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Valdes
Science Fair Guidelines and Timeline
2015-2016
Please follow the instructions in this packet as closely as possible in order to get the
most possible points earned for this important project. You must perform an
experiment for your science fair project. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs.
Valdes.
Project may NOT use:
Animal/human testing allowed
Pathogens
Controlled substances
Hazardous substances or devices
Once you have submitted your Problem Statement no changes shall be made.
DUE DATE
ASSIGNMENT
Assignment #1:
Problem Statement
Assignment #2:
Research, Bibliography and
Hypothesis
Assignment #3:
Materials, Procedures and
Variables
Experiment, Data, Results,
Conclusion, Abstract,
Application and Title
Science Fair Projects due
(Display Board and Data Log)
Title of Project
Be creative and make sure that it the catches the readers attention.
Scientific Method
A science project is an investigation using the scientific method to discover the answer to
a scientific problem. Before starting your project, you need to understand the scientific
method. The scientific method is the "tool" that scientists use to find the answers to
questions. It is the process of thinking through the possible solutions to a problem and
testing each possibility to find the best solution. The scientific method involves the
following steps: doing research, identifying the problem, stating a hypothesis, conducting
project experimentation, and reaching a conclusion.
You may use many references from printed sources (books, journals, magazines, and
newspapersas well as electronic sourcescomputer software and online services).
You may gather information from professionals (instructors, librarians, and scientists, such
as physicians and veterinarians).
Research
Research is the process of collecting information from your own experiences,
knowledgeable sources, and data from exploratory experiments. Your first research is used
to select a project topic. This is called topic research. Choose a topic that is safe for you to
do.
After you have selected a topic, you begin what is called project research. This is research
to help you understand the topic, express a problem, propose a hypothesis, and design
one or more project experiments designed to test the hypothesis. The result of this
experiment and other research give you the needed information for the next step
identifying the problem.
Variables
Independent variable: the variable you purposely manipulate (change).
Dependent variable: the variable that is being observed, which changes in response to the
independent variable.
Controlled variables: the variables that are kept controlled (the same) during the
experiment.
Constant variable: the variable that has nothing added or done to it
Displaying Data
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/
Graphs and charts are great because they communicate information visually. Consult
website for creation of your three visual displays.
Make sure that the graph has a title, both axes are labeled clearly, and that the
correct scale is chosen to utilize most of the graph space.
1
Record all observations.
2
Include photographs
Data Log
All scientists keep a record of their observations in some form of a data log. The data log
will begin with the date and time the experimenter collects the data. Sometimes data will
include environmental values such as humidity, temperature, etc. Entries must be written
clearly and with detail of description so that another scientist can read the data log,
simulate the conditions of the experiment, and repeat the experiment exactly.
Analysis of result: Ask yourself, what happened? Did the results agree with your
hypothesis?
Applications:
The application is how the information or knowledge gained in the experiment can be used
in the real world for the benefit of society.
Abstract
After finishing research and experimentation, you are required to write a 250 word, onepage abstract.
Abstract Format
All abstracts need to be typed. Should you not have access to a computer at home, please
use library computers. Your abstract should contain 5 paragraphs (250 words) in the
following order:
Introduction
Problem Statement
Procedures
Results
Conclusion
Paper should be double spaced using 12 pt Times New Roman font. No other font or size
will be allowed.
Presentation:
You're going to have to make a presentation to your teacher and classmates. So remember
the Boy Scout Motto--"Be Prepared." Know what you are going to say before you have to
say it by rehearsing your presentation over and over. Pretend you're lecturing to a large
audience that has come to find out about your experiment. Explain it to them again and
again until you can do so clearly and effortlessly. Imagine them asking you questions. How
will you answer? Try to find people to play the role of the judges. Start off with friends and
family members, but try to find some people who are as knowledgeable about science as
your judges are likely to be. Practicing your presentation for them, will give you the selfconfidence you need to stay calm and composed come science fair day.
3
Practicing your presentation is absolutely essential if you want to do well. You'd hate
to do all the hard work to carry out a killer project only to lose because you couldn't
explain yourself clearly, right?
4
How to Write a Bibliography
For a Book by One or Two Authors
Gilbert, Martin. The Second World War: A Complete History.
New York: Henry
Holt, 1989.
Sorensen, Sharon and Bob LeBreck. How to Fly a Kite. New York:
Amsco
Publications, 1994.
An Article in a Reference Book (like an encyclopedia)
Ollman, Bertell. Mars. Academic American Encyclopedia. 1989
ed.
Government. American Heritage Dictionary. 1986 ed.
Trainen, Isaac N., et al. Bone Repair Rates in Mice.
Encyclopedia of Biology.
Ed. Warren T. Reich. 4 vols. New York: Free Press, 1978.
An Article from a Magazine
Begley, Sharon. A Healthy Dose of Laughter. Newsweek 4 Oct.
1982: 74.
Motulsky, Arno G. Genetic Ethics in Medicine. Science 14 Jan.
1983: 135-40
An Article from a Newspaper
Colling, Glenn. Single-Father Survey Finds Adjustment a
Problem. New York
Times 21 Nov. 1983: 20.
Dalin, Damon. A $7 Greeting Card? Yes, but Listen to the
Melody It Will Play
for You. Wall Street Journal 10 May 1983: A37.
A Video
Alzheimers Disease. Videocassette. Prod. Hospital Satellite
Network. American
Journal of Nursing, 1985. 28 min.
A CD-ROM
Frey, Herbert. Mars (planet). The New Electronic
Encyclopedia. CD-ROM.
Danbury, CT: Grolier Inc., 1991.
Cocker Spaniels. Microsoft Dogs. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corp.,
1995.
Students should write their name on the back left side (behind the
problem and hypothesis) of the display board.
Project Title
Problem Statement
(step 1)
Hypothesis
(step 2)
Results
Procedures
Materials (step 3)
(step 3)
Variables (step 3):
control, constant,
independent and
dependent
Conclusion
Application
Abstract
Bibliography
Data:
Table, Chart and/or
Graph
Pictures-relevant,
labeled
(take photographs during
important phases/parts of
the experiment and label
what is happening)
Date
Date
16. How can you grow the biggest crystals of alum? (Physical Science)
17. How does light affect plants?
18. Do sweet, salt, and bitter substances taste the same to everyone?
19. How can you affect the time it takes for bread to rise?
20. What happens when you soak egg shells in vinegar? What about when you soak them
in lemon
juice or other kitchen chemicals? (Physical Science)
21. What kind of fruit rots fastest?
22. Do plants grow faster if you talk (or sing) to them regularly? (Biological Science)
23. Do people who play sports regularly have the same heart rate as people who dont? Do
sports
people recover from exercise more quickly than less active people? (Biological Science)
24. Will seeds sprout faster in soil or in a plastic bag with damp cotton wool? (Biological
Science)
25. What is the fastest way to get food to rot? Warm or cool places? Damp or dry? Light or
dark? In the presence of other moldy things? (Biological Science)
26. Do preservatives in manufactured foods really work? Try different ways to get
Twinkies to rot!
27. Which gum keeps its flavor the longest? Which blows the best bubbles? What is most
stretchy?
Which loses the most weight after you chew it? (The weight lost is the sugar your saliva
dissolved
away.)
28. How can you make suds last longest? Compare shampoo to dishwashing detergent.
Compare different brands of shampoo to each other and different brands of dishwashing
detergent to each other. (Physical Science)
29. Investigate all the different effects of static electricity. What is the effect of static
electricity on paper,
plastic, different kinds of breakfast cereal? (Physical Science)
30. Which brand of paper towel stays strongest when wet? (Physical Science)
31. Which freezes fastest - Coke, Kool-Aid, strong salt water, or weak salt water? (Physical
Science)
32. How can you stop cut apples from going brown? (Biological Science)
53. How does the shape of a reflective surface affect the reflection of light? (Physical
Science)
54. What is the relationship between magnification and the focal point of a lens? (Physical
Science)
55. Does the color of a container affect the amount of light energy absorbed? (Physical
Science)
56. How do offspring reflect parents traits? (Biological Science)
57. What part(s) of a plant can be used to propagate a plant? (Biological Science)
58. Which design of paper plane will fly the furthest? (Physical Science)
59. Who can react faster to a bell - children or adults? (Biological Science)
60. Can people identify different kinds of Kool-Aid by taste alone? (Biological Science)
61. What is the effect of detergent on the life in pond water? (Use containers of pond
water dont pollute a pond.) (Biological Science)
62. What effect does salt have on the properties of water? (Example: Acidity lathering
ability with soap, dissolving ability of sugar, freezing and boiling points.) (Physical Science)
63. What affects the success of making sponge cake? (Physical Science)
64. What affects the rate of the baking soda and vinegar reaction? (Physical Science)