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WestwoodScienceFair
2019-2020ScienceFairProjectGuide
WithMrs.CharbonnetandMrs.Floyd’stimeline
Forofficialrules,forms,andinformationsee:www.societyforscience.org/isef
www.ssefflorida.comhttp://www.sbac.edu/pages/ACPS/Departments_Programs/DepartmentsLZ/SciFair
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HelpingYourChildwithaScienceProject
Childrenarenaturallycurious.Anexcellentwaytoteachthemtodevelopproblemsolvingskillsistodirecttheircuriositytowardscientificinvestigation.Ascientificinvestigationthatusesthescientificmethodhelpsdevelopyourchild’sthinkingskills. Asaparent,youplayoneofthemostimportantrolesinyourchild’seducation.Theencouragement,guidance,andsupportthatyougiveyourchildwillnotonlyhelphimorherdevelopvaluablethinkingskills,butthetimeyouandyourchildspendworkingtogetherwilldeepentheparent-childrelationshipthatlastsforever.Therearemanythingsyoucandotohelpyourchildwithascienceprojectwithoutdoingtheprojectforthem.Pleasechecktheofficialwebsite:www.societyforscience.org/isefHelpfulWebsites:www.societyforscience.org/isefwww.ssefflorida.comhttp://www.sbac.edu/pages/ACPS/Departments_Programs/DepartmentsLZ/SciFairhttp://sciencebuddies.org10TipsforHelping:1. Thisisyourchild’sprojectandshouldreflecthisorherinterests.Listentotheirquestions.
Thosequestionsoftenmakegreatprojectideas.2. Althoughthisisyourchild’sproject,andistobehisorherownefforts,thereisno
substituteforyourpraiseandsupport.Encourageyourchildandlethimorherknowyouareinterestedinhisorheridea.
3. Helpyourchildwithskillsthatheorshehasnotyetmastered,suchasorganization,measuring,calculating,andconstruction.
4. Helpyourchildfollowthescheduletocompletetheprojectontime.Postscheduledatesontherefrigerator.
5. Provideatimeandareainyourhomewhereyourchildcanworkwithoutinterferencefromtelevisionorotherdistracters.
6. Helpyourchildacquirethematerialsneededfortheproject.7. Helpyourchildtakenecessarysafetyprecautionstoinsureasafeproject.8. Providetransportationtoplacessuchaslibraries,museums,naturecenters,andresource
persons,etc.9. Realizethattherealprizeofascienceprojectisthedevelopmentofcriticalthinkingskills,
nottheblueribbonpresentedbyasciencefairjudge.10. Contactusifyouhavequestions.
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Rules TherulesoftheWestwoodScienceFairareconsistentwiththeRegional,State,andInternationalScienceandEngineeringFair(ISEF)andhavebeendevelopedwiththebeliefthatallstudentsshouldconformtothesameregulationsasthosegoverningtheworkofprofessionalscientists.Theguidelinesforsometypesofresearch,suchasvertebrate(includinghuman)experimentation,areparticularlystringent.Adheringtotheseguidelinesisnotonlyalearningexperienceaboutwhatitisliketodorealscientificresearch,butitalsoensuresthatthestudentsdonotunknowinglyviolatestateandfederalregulations. Therefore,asteachersatWestwoodwestronglydiscouragestudentsfromexperimentingwithvertebratesofallkinds,includinghumans.Wewishtoavoidriskstohumansandothervertebrates,andfeelthattheadditionalISEFpaperworkrequiredforsuchexperimentsisoftenoverwhelmingforboththeresearcherandthehumansubjects.Pleasechecktheofficialwebsite:www.societyforscience.org/isefformoredetails. AllprojectsconductedattheUniversityofFloridamusthaveUFenvironmentalhealthandsafetyapproval.Pleasecheckthefollowingwebsites:Minor’sregistrationdocument:http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/bio/minors/Categories…Listedbelowarethe13categoriesdesignatedbytheFloridaScienceandEngineeringFair.Studentsselectspecificsubjectareasfromthesecategoriesfortheirperspectiveproject.AnimalSciences IntelligentMachines,RoboticsBehavioral&SocialSciences SystemsSoftwareBiomedical&HealthSciences Mathematics&Computational Cellular/MolecularBiology&Biochemistry SciencesChemistry Microbiology Earth&EnvironmentalSciences Physics&AstronomyEngineering PlantSciencesEnvironmentalEngineering
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6th Grade Science Fair Due Dates 2019-20
Due Date
TopicAnimal Sciences, Behavioral & Social, Biomedical & Health, Cellular/ Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Intelligent Machines Robotics & Systems Software, Mathematics & Computational Science, Microbiology, Physics & Astronomy, Plant Science.
Aug.29
Title and Purpose Title: In the form of a question (How does X Affect Y?) Submit for approval. Purpose: What will you learn and why is this topic relevant to the scientific community?
Sept. 5
References/Bibliography Five sources of information about your project. List them using the correct bibliographic format. Include at least one book and one Internet source.
Sept.19
Review of Literature/ Annotated Bibliography An original, three-page summary of all you have learned from the sources of information above. This paper must be written in your own words.
Sept. 19
Hypothesis A possible answer or solution to your question, based on your research above. Should be written in an "If…then…because…" form.
Sept.26
Materials and Procedure Materials: A list of the items necessary for you to perform your experiment. Procedures: A step by step description of your experiment from beginning to end. Include a list of your independent variable, dependent variable, constants, and control.
Oct. 3
Experiment / Logbook Check/Forms/Risk and Safety Begin collecting preliminary results. Bring Logbook to class for the next 4 weeks.
Oct. 10
Table, Chart, or Graph – Set up Assemble all data into appropriate tables, charts, and/or graphs
Oct. 17
Analysis and Conclusion Submit a one-page summary of the entire experiment. Answer the following questions: Was the original hypothesis supported or rejected? Why or why not? Was your purpose achieved? Why or why not? Is additional research needed?
Oct. 31
Abstract A summary of your entire project. It should be no more than 250 words long and include the purpose, procedure, data, conclusion, and applications. Use the State abstract form.
Nov. 7
Final Bibliography A complete list of all informational resources used in this project.
Nov. 7
Rough Draft of Project Notebook Assemble all the above steps, with a title page, table of contents, etc. and submit for editing
Nov. 7
Final Draft of Project Notebook Assemble all steps in final form, ink or typed.
Nov. 14
Display Board Display boards should be neat and organized, with all steps placed in the proper location. Projects will be presented in class.
Nov. 21
Westwood Middle School Science Fair Parent judges and volunteers needed!!!
Dec. 5
Alachua Region Science Fair at Santa Fe College Feb. 13
State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida in Lakeland Mar. 24-26
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PROCEDUREFORWRITINGABIBLIOGRAPHY(WORKSUSEDLIST)
Abibliographyorwordsusedlistisalistofsourcesofinformationusedwhileresearchingatopic.Thebibliographyshouldbeinalphabeticalorderbyauthor’slastname.Iftheauthor’snameisnotgiven,listthetitlefirstandalphabetizeitbythefirstimportantwordsofthetitle.Eachbibliographicalreferencebeginswith“reverseindentation.”Allpapersshouldbepresentedonstandardsizedwhitepaperusingblueorblackink,typed,orwordprocess.Pleaseusethefrontsideofthepaperonly.Rememberyoumayuseanonlinesourcelikeeasybib.comthatwillhelpyouthroughthestepswiththeISBN.I.ForBooks
Author’slastname,Author’sfirstname.TitleoftheBookUnderlined.PlaceofPublication:Publisher,copyrightyearpages.Example:Snow,TheodoreP.TheDynamicUniverse.St.Paul.Minnesota:WestPublishingCo.2013Morethanoneauthor.Usethesameprocedureasabovebutincludeallauthors.Ifthebookhasaneditor:Editor’slastname,firstname,Ed.UnderlinetheTitle.City:Publisher,year.Pagesused.Example:Charbonnet,Sara,Ed.TheWorldofScienceProjects.Gainesville,FL:HogtownePublishingCo.,2017,pages4-19.
II.ForEncyclopedias
Author’slastname,firstname(ifgiven).“TheTitleoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”UnderlinetheNameoftheEncyclopedia.CopyrightYear.Vol,pageExample:McCarthy,Shawn.“Air.”TheWorldBookEncyclopedia.2099.Vol1,page564Ifnoauthor’slastnameisgiven,startwiththenameofthearticle.
Electronic:Author’slastname,Author’sfirstname(ifgiven).“TitleoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”UnderlinetheNameoftheEncyclopedia.Copyrightyear.
III.MagazineArticlesAuthor’slastname,Author’sfirstname.“NameoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”NameoftheMagazineUnderlined.Monthandyear,Pages.Example:Shrum,SusanH.“America’sAncientSkywatchers.”NationalGeographic.March2023,pages76-107.
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IV.Newspaper
“TitleoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”TitleoftheNewspaperUnderlined.Date,page.Example:“WestwoodStudentsExcelinScienceFair.”TheGainesvilleSun.January25,2014,1.
V.Pamphlet
Author’slastname,Author’sfirstname.(ifgiven,otherwiseskip)TitleofPamphletUnderlined.City:Publisher,yearofpublication.Example:Adams,Isabel.IdentifyingRocksofArkansas.LittleRock,UniversityofArkansasUpdate,2019.
Pamphletfromacommitteereportofacompany:TitleofPamphletUnderlined.Areportbythenameofthecommittee.Placeofpublication:Publisher,year.Example:AdolescentStressManagement.AreportbytheCommitteeofAdolescentMentalHealth.Washington,D.C.:GeorgetownUniversityPress,2043.
VI.Interview
Lastnameofperson,Firstname.Personal(ortelephone)interview.Person’stitle.City,State,Date.Example:Einstein,Albert.Personalinterview.ProfessorofPhysics.NotReally,N.J.June4,2076.
VII.LetterAuthor’slastname,Firstname.Letterto(Person’stitle).City,State,Date.Example:Bush,GeorgeW.LettertoBobbyJoeSmith.PresidentoftheUnitedStates.Washington,D.C.,Nov.20,2013.
VIII.TelevisionProgram
Programnameunderlined.Productioncompany.Networkname.Stationcallletters,City,Date.Example:BillNyetheScienceGuy.ScienceisFunProductions.PBS.WUFT,Gainesville,FL.,Jan28,2019.
IX.InternetSearchAuthor’slastname,firstname(ifgiven).“Title”webpagesponsor.Date.<httpaddress>Example:Armstrong,Neil.“ScienceFairProjectDesignsMoonRocket”NASA.Sept.25,1956.<http://spaceline.imaginarysite.nasa.gov>
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ACONTROLLEDEXPERIMENT
Toconductascientificinvestigationcaremustbetakentofollowexperimentalprocedures.Youmustdesignanexperimenttotestthehypothesis.Whenplanningyourexperiment,remembertokeepeverythingthesame(constants)exceptthesinglevariablebeingtested(theindependentvariable).Avariableissomethingthatischangedintheexperiment.Itiswhatyouaretesting.Everythingelsemustbethesameandonlyonevariableorconditionisalteredorchanged.Acontrolgroupshouldbeusedwhenconductinganexperiment.Acontrolgroupisastandardforcomparison.Thisgroupreceivesthesameattentionasthetestgroups;however,itwillnotbeinfluencedbythevariabletheothergroupsaretesting.Thevariablemeasuredasaresultoftheexperimentiscalledthedependentvariable.Hereisanexample:PURPOSE:Thepurposeofthisexperimentistoseeifcaffeineaffectstheheartbeatofwaterfleas.HYPOTHESIS:Ifwaterfleasaregivensoftdrinksofdifferentcaffeineconcentration,thenthehigherthecaffeineconcentrationthefastertheheartbeatbecausecaffeineisastimulant.TheINDEPENDENTvariablewillbethedifferentamountsofcaffeineused,soallotherconditionswillbekeptconstant.Thismeansthefollowing:
1. Thewaterfleasmustcomefromthesamesourceandbechosenrandomly.2. Allfleasmustbekeptinthesamesizecontainers,thesameamountofwater,etc.3. Allfleasmustbekeptatthesametemperature.4. Morethanonewaterfleashouldbeusedineachtestgroup.5. Onegroup,theCONTROLGROUP,receivesnocaffeine.6. Setuptwoothertestgroups(ordifferentbrands,whateveryoudecide),onereceivesacertain
amountofcaffeine,theotherreceivestwiceasmuch.
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SettingupaLogbookforScienceResearch
1.Youwillneedacompositionnotebook,withsewnpagesNOTaspiralorgluednotebook.Thiswillbecalledthe“LOGBOOK”sinceyouwillrecordnotonlyyourthoughtsasyoucontemplateaproblemforyourscienceproject,butalsorecordallthepertinentinformationasyoupreparefortheexperiment,recordyourdata,andanalyzeyourdata.ThisLOGBOOKwillbegradedthroughoutthescienceprojectprocess.TheLOGBOOKiscriticaltocompetitions,doNOTremoveanypagesorusewhiteout,ifyoumakeanerrorcrossitoutwithasingleline.IfyoumakeerrorswhilecollectingDATAyoushouldwriteyourinitialsanddatebesidetheline.2.SetupthelogbookwritingALLentriesinINK.Therightcolumnshowsexamplesofthelogbookpages.Numbereachpageonthefrontside(pagesontheright)inthetoprightcorner.
NameAnd
Decoration
1
Makepage1thetitlepagewithyournamedate.Pleasedecorate.
Makepage2theTableofContentsIncludethepagewherethetopicbegins.YoudonotincludeeverypageontheContentspage.Donotskiplines.
TableofContentsPage3–MonthlyTimelinesPage8–Ideas 2
Thenext5pageswillbelabeledwitheachmonthyouhavethroughDecemberand"Timeline".EachdayyouworkonthelogbookshouldbedocumentedwithabriefdescriptiononONElineofwhatwasdone.Youonlywritedowninformationabouttheproject.Judgesliketoseehowyoudevelopedtheproject.Timelinepagesdon'tneedadateintheuppercornersincethepagehasthedatesitcovers.
Augusttimeline–(example)14th–purchasedlogbook29th–receivedassignment31st–preliminaryideadeveloped 3
Eachaspectoftheprojectwillbewrittenonaseparatepage(s)ofthelogbook.
Ideasdevelopment/proposal 8
InstructionsandInstructionalmaterialgiventoyouinclass
Topic IncludePagenumbers
Research–withoutlineforintroduction
IncludePagenumbers
Plansfordata–plansforchart,graphsandstatistics
IncludePagenumbers
Results IncludePagenumbersDraftAnalysis IncludePagenumbersDraftabstract IncludePagenumbers
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LOGBOOK
RECORDINGOBSERVATIONANDDATA
Usealogbookforrecordingallmeasurementsandobservations.Recordallinformationaboutyourscienceprojecteachday.Considerthefollowing
• Makesurethatyouincludeaccuratemetricmeasurementinyourdata.Givemassesingrams,volumesinmilliliters,andlinearmeasurementsincentimetersormeters.
• Keeplotsofnotes!Itisbettertohavetoomuchdatathannotenough.• Donoterase.Ifyoumakeamistake,drawasinglelineoverthemistakeandmakea
correctionnexttoit.• Writedownthedateandtimewhenmakingobservations.• Keeptrackofthematerialsused,theirquantitiesandcost.• Takephotographsandvideoduringyourproject.Thesecanbeusedaspartofyour
displayboard.Getpicturesofyoudoingyourexperiment.
FORMS:Allparticipantsneedforms1,1A,ReserchPlanand1B,whichmustbecompletedanddatedbeforethebeginningdatefortheexperiment.Projectswithsafetyconcerns,humans,vertebratesandpotentiallyhazardousbiologicalorchemicalagenswillneedtocompleteadditionalforms.
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HowtowriteanAbstract
Abstractmustbeonthisyear’sofficialFloridaStateScienceandEngineeringAbstractForm.ChecktheSSEFofFloridawebsite.AbstractHeadingmustbeinthefollowingform:TITLE(INCAPITALLETTERS)Lastname,FirstName,MiddleInitial.School,AlachuaRegion,City,State(NoAddress,teacher’sname,school,referencesorbibliographyshouldappear)AbstractText:Writeaonepagesummary(Maximumof250words.)Itshouldinclude:
a. Thepurposeoftheexperimentb. Proceduresusedc. Datad. Conclusion
Itmayalsoincludepossibleresearchapplications.
Acopyoftheabstractmustappearonyourdisplayboard(seepage13)andyoushouldkeepseveralcopiesonhandtogivetojudges.Besuretoanswerthequestionsatthebottomoftheform.Pleasereadeachonecarefullyandanswerappropriately.Signanddatetheform.
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PROJECTNOTEBOOKLAYOUT
Finaldraftshouldbetyped,orwrittenneatlyinblue/blackink.Pleaseusefrontsideofthepaperonly.
MATERIALS
Listallthesuppliesneededfor
yourexperiment.Includeamountsandsizes.
HYPOTHESIS
If…(Tellwhatyouwilldo)…Then…(tellwhatyouthinkwillhappen)….because(howcanyouexplainyourguess?)
PURPOSE
Thepurposeofthisexperimentistofindout….Thisisimportantbecause…
TableofContents
I.IntroductionSectionPurpose…………………………..…...65ParagraphEssay….……………..7Hypothesis…………………………..11II.ExperimentSectionMaterial……………………………...12Procedure…………………………...13Data&Results…………….………14III.ConclusionSectionAnalysis&Conclusion………….16Bibliography………………………..17Acknowledgements…………….18
ABSTRACT
ReviewoftheLiterature
3pagereport
Whatbackgroundinformationdidyoufind?
.
(BlankPage)
TITLE
(HOWDOES__AFFECT___?)(PutyourtitleinthemiddleofthepageinALLCAPITALS)
TITLEPAGE
(PutyourtitleinthemiddleofthepageinALLCAPITALSYourNamePeriodSchoolGradeDate
ScienceTeacher
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ANALYSISANDCONCLUSIONS
2-5paragraphsthattelltheresultsofyourexperiment.Restatethe
purpose.Explain:Didyouaccomplishwhatyouwantedto?Wouldyoudoitthesamewayifyouhadtodoitover?What
additionalexperimentswouldyourecommendtoaddtoyour
research?School
DATAANDOBSERVATIONS
Includeeverythingthathappenedandwhatyouobservedasyoudidyourproject.Includecharts,
tables,graphs,andpictures.Thissectionmaybeseveral
pageslong.
PROCEDURES
Givestep-by-stepdirections
ofhowtodoyourexperiment.Includeindependentvariable,
dependentvariable,control,andconstants.
(blanklastpage)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(Optional)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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ScienceFairDisplayBoard
Exhibitsizeislimitedto:76cm(30in)deep,fronttoback 122cm(48in)wide,sidetoside 327cm(108in)high,floortotopThedimensionsshownrepresentthemaximumallowablesize.Itisnotintendedthateachprojectwillmeetthisspaceallowance.Smallerexhibitswillbewelcomed.Boardsareavailableatofficeanddiscountstores,orfromyourteacher.Includephotographsifpossible.
CONCLUSION
PROCEDURE
MATERIALS
PROJECTNOTEBOOK
LOGBOOK
ABSTRACT
HYPOTHESIS
PURPOSE
PHOTOGRAPHS
GRAPHS
PROJECTTITLE
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PRESENTATIONTOJUDGESThisisanimportantpartofyourprojectsotakethetimetoplanandpracticethepresentationyouwillmaketothejudges.Planaheadwhatyouwanttosaybutdon’tmemorizeyourpresentation.Writekeyphrasesorideasonindexcardsandusethemasareference,butdon’tdependheavilyonthem.
PresentationHereisanapproachyoumaywishtouseformakingyouroralpresentation.1. Greetthejudgesandintroduceyourself.2. Givethemacopyofyourabstractandresearchpaper.3. Givethetitleofyourproject,yourgrade,school,andsponsor(teacher).4. Tellhowyoubecameinterestedinthistopic.5. Givesomebackgroundinformationaboutthetopic.6. Statethepurposeofyourinvestigation.7. Discussyourreviewofliterature.8. Describeinastep-by-stepfashiontheproceduresyoufollowedforconductingyour
investigation.Pointtosectionsofyourdisplayandrefertocharts,graphs,andphotographs.Ifyouhaveequipmentondisplayallowthejudgestoexamineit.
9. Explaintheresultsofyourexperimentandbesuretodiscusscontrolsandvariables.Remembertokeepallmeasurementsinmetricunits.
10. Identifytheconclusionsthatyoucouldlogicallydrawfromtheexperiment.11. Discussanyfutureplansyoumayhavetocontinueresearchorexperimentationrelated
toyourtopic.Includeafewstatementsaboutanychangesyoumadeinyourscientificapproachduringyourearlyinvestigation.
12. Askthejudgesiftheyhaveanyquestions.Rememberifyoudon’tknowananswersaysoandindicateyouwilllookintoit.Ifjudgesinsistonaskingquestionsinunrelatedareas,redirecttheconversationbacktoyourspecifictopic.
13. Thankthejudgesfortheirtimeandanysuggestionstheymayhaveofferedtoimproveyourproject.
Goodmanners,niceclothes,andenthusiasmforwhatyouaredoingwillhelpyouimpressthejudges.Herearesometips:1. Wearniceclothes.2. Bepoliteandpracticegoodmanners.3. Makegoodeyecontactwiththejudges.4. Standupstraightandtothesideofyouexhibit.5. Speakwithenthusiasm,clarity,andassuredness.6. Don’tdoanythingdistracting.7. Relax,Smile,andhaveFUN!
