Science. Science Project Guide. Science. Scientific Process At Work. This Guide will help you complete your Fifth Grade Science Project which is due

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1 Science Project Guide Science Science This Guide will help you complete your Fifth Grade Science Project which is due Scientific Process At Work

2 The Scientific Process The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments. The steps of the scientific method are to: o Ask a Question o Do Background Research o Construct a Hypothesis o Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment o Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion o Communicate Your Results It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. A "fair test" occurs when you change only one factor (variable) and keep all other conditions the same. Overview of the Scientific Method The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. Scientists use the scientific method to search for cause and effect relationships in nature. In other words, they design an experiment so that changes to one item cause something else to vary in a predictable way. Developing Your Project: Step by Step Select a Question that can be answered by doing an experiment. Complete the SCIENCE PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM and submit it to your teacher for approval ( Due. ) List the materials you will need to do this experiment. Think about how you are going to record and what might be needed for your display also. Submit one written copy per group of your QUESTION and HYPOTHESIS for approval. (Due.) Work on writing out the PROCEDURES for your experiment. Get these checked and approved. (Due ) Conduct your experiment. Record Data Develop your display.

3 Developing Your Display Board: Step by Step Key Info You need to prepare a display board to communicate your work to others. A standard, three-panel display board will be provided for each group. Title Question Hypothesis Details of Experiment Includes Variable Tested Pix Chart Results Above is an example only. Your project may include more items and be arranged differently. Be creative and complete. Organize your information like a newspaper so that your audience can quickly follow the thread of your experiment by reading from top to bottom, then left to right. Include each step of your science fair project: Question, Hypothesis, Variables, Background research, and so on. Use a font size of at least 16 points for the text on your display board, so that it is easy to read from a few feet away. It's OK to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on picture and tables. The title should be big and easily read from across the room. Choose one that accurately describes your work, but also grabs peoples' attention. A picture speaks a thousand words! Use photos or draw diagrams to present non-numerical data, to propose models that explain your results, or just to show your experimental setup. But, don't put text on top of photographs or images. It can be very difficult to read. Use color construction paper to add accents to your display board. A common technique is to put sheets of construction paper behind the white paper containing your text. THINK, DISCUSS, PLAN, PLAN, PLAN and THINK some more.

4 Constructing Your Display Board: Step by Step Think of the colors you want to use for your Board. List them. Think.Will they go well together. Don t use too many different colors. Think of anything unique to want to do. Discuss, Brainstorm, Think! Think about any photos, clip-art pictures, props or special features you will have on your display board. Sketch out a map showing what your board might look like. Look at the picture at the start of this section for an example. NOW complete the Word Processing-Display part of your project. * Create your Project Board Title. Make it BOLD, CLEAR and EYE-APPEALING. * Type up each part of your project. Check for errors. Print it, Mount it. Please put the Title at Top Center. Then from left to right follow this order: Question and Hypothesis, Plan, Data and Results. * Get clip art, photos, and decorative items and carefully add them to your display. DO NOT CLUTTER IT UP! Do not scribble or add random scribbles. Check everything twice before you glue.

5 Science Project Proposal Form Name(s): List the question you will try to answer in your experiment:.. Science Project Checklist: 1. Will this project be an investigation and not just a report? Yes No 2. Is this topic interesting enough to read about and explore? Yes No. Can you come up with a hypothesis that can be tested in an experiment? Yes No 4. Can you design a fair test that changes only one variable? Yes No 5. Is your experiment safe to perform? Yes No 6. Do you have all the materials and equipment you will need for your project or will you be able to obtain them quickly and at low cost? Yes No 7. Do you have enough time to do your experiment before the due date? Yes No I have discussed the project idea and the checklist with my parent(s) and am willing to commit to the project. Experiment will need to be completed outside of class. Student Signature Date I have discussed the project idea and the checklist with my child and I believe they can complete this project outside of class in cooperation with the other members of the group if applicable. Parent Signature Date

6 Question and Hypothesis Approval Sheet Name(s): Question: Hypothesis: Approved Not Approved. See your teacher.

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8 Procedures for Experiment. (The Plan) Name(s): List what you plan to do step by step in your experiment. Approved Not Approved

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10 SCORING RUBRIC FOR SCIENTIFIC PROCESS EXPERIMENT AND PRESENTATION Item YES Somewhat NO TITLE: Board has a noticeable, eye-catching project title. 5 QUESTION: Question is one that is easily answered by an experiment done by the student, not just by research. Listed clearly on display. 5 Good but lacks color or clarity Hard to answer with experiment Title difficult to read or missing Not present PLANNING: Project was well planned. Deadlines were met. HYPOTHESIS: Hypothesis (Student prediction) is clearly listed on display board. EXPERIMENT: The steps of the experiment are explained or shown in pictures. The reader should be able to look at the board and know what was done to test the hypothesis. It is easy to identify the variable that was tested. RESULTS: Results are clearly listed Some problems with planning/deadlines Unclear or listed incorrectly Somewhat vague. Missing some information Incomplete or missing some information. Deadlines not met/poor planning Missing Poorly stated. Missing information. Missing IN-CLASS PRESENTATION: Everyone is involved in the presentation and can answer questions as needed. 5 DISPLAY BOARD PRESENTATION: Items are organized in an effective display. No clutter. Easy to read. Eye-appealing. Print is large enough. Done neatly and completely. DISPLAY BOARD PRESENTATION: No grammatical or spelling errors 5 5 Some members not fully involved or unable to respond to questions. Some clutter. Some difficulty reading or viewing 1 to errors Members not involved Cluttered and/or ineffective display More than errors Props or Display/Presentation Extras ( BONUS ) 2 4 and above = Advanced 7 to 42 = Proficient 2 to 6 = Basic 1 and below = Below Basic 45 possible