Science Fairs LOVE Science Fairs LOVE the Common Corethe Common Core

Science Fairs LOVE Science Fairs LOVE the Common Corethe Common Core

Emily HoffmanEmily HoffmanSouth Pasadena Middle SchoolSouth Pasadena Middle School

Member of the LA Science Fair Member of the LA Science Fair Advisory Committee; Judging Advisory Committee; Judging

ChairChair

Science Fair Philosophy & Background

–Who are we?–Why a Science Fair?–Where did we start?–Where are we now?

How does the Science Fair Relate tie in to the Common

Core?

Let’s look at the white packet!

Parent/Student Letter (late October)

• Contains an overview of the expectations and limitations as to the scope of the projects.

Pick a Topic

• Work with Librarian to collect all science fair related books currently in the library!

• Students must find an experiment that they want to work with from a BOOK! (No internet!)

Write the Cause and Effect Question

– Forces many experiments to transform from demonstrations to actual experiments!

– How does changing (the independent variable) effect (the dependant variable) and how is it quantified?

– Examples:• How does changing the type of insulator effect

the thermal capabilities of a solar over measured in the temperature rise of water in the system.

• How does changing the concentration of root stimulator effect the ability of pathos plants to propagate and form new root systems.

Scientific Principle?• Look at the chosen project and

determine the scientific principle that will be manipulated.

• …this is the basis for the research paper!

Write the Research Project

Paper of Power Point

• The paper- Content• Cover the scientific principal that will be

manipulated.– Take the concept down to the smallest

level; atomic, forces, pressure, etc. • Include at least one direct quote• Cover the concept so that your peer,

another 8th grader, would understand the concept and content within the research!

Write the Experimental

Procedure• Title (catchy)• Cause and Effect Question• Overview• Materials (listed in a box)• Safety Symbols (if needed) • Procedure step by step

– Third person– Describe the variations of the variable (5)– Describe the data to be collected, and how to do it.

• Include a Graphic!

Create empty Data Tables

• Record all information by hand!• Data can be recopied later into

excel for graphing; we must have the original data!

Complete Experiment• Done at home!• 2 week window!• If students procrastinate they will

have problems academically… can’t make graphs and the following steps!

Create Graphs • Set of 6!

– One of each variation of the variable (5)

– One of the averages!

• Must use excel or other computer program

Write the Abstract• General overview of the project,

including hypothesis, procedure, variable, data collected, and results.

• 125-200 words

Write The Book!• This is the collection of

EVERYTHING that they have done since November!– Students are warned at the beginning

to keep all parts, including drafts!

Create the Display• Must be neat and legible!• In front must be

– The Book– Data book– Materials from experiment!

Judge• This is the hard part!• All students get a participation

ribbon!• We have semi finalists (students

considered to move to LA County)• Finalists- students who will

represent us at the County Science Fair!

Open House (March)• One evening!• County projects announced that

night!• Invite the media!• Offer extra credit to take projects

home that night!!!

Take some Me Time!• You are done!• Be sure to send out Thank You

notes• Clean up!• Go out and have some Fun!!!

Work with County Kids• Pass on constructive criticism• Pass out registration information• Be supportive• Coach them on the process of the

county fair!