oil
 How does the size of a pizza affect the amount of time it takes to cook?
Independent variable: Size of pizza (small, medium, large, thin crust, thick crust, etc)
Dependent variable: Amount of time it takes to cook completely
 How does the cooking surface affect the amount of time it takes for food to cook?
Independent variable: Cooking surface (nonstick, ceramic, etc)
Dependent variable: Amount of time food (cookies, pizza, etc) takes to cook completely

How does the amount of baking soda added to vinegar affect the amount of gas created when it reacts with
vinegar?
Independent variable: Amount of baking soda
Dependent variable: Amount of gas created by reaction with vinegar (use a balloon to capture the gas and measure it)
 How does the thickness/tightness of a string affect the sound/pitch created when it’s plucked?
Independent variable: Thickness of string/tightness of string
Dependent variable: Sound/pitch it creates when plucked
 How does the amount of water in a container affect the sound/pitch created when it’s played?
Independent variable: Amount of water in bottle/cup
Dependent variable: Sound/pitch it creates when you blow on it, hit it, or use your finger along the edge of it, etc
 How does the type of water affect the rate of heating/cooling?
Independent variable: Type of water (salt water, tap water, bottled water, etc)
Dependent variable: Time it takes to heat or cool to a certain temperature
 How does the amount of UV light affect the rate a material fades at?
Independent variable: Amount of UV light a material (fabric, paper, etc) is exposed to
Dependent variable: How much the material fades
 How does the color of fabric/paper affect the rate the material fades at when exposed to UV light?
Independent variable: Color of fabric or paper
Dependent variable: How much the fabric/paper fades
 How does the size of the faucet opening affect how much water flows through it?
Independent Variable: Water Faucet Openings (closed, half open, fully open)
Dependent Variable: Amount of water flowing measured in liters per minute
 How does the temperature of a cup of water affect the amount of sugar able to dissolve in the water?
Independent Variable: Temperature of the water measured in degrees
Dependent Variable: Amount of sugar that dissolved measured in grams
 How does fertilizer affect the height of a plant?
Independent Variable: Amount of fertilizer measured in grams
Dependent Variable: Growth of plant (height of plant)

How does the amount of baking soda affect the appearance/thickness of the food you’re cooking (cookies, cake,
bread, etc)?
Independent variable: Amount of baking soda (half what the recipe says to use, double what the recipe says to use, etc)
Dependent variable: Appearance/thickness of the food (cookies, cake, bread, etc)
 How does the liquid a nail is placed in affect the time it takes for it to rust?
Independent variable: Liquids (juice, water, salt water, bottled water, tap water, soda, vinegar, etc)
Dependent variable: Amount of time it takes to rust
 How does the type of liquid affect the rate at which it freezes?
Independent variable: Liquids (juice, water, salt water, bottled water, tap water, soda, vinegar, etc)
Dependent variable: Amount of time it takes to freeze completely
 How does the type of insulator used affect the rate at which the ice melts?
Independent variable: Insulator used (wrap a cup in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, foam, etc)
Dependent variable: Amount of time it takes for the ice-cube to melt completely