WHAT IS A WHAT IS A GOOD SCIENCE GOOD SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT?FAIR PROJECT?

WHAT IS A GOOD WHAT IS A GOOD SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT?SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT?

Have you ever wondered how the experiments for electricity were done?

Or why someone wanted to do them in the first place.

Start with a Fresh Start with a Fresh IdeaIdea• Are there things you are curious about?

• Make a list of those topics.• Do background research on each topic to narrow down the list.• Further research on the most appealing topics to see what studies have been done and how they were

tested.• Develop research plan with possible testing methods. • Make final topic selection. • Review research plan with instructor.

Now it’s time to develop the Now it’s time to develop the projectproject

• Start with your fresh idea stated as a purpose or problem statement

• Develop a Hypothesis• Design the Experiment• Test and Collect data• Analyze the results• Make conclusions• Prepare a report, abstract, project display

board and oral presentation

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTSCIENCE FAIR PROJECT In this project you will not In this project you will not simply read about science.simply read about science. You will become actively You will become actively involved in a science fair project. involved in a science fair project. You will conduct experiments. You will conduct experiments. You will create a satisfactory You will create a satisfactory project report and display of project report and display of your project to be displayed at your project to be displayed at the science fair. the science fair.

Scientists ask . . . Scientists ask . . .

WHY?WHY?Anyone can ask why, Anyone can ask why, but it takes a true but it takes a true scientist to scientist to answeranswer WHY!WHY!

ResearchResearch• Use a variety of resources to study the problem. Library, internet, field experts, government officials. • Research will develop into the foundation for your report.

Research PlanResearch Plan• The research plan for all projects is to include the

following:• A. Question being addressed• B. Hypothesis/Problem/Engineering Goals• C. Description: Detail all procedures and

experimental design to be used for data collection. Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data that answer research question or hypothesis

• D. Bibliography: List at least five (5) major references (e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from your library research.

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODTHE SCIENTIFIC METHODThe scientific method is a special way to look at and SOLVE PROBLEMSSOLVE PROBLEMS. There are at least 4 main parts to solving the problem.

QUESTION: stating the problem

PROCEDURE: establishing a method of investigation or experiment RESULTS: collecting and analyzing data CONCLUSION: decide on the outcome by drawing conclusion from the RESULTS of your investigation or experiment.

HYPOTHESIS: deciding on an answer to your problem

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODTHE SCIENTIFIC METHODLet’s look at a simple example of the SCIENTIFIC METHOD SCIENTIFIC METHOD

using: Step #1:QUESTION & HYPOTHESIS: Crissy wanted to find out . . . Which brand of bubblegum would make the biggest bubbles?Which brand of bubblegum would make the biggest bubbles?Step #2:PROCEDURE: She bought samples of every brand of gum she could find and divided them into equal sizes, according to weight. She then chewed each piece of gum exactly 150 times and blew bubbles. She repeated this procedure many times.

Step #3:RESULTS: Crissy had a friend measure the size of each bubble she blew. These measurements were written down in a notebook.Step #4:DRAWING CONCLUSIONS: After a careful study of the data, Crissy found out which gum was best for blowing bubbles.

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS

Stating the PROBLEMPROBLEM and forming a HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS:

A problem arises when you see something happen and wonder about it. You might wonder why leaves change color, or how strong ants are or why moss grows only on one side of a rock.

A HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS is your explanation or solution to a problem. • It does not have to be right, but it should be a good guess based on what you observe. • It should not be a WILDWILD guess.

Later on you will test your HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS with MORE THAN ONE experiment.

HypothesisHypothesis• Hypothesis is an educated guess on how to solve the problem.• Should be stated as an if/then statement.

HYPOTHESIS

DIRECTIONS: You are to write as many science fair problems as possible in the next 15 minutes. You will receive one point for every 3 problems that require experimentation and that boys and girls your age can do with the available materials.

MODEL #1How does ________ affect ____________?

MODEL #2What is the effect of ________ on _______?

MODEL #3Which ____________ is _____________? consumer product consumer product strongest…lasts strongest…lasts longest…is best, etc.longest…is best, etc.

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD PROCEDUREPROCEDURENow let’s look at the 2nd step of the SCIENTIFIC SCIENTIFIC METHOD.METHOD.

Now that you have learned how to state a PROBLEMPROBLEM and form a HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS for a science fair project you are ready for the 2nd step . . . the PROCEDUREPROCEDURE.

After a HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS has been formed or a PROBLEMPROBLEM stated, an experiment needs to be designed to test the HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS or solve the PROBLEMPROBLEM.

In a science fair project this is called the PROCEDUREPROCEDURE. . Certain rules MUST be followed:

1ST - Keep careful records of everything you do. You must keep these records so carefully that another person could read your notes and do your experiment without any trouble.

2ND - You need to consider all of the things that can affect an experiment’s outcome. These things are called VARIABLESVARIABLES.

Whenever you do an experiment, you must control

the VARIABLES! VARIABLES! Remember, the variables are the things that can affect the outcome

of an experiment.

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODTHE SCIENTIFIC METHODVARIABLESVARIABLES

Let’s say you wanted to find which brand of plastic cement is the strongest. You first buy two of the most popular brands - Super Stick and Mighty Stick. Next you get four pieces of plastic. You take two of the pieces and put a lot of Super Stick on them and squeeze them together for 5 minutes. Then you take the other two pieces of plastic and put a small dab of Might Stick on both pieces and squeeze them together for 3 minutes.

In the morning you try to pull the pieces of plastic apart. First you pull on the pieces that were joined together by Super Stick. You cannot pull them apart. Then you pull on the pieces held together by Might Stick and the two pieces easily come apart. Super Stick held the plastic together, but you do not know if it held longer because the glue was better or because you used more glue than the other brand. Maybe Might stick would have held just as well if you used the same amount of glue as you did with Super Stick. You also held the pieces of plastic glued with Super Stick together longer than you did the pieces held together with Mighty Stick. Perhaps this is why Super Stick held better. AND HERE’S THE POINT . . .

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODTHE SCIENTIFIC METHODVARIABLESVARIABLES

You can’t be sure which brand of glue is better unless you have controlled all of the

VARIABLESVARIABLES.

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODTHE SCIENTIFIC METHODVARIABLESVARIABLES

• Remember, the VARIABLESVARIABLES are the things that can affect the outcome of an experiment. • In order to control the VARIABLESVARIABLES you must:

• use the same amount of glue • as well as the same size and shape of plastic• you must hold the pieces together for the same amount of time• you must pull with equal force when you try to separate the pieces.

• All of these things that you try to keep the same are called VARIABLESVARIABLES. • The only variable that is not the same is the brand of plastic cement you are testing. If one holds better than another, you can say it is a stronger brand of plastic cement .

. . because you CONTROLLED all the VARIABLESVARIABLES.

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD: VARIABLESVARIABLES

ExperimentExperiment• Design an experiment to test hypothesis.• Make a list of needed materials.• Verify that experiment is step by step.• Design experiment to test for only one variable

at a time.• Gather needed materials.• Perform experiment.• Repeat experiment to verify results.

ResultsResults• Use all senses to collect and record data from experiment.• Results should be quantitative and qualitative.• Organize data into charts and graphs.• Only present facts not opinions.

Qualitative Qualitative DataData

• Deals with descriptions. • Data can be observed but not measured. • Colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance, beauty, etc. • Qualitative → Quality

Quantitative Quantitative DataData

• Deals with numbers. • Data which can be measured. • Length, height, area, volume, weight, speed, time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost, members, ages, etc. • Quantitative → Quantity 

• Qualitative data:• blue/green color, gold frame • smells old and musty • texture shows brush strokes

of oil paint • peaceful scene of the

country • masterful brush strokes

Quantitative data:• picture is 10" by 14" • with frame 14" by 18" • weighs 8.5 pounds • surface area of painting is

140 sq. in. • cost $300

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODTHE SCIENTIFIC METHODRESULTS = COLLECTING DATARESULTS = COLLECTING DATA

Throughout your experiments you will have many observations to make. These observations usually fall into 3 3 categoriescategories.

Measurement Observation Counting

MEASUREMENT:MEASUREMENT: Here you would measure things like temperature height weight distance speed time.

OBSERVATIONOBSERVATION is one where you use your senses. SEE HEAR FEEL SMELL TASTE as they relate to your experiment.

Brenda wrote in her notebook that the beans growing in the sand were a pale green and yellow. While Crissy was experimenting with gum, she observed a change in color and taste. She also noticed the gum became stickier the more she chewed it. During an experiment you may use all three kinds of observations or only one.While making your observations, you need to keep careful records in some kind of notebook.

COUNTING:COUNTING: You might count the number of worms found in certain kinds of soil, or the number of animals living in a small pond.

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODTHE SCIENTIFIC METHODRESULTS COLLECTING DATARESULTS COLLECTING DATA

Another way to record information is with a data sheet. There are many ways to make a data sheet. Make sure that all important Data is recorded.

Here is the important thing to remember:

KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS AND NOTE THE OBSERVATIONS YOU

MAKE DURING THE EXPERIMENT.

ConclusionConclusion• Based on the results what did the experiment prove or disprove?• Was the hypothesis correct or incorrect?• What was learned?

Sample ConclusionSample Conclusion• All of our tests proved that the actual meteorite would have moved the Coosa River changing its flow and

direction. It also would have changed the topography of central Alabama. Our hypothesis was correct.

AbstractAbstract• 250 word summary of project• Should include purpose, hypothesis, brief experimental procedure, results and conclusion

Sample AbstractSample Abstract• The purpose of this project was to prove that the meteorite that hit the

Wetumpka, Alabama area changed the course of the Coosa River and the topography of central Alabama.

• If we use our experiment as a guide, then we will be able to determine the effect the meteorite had on the Coosa River flow and direction as well as the topography of central Alabama. We believe the meteorite changed the course of the river and the land structure of central Alabama.

• Procedure: construct stream table. Soil was added to form a the land and a river was etched in similar to how the Coosa River might have looked before the meteorite hit. Add water created a shallow sea on one end of the stream table. Launched the rock representing the meteorite at a low angle trajectory to create the impact crater zone. Test was repeated until correct angle trajectory was achieved. Results were recorded.

• In every test, the “meteorite” changed or moved the river. We threw the rock in at several angles but always with a low trajectory because the actual meteorite came in at a low angle. Every time it formed a crater and moved the river several centimeters.

• All of our tests proved that the actual meteorite would have moved the Coosa River changing its flow and direction. It also would have changed the topography of central Alabama. Our hypothesis was correct.

ModelModel• Model or visual

display of items add interest and can be used during discussion with judges.

ReportReportAll the parts of your paper are listed inyour packet along with a rubric for the grading of your report.

Take the time to read over the handout so you have a clear understanding of what should be in your paper.