H ow to Do a Science Fair Project

How to Do aHow to Do aScience Fair ProjectScience Fair Project

New Covenant School

Important Dates!

Between October 14th and November 4th : Students email school office to let us know the career they will

use. Students cannot change project titles or project types after they have emailed their project title & type to us. Use the school’s email address ( [email protected]) AND please make the subject line SF Topic. This allows us to use the info to type the program with the kids’ names.

Drop Off with Interviews:Project Drop-offs & Interviews:

11 a.m. – 2 p.m on Thursday, November 13thPublic viewing and Awards: 6pm-6:45 pm on Thursday, November 13th

mailto:[email protected]

Handouts of Rules are available beside the box folders in the school office.

Work should be done by student

No glass; nothing that requires power from us (batteries only)

No living plants or creatures

Any essays written should be done on a word processor.

Hand-drawn artwork will receive many more points than computer generated work. The reason is integrity. We have little ability to check whether computer-generated artwork is the child's own.

Handmade objects will receive more points than bought objects or objects acquired from relatives or friends will receive more points than bought objects or objects acquired from relatives or friends.

Costumes

• Students must wear their costumes to the drop-off date in order to receive any points for costumes. Costumes not worn will be treated as objects and not as costumes for points.

After the Fair

Projects not taken home after the Thursday night awards ceremony will be disposed of by the school staff. We can’t keep in in the office.

If you cannot be there due to illness, please make arrangements for someone else to pick up your project. We are not responsible for projects not removed that evening.

Families living outside of Brevard County who cannot attend the event in person can arrange for the work to be UPS-ed home.

Project Types

There will be 4 project types: Experiment Demonstration 3-D Presentation Research Presentation

Each type will have its own point scale. In each grade level, for winners, the project types will be compared by %-iles of total points possible.

There will be up to a total of 4 winners per grade level. They might all be in one project type. They might be in different project types.

Experiments

Category Grades K – 5th Grades 6th - 12th

Costumes 10% 0%

Information 20% 20%

Interview 15% 20%

Visual Presentation (includes objects, display, written work)

15% 20%

The Experiment 40% 40%

Experiment Project

Examples:a)Which of 5 solar ovens produces the higher

temperature?b)Which of 3 solar chargers charges fastest?c)Which bicycle produces the most energy?d)What shape requires the least travel

distances for community development?e)Can Wind Power a Human Vehicle on Land?

Demonstration


Costumes 10% 10%

Information 20% 15%

Interview 20% 25%

The Demonstration (includes objects, display, written work) 50% 50%

Demonstration

Examples:How composting worksSolar Oven CookingCreating a vehicle from plastic milk jugsSquare Foot GardeningXeriscaping in Central FloridaHow Landscaping Properly Can Save You Energy and MoneyConserving Water in the HomeAquaculture

3D Presentation


Costumes 15% 10%

Information 20% 15%

Interview 15% 15%

Visual Presentation (includes object, display, written work)

50% 60%

3D Projects

Research Presentation


Costumes 15% 5%

Interview 30% 20%

Visual Presentation (includes objects, display, written work)

15% 30%

The Research 40% 45%

Research Presentation

Paper Topic Examples:Which is the least expensive energy: Wind, Solar, Coal, or

Nuclear Energy?

Which fuel is least expensive, ethanol or gasoline?

Driving Tricks That Save Gasoline

Underground Homes – Advantages & Disadvantages

Can Energy Efficient Glass Save Money?

The CostumeThe

InformationThe InterviewThe Visual

Presentation

The ExperimentThe

DemonstrationThe Research

Costumes

Costumes made by the student, even if inferior in quality, will receive more points than costumes bought or acquired from someone else.

Students should know why they are wearing the particular costume.

CostumesCostume should be one of the following 2 types:

a costume showing a uniform for the career

a costume of a product or item

associated with the demonstration or 3D

presentationOrganic Carrot Mr. Solar Energy Clean Water Organic Carrot Mr. Solar Energy Clean Water Mr. Light BulbMr. Light Bulb

http://www.alexinwonderland.com/images/lightbulb.JPG

Information

Reading a book on the topic will get you extra points. (on reading contest list)

The student is expected to know lots of information on the topic he chooses. This would include facts, statistics, history, etc.

The student should be able to define any word on the board.

The Interview

The interview is Thursday night.

Each student can expect to wait by their project for an interview from their judge.

The wait may be up to 20 minutes.

Out of area families can do their interview via an online meeting with the judge. Parents of out of area families should email the school office in January for an appointment.

Interview Skills

The student should practice good oral presentation skills of: Eye contact

Easily audible voice levelIntroductory handshake; concluding/thank you handshakeGood knowledge of their careerUse of their own visual display Don’t turn to the board completely to show things. Face the

judge and point with hands. Don’t turn the back to the judge.Keeping in character with their costume Remember whom their costume represents & BE that person.

Visual Presentation

Must have a free-standing (self-supporting) display that is vertically oriented. Strongly suggest using "Science Fair" boards

• Cover the board with contact paper to allow you to reuse it for years

• Hint: After the fair, remove items from board before storing. Old tape is a bear to remove, & colors can fade onto the board.

Maximum Dimensions 1. Height 36" above table height 2. Width 24" 3. Depth 12"

More – Visual Presentation

No glass, no external power supply, no living creatures, no living plants, no hazardous itemsDoes include Drawings/artwork Food (must NOT require refrigeration overnight) Unworn costumes Tools or items frequently used in the career Objects made for the display Photographs from career shadowing Other objects For grades 3-12: essays, reports, citations

Organization

Labels

Obvious flow of artwork, objects Put food, art objects near relevant info on board Put essays near any relevant topic when possible

Good, readable color schemes

Neatness

Blah, blah


Example:

Solar BrowniesEssay on table

Alternative Energy

To ReduceHome Energy

Costs

The Problem: Reduce My

Family’s Energy Costs

Cost of Our Electricity Compared

July 2010 July 2011

$250 $191

$59 a month !About 24% !

Ways We Saved Energy

•Turned lights off during day

•Cooked solar 4 dinners a week

•Unplugged electronics when not

using•Bought a clothes line for drying clothes &

used it!

Our Solar OvenMade from oven bag, bucket, & car windshield shade

Our Clothesline

Favorite Solar Recipes

Solar Tea Solar Stew

Solar Brownies

What Next?• Aluminum Foil on Windows!• We will learn to save water!

http://images.wikia.com/solarcooking/images/1/10/Windshield_shade.jpg


Use good, readable color schemes

Bad example:

Good examples:

Matilda was an excellent kangaroo.







Neatness?

Death

Neatness!

Death in the Long GrassBy Peter Capstick

in theLongGrass

By Peter Capstick

Visual Presentation Legibility

Shakespeare's Hamlet (Times New Roman)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Broadway)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Calibri)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Castellar)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Kunstier Script)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Mistral)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Verdana)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Engravers MT)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Papyrus)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Vivaldi)Shakespeare's Hamlet (Kristen ITC) Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Ariel)Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Old English Text)

Font Size Examples:Little House on the Prairie 12 Little House on the Prairie 18

Little House on the Prairie 26Little House on the Prairie 28

Little House on the Prairie 36

Little House on the Prairie 48

Little House on 72

Little Hous 96

Essays & Written Work

Not appropriate for K-2nd grades

Meets grade level qualifications

Must be done on word processor Can use computers in computer center at NCCS

Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : Experiment

CategoryTotal Received of 100

possible

Costumes - 10 pts possible

1 -2 pts None

3 - 4 pts Bought

5 - 6 pts Made by student with significant help

7 - 8 pts Made by student with moderate help

9 - 10 pts Made by student with no appreciable help

Information – 20 pts possible

0 ptsNo real info presented

1 - 5 ptsPoor info

6 - 10 ptsGood info

11 - 15 ptsVery good information

16 - 20 ptsGreat amount of info

The Interview (The Oral Presentation) - 15 pts possible

0 ptsNone or doesn't cooperate & answer questions

1 - 3 ptsNot cooperative, but answers questions

4 - 7 ptsCooperative ; Good knowledge of career & project

8- 11 ptsStays in character; some knowledge

12 - 15 ptsStays in character; knows career & project well

The Visual Presentation - 15 pts possible

0 ptsNone

1 - 3 pts1-5 drawings; no labels

4 - 7 pts3-5 drawings; labeled but not organized

8 - 11 pts3-5 drawings; labeled; some organization

12 - 15 pts5+ drawings or objects; labeled; well organized

Experiment – 40 pts possible

0 - Not an experiment

1-10 ptsSimple experiment; understands somewhat

11-20 ptsSimple experiment; understands well

21 – 30 ptsStandard experiment; Scaled by understanding

31-40 ptsComplex experiment; scaled by understanding

Points total

Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grades : Experiment


possible




1 - 5 ptsPoor info

6 - 10 ptsGood info









The Visual Presentation - 20 pts possible

0 ptsNone

1 - 5 pts1-5 drawings; no labels

6 - 10 pts3-5 drawings; labeled but not organized

11 - 15 pts3-5 drawings; labeled; some organization

16 - 20 pts5+ drawings or objects; labeled; well organized

Experiment – 40 pts possible

0 - Not an experiment

1-10 ptsSimple experiment; understands somewhat

11-20 ptsSimple experiment; understands well

21 – 30 ptsStandard experiment; Scaled by understanding

31-40 ptsComplex experiment; scaled by understanding

Points total

Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : Demonstration


possible


1 -2 pts None

3 - 4 pts Bought






1 - 5 ptsPoor info

6 - 10 ptsGood info






6- 10 ptsCooperative ; Good knowledge of career & project



Demonstration– 50 pts possible

0 - Not a demonstration

1-10 ptsSimple demonstration; understands somewhat

11-23ptsSimple demonstration; understands well

24 – 36 ptsStandard demonstration; Scaled by understanding

37-50 ptsComplex demonstration; scaled by understanding

Points total

Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grade : Demonstration


possible


1 -2 pts None

3 - 4 pts Bought






1 -3 ptsPoor info

4 - 7 ptsGood info









Demonstration– 50 pts possible

0 - Not a demonstration

1-10 ptsSimple demonstration; understands somewhat

11-23ptsSimple demonstration; understands well

24 – 36 ptsStandard demonstration; Scaled by understanding

37-50 ptsComplex demonstration; scaled by understanding

Points total

Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : 3-D Presentation


possible


0 pts None

1 - 3 ptsBought


8- 11 pts Made by student with moderate help

12 – 15 pts Made by student with no appreciable help



1 - 5 ptsPoor info

6 - 10 ptsGood info



The Interview (The Oral Presentation) - 15pts possible





12- 15 ptsStays in character; knows career & project well

Visual Presentation (includes object, display, written work) 50 pts possible

0 - Not a 3D Display

1-10 ptsSimple 3-D display; understands somewhat

11-23ptsSimple 3-D Display; understands well

24 – 36 ptsStandard 3-D Display; Scaled by understanding

37-50 ptsComplex 3D Display; scaled by understanding

Points total

Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grade : 3-D Presentation


possible


0 pts None

1 - 2 ptsBought






1 - 3 ptsPoor info

4 - 7 ptsGood info









Visual Presentation (includes object, display, written work) 60 pts possible

0 - Not a 3D Display

1-15 ptsSimple 3-D display; understands somewhat

16-30 ptsSimple 3-D Display; understands well

31 – 45 ptsStandard 3-D Display; Scaled by understanding

46 - 60 ptsComplex 3D Display; scaled by understanding

Points total

Points Rubric for Kindergarten – 5th Grade : Research PresentationCategory

Total Received of 100 possible


0 pts None

1 - 3 ptsBought


8- 11 pts Made by student with moderate help




1 – 7 ptsNot cooperative, but answers questions




Visual Presentation (includes object, display) 15 pts possible

0 - Not a research project; no display; just a paper

1-3 pts1-2 drawings or objects; little organization & labeling

4 – 7 pts3-5 drawings or objects; good organization & labeling

8 - 11 pts5+ objects or drawings; organization; good color scheme; neat

12 - 15 pts5+ drawings & objects; pictures; organized; great color scheme; very neat; easy to read

The Research - written work; 40 pts

0 - Not a research project

1-10 ptsSimple Topic; understands somewhat

11-20 ptsSimple topic; understands well; 200 word report

21 – 30 ptsStandard Topic; ; 300 word report; citations;Scaled by understanding

31-40 ptsComplex Topic; s400 – 500 word report; citations; Scaled by understanding

Points total

Points Rubric for 6th – 12th Grade : Research Presentation


possible


0 pts None

1 ptBought

2 pts Made by student with significant help

3 pts Made by student with moderate help




1 – 5 ptsNot cooperative, but answers questions

6 - 10 ptsCooperative ; Good knowledge of topic & project


16- 20 ptsStays in character; knows topic & project well

Visual Presentation (includes object, display) 30 pts possible

0 pts - Not a research project; no display; just a paper

1 - 7 pts;1-2 drawings or objects; little organization & labeling

8 – 15 pts; 3-5 drawings or objects; good organization & labeling

16 - 22 pts; 5+ objects or drawings; organization; good color scheme; neat

23 - 30 pts5+ drawings & objects; pictures; organized; great color scheme; very neat; easy to read

The Research - written work; 45 pts

0 - Not a research project

1 - 11 ptsSimple Topic; understands somewhat,100-200 word report

12 - 22 ptsSimple Topic; understands well; 200-400 word report

23 – 33 ptsStandard Topic; Well researched; worthy citationsScaled by understanding

34 - 45 ptsComplex Topic; much research; 500 – 800 word report; worthy citations; scaled by understanding

Points total

Just type them Just type them intointo

the question box the question box on your screen.on your screen.

Questions?

I’ll answer the questions in the order received, so be patient.

I will repeat the question aloud, so you will know what is being asked.

Feel free to ask questions about someone else’s question even.

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H ow to Do a Science Fair Project

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