It’s time for the El Morro Science Showcase! Science is fun, and our goal is to get kids involved
in science early through hands-on projects. Science Showcase is mandatory for all 5th graders.
This project is meant to be exciting and engaging, and is geared to the child’s age and abilities. Science
Showcase projects are designed experiments that are based on the Scientific Method, which asks questions
about the world around us.
Note to parents: by fifth grade, students are capable of observing, measuring, and identifying properties,
seeking evidence and recognizing patterns and cycles, identifying causes and effect, and designing and
conducting controlled experiments.
Please begin with the following guidelines:
1. Read and review the Science Showcase Project Timeline and Resources page.
2. Keep your project appropriate to 5th grade. The web sites referenced in the Resources Packet have
grade-appropriate project ideas to help you decide which experiment you will conduct.
3. Your lab book is your rough draft and hand-written. Read the directions carefully and raise the bar!
Writing must be legible and there will be a progress check of your lab book half way through your
project to ensure you are on track. This will be turned in too on the final due date.
4. You will need a tri-fold presentation board (36” x 48”) to display all your results and typed data from
your lab book. Reference the layout example in this packet and online examples on class websites.
I hereby certify that my question & hypothesis below are both thoughtful and testable. They follow either the
4th or 5th grade standards.
Student Name _________________________________ Parent Signature ______________________________
Standards Topic:______________________________________________
Investigation/Question: ______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis (& why): I predict __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
How do I select an experiment topic?
1. Find a subject that you consider interesting. You'll be spending a lot of time on it, so select carefully. (topics
must come from either the 4th or 5th grade Science Content Standards for California Public Schools)
2. Once you find a general topic that interests you, write down the question that you want to answer. A
scientific question usually starts with: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where. For example, if you are
interested in robots, your question might be "How much current does a robot's arm use to lift a weight?"
3. Can you design a fair test to answer your question? A "fair test" requires that you change only one factor
(variable) and keep all other conditions the same. If you cannot design a fair test, then you should change
your question.
4. Your project question should involve factors or traits that you can easily measure using a number. Or,
factors or traits that are easily identified, like colors. Is your experiment safe to perform? Choose a project
that does not involve purchasing equipment. There should be minimal costs. You will have approximately one
month to work on your experiment.
Not allowed: Projects that involve human subjects or animals
Approved Standards Based Topics Science Fair
4th Grade
Physical Sciences
 Electricity & Magnetism- Circuits, Magnetic Field, Electromagnets, Attract & Repel, Electrical Energy
Life Sciences
 Organisms- Plants & Animals, Food Chain, Decomposers, Ecosystems, Microorganisms
Earth Sciences
 Rocks & Minerals- Rock Types- igneous, sedimentary, etc., Minerals- quartz, calcite, etc.
 Waves, Wind, Water, & Ice- Changes in the Earth’s land- erosion, weathering, etc., Natural processes- freezing,
thawing, & roots
5th Grade
Physical Sciences
 Elements- Chemical Reactions, Matter, Atoms & Molecules, Physical & Chemical Reactions, Living Organisms
Life Sciences
 Plants & Animals- Human Body Systems- i.e. circulatory, respiratory, Multicellular Organisms- plants & animals,
Photosynthesis
Earth Sciences
 Water on Earth- Evaporation & Condensation, Water Vapor, Fresh & Salt Water
 Energy from the Sun- Heat from the Sun, Air Movement (currents), Air Pressure, Water Cycle, Weather
Solar System
Name ______________ # ____
Science Showcase Project Timeline
Due Date
Task
Completed

Friday,
Choose a topic
April 24
Write a project question.
Write a hypothesis
Monday,
Begin designing an experiment to test the hypothesis.
April 27
On going
Wednesday,
Conduct the experiment and record observations in your
log book. You might want to take pictures to use on your
display. Make a table or graph for data. Make a project
display. Type portions that will displayed on tri fold.
Progress Check (must be completed)
May 13
Lab Book- Title pg., Question, Intro., Background,
Hypothesis, Materials, Procedures, Works Cited
Friday,
Log Book/Tri Fold Due
May 29
Begin classroom presentations. Use the rubric to help
you prepare for your presentation.
Thursday,
June 4
Science Showcase during El Morro Open House
Optional Space for materials
that cannot attach to tri-fold.
How to prepare Works Cited-MLA format
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Alphabetize each entry by first letter
Use italics for all titles of books, magazines, films, etc.
Put quotation marks around the titles of poems, short stories, and articles
Indent if you have a 2nd line.
Examples to follow:
Correct citation
Type of citation
Gorman, Elizabeth. Prairie Women. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986.
Book (One author)
Barnridge, Thomas H. "Baseball." World Book Encyclopedia. 2001.
Encyclopedia (Signed article)
"Egypt." The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 2002.
Encyclopedia (Unsigned article)
"Egypt." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Vers. 97.1.1. Mar. 1997. Encyclopedia Britannica. 29 Feb.
2000
Encyclopedia (Internet)