Gr. 6-12 STUDENTS
HOW TO GET STARTED!
Print out this list and follow the steps to create a successful science fair project! See below for all the links you'll need to complete each step!
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STEP 1: UNDERSTAND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
o Watch intro Power Point and You Tube Videos (see below)
o Look at and evaluate examples of good project boards, good topics, old student projects etc.. (if available)
o Know what a hypothesis is and practice writing one (or more). Always use an "if...(I do this), then... (I predict this will happen)" statement.
o Understand the steps of the scientific method by doing a simple experiment
o Learn the difference between and INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (the one thing you are testing/changing) and the DEPENDENT VARIABLE (the one thing you are measuring).
o Understand that you need to CONTROL all of the other variables in your experiment (keep everything in your control group and experiment group the same so that you know when you change the independent variable in your experiment group and a change occurs, the change is due to the independent variable and not something else).
o Look at and evaluate examples of good project boards, good topics, old student projects etc.. (if available)
o Know what a hypothesis is and practice writing one (or more). Always use an "if...(I do this), then... (I predict this will happen)" statement.
o Understand the steps of the scientific method by doing a simple experiment
o Learn the difference between and INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (the one thing you are testing/changing) and the DEPENDENT VARIABLE (the one thing you are measuring).
o Understand that you need to CONTROL all of the other variables in your experiment (keep everything in your control group and experiment group the same so that you know when you change the independent variable in your experiment group and a change occurs, the change is due to the independent variable and not something else).
STEP 2: BRAINSTORM PROJECT IDEAS
o Go to www.sciencebuddies.org and look at project ideas. If you can't find any ideas here, click the button below ("Where to look for ideas?")
o Come up with a list of possible project ideas.
o Look at the RUBRIC that you will be judged with and discuss what you need to do with your teacher (formal report, log book, display board)
o Learn about ETHICS with your teacher. Learn the no-no’s and rules that need to be followed.
o Decide whether or not you want to work alone or with one other person. Make your decision wisely! Remember that you will have to count on this person for a long time.
o Come up with a list of possible project ideas.
o Look at the RUBRIC that you will be judged with and discuss what you need to do with your teacher (formal report, log book, display board)
o Learn about ETHICS with your teacher. Learn the no-no’s and rules that need to be followed.
o Decide whether or not you want to work alone or with one other person. Make your decision wisely! Remember that you will have to count on this person for a long time.
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STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR PROJECT
o From your list of project ideas, choose one that you are really excited about finding the answer to! Something you are PASSIONATE ABOUT!! What is your question?
o Determine what type of project you are doing. Is it an EXPERIMENT (test your hypothesis)? An INNOVATION (invent something)? A STUDY (a statistical analysis - NOT A LIBRARY RESEARCH PROJECT)? See link below. The STUDY is the most difficult!!! It would be better to do an experiment or an invention!
o Determine your hypothesis – what is your best guess about what you will find out?
o Get your LOG BOOK (journal entry – everything that you do on the project needs to be written here! Include the date and what is done each time you work on their project!)
o Research your topic (spend time researching on web/magazines/journals/books) to find out as much as you can about it before you start. Do scientists already know the answer to the question you are asking? See Research Plan, Research Sample, and Research Criteria below.
o Hand in your project proposal to be approved by teacher. In the proposal you need to outline the specific materials you will use, the procedure you will follow, and any charts/tables you will use to collect your data.
o Get your parent permission forms handed in
o Determine what type of project you are doing. Is it an EXPERIMENT (test your hypothesis)? An INNOVATION (invent something)? A STUDY (a statistical analysis - NOT A LIBRARY RESEARCH PROJECT)? See link below. The STUDY is the most difficult!!! It would be better to do an experiment or an invention!
o Determine your hypothesis – what is your best guess about what you will find out?
o Get your LOG BOOK (journal entry – everything that you do on the project needs to be written here! Include the date and what is done each time you work on their project!)
o Research your topic (spend time researching on web/magazines/journals/books) to find out as much as you can about it before you start. Do scientists already know the answer to the question you are asking? See Research Plan, Research Sample, and Research Criteria below.
o Hand in your project proposal to be approved by teacher. In the proposal you need to outline the specific materials you will use, the procedure you will follow, and any charts/tables you will use to collect your data.
o Get your parent permission forms handed in
STEP 4: PERFORM YOUR EXPERIMENT
o Before you start, make sure that you have looked at the ETHICAL/SAFETY requirements and that you aren't breaking any rules or doing anything unsafe.
o You may have more free time to complete the experiment over the holidays. Some experiments will be longer term and will need to be started earlier.
o ***YOU MUST TAKE PHOTOS/VIDEOS AS YOU DO THE EXPERIMENT – to show proof of what was done!
o Make sure you have 1 independent variable, everything else controlled (controls), a large sample size, and at least THREE trials (so you can get an average)
o Have your data collected by the date your teacher tells you.
o Conduct your experiment and put all of your data into tables/charts
o You may have more free time to complete the experiment over the holidays. Some experiments will be longer term and will need to be started earlier.
o ***YOU MUST TAKE PHOTOS/VIDEOS AS YOU DO THE EXPERIMENT – to show proof of what was done!
o Make sure you have 1 independent variable, everything else controlled (controls), a large sample size, and at least THREE trials (so you can get an average)
o Have your data collected by the date your teacher tells you.
o Conduct your experiment and put all of your data into tables/charts
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If you are using humans: ETHICS FORMS
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*scroll down to page 13 for consent form
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If you are using animals: ETHICS FORMS
STEP 5: STATISTICS & USING COMPUTERS WITH DATA
o Insert your data from charts/tables into graphing program (ie: excel OR create a graph)
o Use the programs (or calculators) to do calculations with your data (find averages, %’s, and do other statistical tests)
o Standard Deviation, t-test, A-NOVA test (grade 8 +, but only if you can explain to a judge what it means)
o Use the graphing program to create appropriate graphs (usually BAR graphs, pie graphs are usually NOT appropriate)
o Use the programs (or calculators) to do calculations with your data (find averages, %’s, and do other statistical tests)
o Standard Deviation, t-test, A-NOVA test (grade 8 +, but only if you can explain to a judge what it means)
o Use the graphing program to create appropriate graphs (usually BAR graphs, pie graphs are usually NOT appropriate)
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Here is a video to teach you how to calculate the MCT (measure of central tendency = mean, median, mode) and standard deviation
Watch this video to learn how to do a T-TEST with both one and two samples and the A-NOVA test.
For more information on how to do the ANOVA test (and how to use excel to help you calculate) watch this video!
STEP 6: REPORT WRITING
o This is the formal lab report that will be in a duotang in front of the display board.
What do you need to include?
• Abstract (short summary of the project ~500 words or less)
• Question/Problem
• Hypothesis (your prediction based on an educated guess)
• Background Information – what is already known about the topic and definitions of any key terms
• Materials
• Procedure/Steps
• Data (tables and graphs and calculations and photos)
• Conclusion (was the hypothesis supported or refuted?)
• Discovery/Discussion of what was done/learned…
• Future Directions
• Acknowledgements (who helped you out? Give them thanks.)
• Bibliography (where did you get your information?)
What do you need to include?
• Abstract (short summary of the project ~500 words or less)
• Question/Problem
• Hypothesis (your prediction based on an educated guess)
• Background Information – what is already known about the topic and definitions of any key terms
• Materials
• Procedure/Steps
• Data (tables and graphs and calculations and photos)
• Conclusion (was the hypothesis supported or refuted?)
• Discovery/Discussion of what was done/learned…
• Future Directions
• Acknowledgements (who helped you out? Give them thanks.)
• Bibliography (where did you get your information?)
STEP 7: MAKE YOUR DISPLAY BOARD
o This is just the HIGHLIGHTS from the report!
o Put all of the sections on the board (neatly and in a colourful and dynamic way). Your backboard
layout should read like the report and should include all the parts you included in your formal
report.
o Put all of the sections on the board (neatly and in a colourful and dynamic way). Your backboard
layout should read like the report and should include all the parts you included in your formal
report.
STEP 8: LEARN HOW TO PRESENT YOUR RESULTS
o Your teacher will discuss how to make a good impression on your judge. Make sure you dress up, shake hands and make eye contact, know your presentation off by heart (don’t read), answer all questions, and thank your
judge. Practice this with a partner/peer (s)
judge. Practice this with a partner/peer (s)
STEP 9: CLASSROOM OR SCHOOL FAIR
Judges from around the community, parents, other classes, administration (if viable), or students from other classes will judge your presentations. You will have at least 3 judges.
STEP 10: HAVE YOU BEEN CHOSEN AS 1 OF THE 10 PROJECTS FROM YOUR SCHOOL?
o If you are chosen as one of the top 10 projects from your school (this decision should be made by Friday February 15th) you will need to register for the sd23 district science fair.
o You must have your registration completed by Monday February 25th . Start early as it is a long process especially if you have a partner as signatures from both parents are required).
o Before you come to the district fair on March 5-6th at UBCO, make improvements to your projects if your judges gave you feedback that something could be better!
o You must have your registration completed by Monday February 25th . Start early as it is a long process especially if you have a partner as signatures from both parents are required).
o Before you come to the district fair on March 5-6th at UBCO, make improvements to your projects if your judges gave you feedback that something could be better!