Science Project Due Dates7th & 8th (2017-2018)
Monday, November 13 Problem Selection Worksheet due (Project must be approved by 11/20)
Wednesday, December 6 Log Book needs to be in class
Tuesday, December 12 Background Paper Rough Draft
Wednesday, December 13 First Log Book check
Wednesday, January 10 Log Book Check
Wednesday January 24 Log Book Check
Wednesday, January 31 Experimental Paper Rough Draft
Wednesday, February 14 Experimental Paper Final
Monday, March 5 Abstract
Monday, March 12 Display Boards due
Tuesday, March 13 Science Fair
Science Project Due Dates9th & 10th
(2017-2018)
Wednesday, August 30 Log Book needs to be in class & Problem Selection Worksheet due (Project must be approved by 09/01)
Wednesday, September 13 Forms A & B Due
Friday, September 15 Bibliography cards
Tuesday, September 19 Outline
Tuesday, September 26 Logbook Check
Monday, October 2 Notecard check
Monday, October 9 Notecard check
Wednesday, October 18 Final Notecard check
Monday, October 30 Log Book Check & first half of the Library Research Paper Rough Draft
Wednesday, November 8 Complete typed rough draft
Wednesday, November 29 Final copy of Library Research paper
Wednesday, December 6 Log Book Check
Wednesday, January 17 Log Book Check
Wednesday, January 24 Research Paper Rough Draft (experiment portion only)
Wednesday, February 7 Final copy of Research paper due
Wednesday, February 28 Abstract
Monday, March 12 Display Boards due
Tuesday, March 13 Science Fair
Science Fair ManualTable of Contents
Introduction
Picking a Topic
Choosing a Control and Variable
Logbook
Research Paper
Conducting the Experiment
Experimental Paper
Abstract
Graph
Display Board
Forms A and B
IntroductionStudents in grades 7-10 will complete projects that will be displayed at our annual
Science Fair in the spring. The project begins the beginning of the school year and ends
in the spring on the date of the science fair.
The general order for the progression of the science fair assignments is as follows (See
the “HCS Science Fair Due Dates” that each student will receive at the beginning of the
year for the exact dates.):
Aug/Sep Chose a topic
Sep Problem Selection Worksheet
Sep Forms A & B and any misc. forms (your teacher will let
you know what additional forms are necessary)
Sep Record basic information about experiment in logbook:
General overview of experiment, planned steps, control,
variable, problem statement, hypothesis (if the student has
enough information to formulate a hypothesis at this point),
and how/why the experiment was chosen
Grades 9/10 Sep-Nov Write the research paper
Grades 7/8 Dec Write the background paper
Jan Conduct the experiment. The experiment may be
conducted at any time but needs to be completed by
January.
Sep-Jan Logbook entries
Jan/Feb Experimental paper
Feb/March Abstract
March Display board
Choosing an ExperimentExperiment Approval
Students are to submit several experiment ideas at the beginning of the year.
The experiment must be able to be completed by the student with little to minimal
help only. Parents may advise but the student should be able to conduct the
experiment themselves with only minimal supervision if necessary. If more than
oversight is required than the experiment is too difficult for the grade/skill level of
the student.
All experiments require approval from parents and their science teacher.
Generally teachers do not approve more than one of the same experiment per
grade
Students are prohibited from choosing topic ideas that siblings have done in the
past or they have done in prior years
The following experiments will not be approved: Ice melting or freezing or what
woods burn best
Requirements for Field of Science by Grade
Grade 7 and 8 Experiments may be in any chosen field of science: Chemistry, physics,
earth science, environmental science, computer science, mathematics, or
the life sciences.
Grade 9 Experiments should be in the physical sciences: Chemistry or physics
Grade 10 Experiments should be in life sciences: Biology, biochemistry, etc.
General Information About Experiment Selection
Experiments must answer a scientific statement: Must be observable and in the present.
Experiments must produce numeral (quantifiable) results or can be translated into
numerical results per standard for the field of study
Consumer reports are prohibited
Original ideas that the student has come up with themselves are encouraged. Judges in
particular want to see fresh ideas and new ways of solving a practical problem
Students should observe the world around them for general ideas. For example, why is
this insect more energetic? What factors causes gases to constrict or expand? Do
different foods help with concentration?
Students may also use the internet for experiment ideas or help with designing and
creating an original experiment.
Experiment should benefit society or mankind.
Experiments that offer practical solutions to everyday problems make excellent
experiments
All experiments must be repeatable
Grade 7 and 8: Experiments involving living organisms are restricted to invertebrates
only
Grades 9 and 10: Experiments may include vertebrates and human test subjects.
o Requirements for approval for human test subjects (behavioral and social science
experiments):
The student must seek approval from a supervising adult (if dealing
minors) or each test subject prior to final approval.
The student must submit a plan for dealing with the different variables
involved when performing tests on humans such as researcher bias.
Cost should be a consideration when choosing an experiment
Control and VariableStudents should identify the control and variable in order to properly conduct their
experiment. This is vital to performing a proper scientific experiment.
Control
The control is the factor or variable that is not changed or tested on in the experiment. It
provides the baseline to determine if the variable that you are testing is producing the
results or not.
Variable
The variable is the fact that is tested. It is what is manipulated during the course of the
experiment.
Independent Variable: The variable that is not changed by the factors you are
trying to measure. It is often a period of time or a person’s age.
Dependent Variable: The variable that is the factor actually being tested or
measured.
Both variables are measured.
For example, if you are testing the effects of concentration of fertilizer (the variable) on
plants, the plant that does not receive fertilizer would be the control. The concentration
of fertilizer would represent the independent variable and the dependent variable would
be the plant height or change in its mass.
LogbookThe logbook is legal, handwritten documentation of the entire project. It is the most
extensive portion of the science fair project. It should include every detail of the project
as well as the thought processes on why the project was chosen. It should be so detailed
that any reader should be able to replicate the experiment and get the same results using
the logbook without the help of the student. Pictures should be taken throughout the
process and are not included in the logbook. They should be placed in a separate folder.
Logbook
It should be a thread-bound composition notebook as the binding does not allow for easy
tampering.
Entries
Every entry must include a date and an approximate time (9:10 am). Only blue or black
ink is permitted. No erasures or “white-out” is allowed. If a mistake is made one line
through the information should be made. If an entire page needs to be cross out, a single
line through the entire page is permitted and the page may be folded back. Pages should
be numbered. The logbook is not checked for spelling, grammar, etc. It is a working
document of the scientific process. It should, however, be organized and understandable.
It should be clear what is being done and why.
Identification
The first two pages should be left blank. The first page will be the title page and should
contain the title of the project, the name of the student, the name of the student’s science
teacher, and the name of the student’s school. The second page is the table of contents.
The front of the book should have the student’s name and may be decorated.
Length
Length will vary depending on the complexity of the information.
Research PaperThe typed research paper should contain only background scientific information about
the topic. It should not contain any details about the actual experiment itself as this is
reserved for the experimental paper.
High School
Format
MLA. Purdue Owl is an excellent resource for up-to-date formatting
Length
Four to six pages maximum
Junior High
Format
ABEKA. The best resource is their ABEKA English book.
Length
One to two pages maximum
Sample Research Paper
Note: 1 inch margins all around
Note: MLA date format is day, month, and year (no punctuation)
Conducting the ExperimentStudents are to be preferably conduct all experimenting by themselves. Parents may
assist when extra hands are necessary but students should be the ones primarily
responsible for the experiment and analysis of the data. Parents should act in a supervisor
role overseeing safety and assisting. Again the primary experimenter should be the
student.
Safety
Parents are to supervise for safety and if necessary the student may be required to have a
qualified supervisor (someone familiar with the type of experiment the student is
conducting) per the discretion of the teacher.
Experimental PaperThe experimental paper should contain only information pertinent to the actual
experiment. Reminder only proper SI/metric units should be used (centimeters, grams,
milliliters, etc.). It should contain the following:
Synopsis of the experiment
Why the experiment was chosen
The purpose of the experiment
Hypothesis
Control and variable
Experimental procedure
Averaged results (individual results should be omitted)
Analysis of data
Was the hypothesis proven or disproven?
Why these results were achieved
Conclusions
Any possible flaws or causes of error in the experimentation
Suggestions for further research/experimentation
How the project can benefit society (practical application)
Format
9th & 10th Grades: MLA
7th & 8th Grades: ABEKA
Length
Two to three pages maximum
AbstractThe abstract summarizes your experiment in 200-250 words and on one sheet of paper. Its purpose is to put the best face on the project and “sell” it. It should be on your display board and should follow the table of contents in the research paper. The document should be in 12-point font with one inch margins all around.
Format
It should be titled in the following manner single spaced and flush with the left-hand margin:
AbstractName of ProjectStudent’s nameStudent’s school name
Information to Include
The summary of your project should single spaced and include the following information:
Problem statement Hypothesis Control Variable Materials Summary of the process Summary of the results Conclusion
GraphEvery display board must include a graph. A graph is a visual representation of the
results and should allow any reader to quickly see any relationship or trends in the data.
If no graph can be produced it is likely the experiment chosen is not empiric or scientific
in nature. All results should be quantifiable (numerical) thus allowing the data to be
represented in a visual way.
Format
The style of graph chosen will depend on what data is being graphed. A pie chart is
excellent for showing relationships between parts of a whole (percentages) but would not
be a good choice for showing which car traveled the fastest (car type vs time graph). The
latter could be represented using a simple bar graph.
Required Information to Include
Each graph must contain the following:
Title
X and Y-axes must be labeled
SI/metric units used to measure the data should be clearly labeled, along with its
abbreviation in parenthesis, on the proper corresponding axis.
Display Board The maximum dimensions for the display board are 64” by 48” The display board should be a threefold board (these are available at most school and
office supply stores) The title should be 1.5”- 3.0” tall Subtitles should be 1” tall All information must be typed. (Use an 18-24 point font. The goal is to be able to read it
from a distance of ten feet. Abstracts should remain in 12-point font.)Require Subtitles
Problem: A statement of the question or problem you investigated. Hypothesis: What you thought the solution to your question or problem would
be before you began the experiment. Procedure: A step-by-step explanation of the process you followed to perform
your investigation. You need to include your materials, control, and variable in this section or make them separate sections on the own.
Results: A mathematical statement of the outcome represented by a graph. Conclusion: A statement of the conclusion based on the mathematical data, an
explanation of the support or lack of support for your hypothesis, and the practical application of your project.
Abstract. An apparatus or any items that can be practically and safely displayed should accompany
the display board. If nothing fits those criteria then photographs may be displayed instead.
A project ID card should be placed on the top right hand corner of the back of the board. It should include the following:
Title Student name Student’s school and state Classification (for example, Senior High Biological Science or Junior High Earth
Science)
Your logbook, research paper, forms and addenda notebooks should be displayed.