23 rd Annual Ranch View Science Fair Thursday, February 5, :00 6:00 p.m.

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1 23 rd Annual Ranch View Science Fair Thursday, February 5, :00 6:00 p.m. Packet Contains: Grade Level Specific Experimental Design Sheet Sample Questions List Your Topics Research Your Topics Putting it all Together Sample Display Board

2 Register Now For Ranch View s 23 rd Annual SCIENCE FAIR! Thursday, February 5 th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Registration form due back no later than January 22nd. Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to participate in Ranch View s 23rd Annual Science Fair. This is your chance to be challenged, have fun, learn more about science and put our Habits of Mind to work! From simply testing an idea to researching a hypothesis - all levels of curiosity are welcome. All participants are winners! Habits of Mind in action! This year all students are challenged to think about how at least one (the more the better!) of the Habits of Mind is evident in their experiment. For example, you may have found that during the experimental process Thinking Flexibly was utilized because once your experiment was underway, you needed to make adjustments to the process. This information should be displayed on your board (see attached sample), and you should be prepared to explain it to the judges. Looking for an idea? Start with a simple question and find the answer. Visit the Ranch View and Naperville Public Libraries for science fair books or search on-line. How do I get involved? Fill out the attached registration form and return it to school. If you would like to do your experiment with a friend, both of you must fill out and return separate registration forms signed by your parents. What happens after I register? You will receive a registration confirmation form confirming your registration, partner s name (if applicable), and if you requested electricity or an oversized space. Go to Ranch View s website for more detailed information including ideas, the scientific process, display information as well as information on the Habits of Mind. Come join the fun! Questions? Please contact Lynda Cabrales (lynda.cabrales@mccain.com) or Jie Su (jiejulu@hotmial.com).

3 2015 Science Fair Registration To register, fill out the information below and return this form to school by Thursday, January 22nd. You will receive a confirmation form after you register. Science Fair information can be found on Ranch View s website Scientist s Name (please print complete name): Grade: Teacher: Parent s Phone: I am doing my experiment (check one): Individually With a team member. Their name is: (Important Note: If you choose to do your experiment with a friend, both of you must submit a separate registration form and have it signed by your parents.) My experiment is: Description (use back if needed): My project will need (check if applicable): Electricity An oversized area (standard area is 2 x 2 ) Additional Details: Exhibit viewing times are from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on February 6th. Experiment set-up is on the day of the fair from 4:30 to 5:00. A parent must accompany their child during set-up. (If this is a problem, let us know.) The projects will be viewed and possibly handled by students and parents. For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, no flammable materials, toxic materials, or live animals are allowed. We also ask all experiments with food be labeled for the safety of those with food allergies. If you student uses liquid, the table and floor must be protected with plastic. Parent/Guardian Signature Date

4 Putting It All Together: A Science Fair Project The National Science Education Standards challenge us to provide experiences in science that actively engage students in construction of ideas and explanations about the world around them. These experiences must develop their abilities to do scientific inquiry and deepen their understandings about how science is done. The activities and investigations in this book provide opportunities for students to develop and apply the scientific inquiry processes that are needed to carry out a scientific study. Science Fair competitions provide opportunities for students to carry out in-depth investigations on science topics of their choice. Science Fairs are challenging and can be overwhelming to teachers, students, and parents. Use the following pages to guide students towards the completion of a Science Fair Project.

5 Putting It All Together A Science Fair Project Planning Guide Title: Write a name for your investigation Problem: State the problem or describe the problem to study. Question: State the problem in the form of a question. Hypothesis: Write an if then statement that explains what you think will happen in your investigation. Experiment Design: Explain the steps you are going to take to investigate your question. Tell what you will change and what you will measure. Variables: 1. Manipulated (what you will change) 2. Responding (what you measure) 3. Controlled (what stays the same) Results: Analyze your data. Think about the evidence you collected. Explain how your findings answer your question. Conclusion: Compare your results to your hypothesis. Tell if your results support or refute your hypothesis. Research: Search the library and other data sources to find the current scientific knowledge about this topic or problem. Materials: Make a list of the materials used in your investigation. Pictures/Diagrams: Draw diagrams or take photos to show your results. Data Collected: Make systematic observations. Take accurate measurements. Organize the data into tables and charts. Data Display: Show the collected data in a graph.

6 Putting It All Together A Science Fair Project Planning Guide Title: Problem: Question: Hypothesis: Experimental Design: Results: Conclusion:

7 Research: Materials: Pictures/Diagrams: Data Collected: Data Display:

8 READY? GO! List a flurry of topics that you have an interest in and would be suitable for a science fair project

9 Get to the Point Practice narrowing some of the topics you listed on Ready? Go! Topics Topic Relationships Questions

10 Science Fair Project Ideas Plants: 1. Will vitamins affect the growth of a plant? 2. Do weed killers affect house plants? 3. How do the moon phases affect plant germination? 4. How fast do roots grow? 5. Does the amount of water given plants affect their growth? 6. What is the effect of detergent on bean seeds? 7. Under what color light do plants grow best? 8. In what kind of material (sand, clay, etc.) do seeds grow best? 9. Does the amount of light on plants affect their growth? 10. What is the effect of chlorinated water on plant growth? 11. How do the number of seeds produced by different plants compare? 12. Will frozen seeds sprout? 13. Will plants grow better in soil or water? 14. What can be done to increase the decomposing rate of plants? 15. Do living plants give off moisture? 16. Do living plants give off oxygen? Earth and Space 1. Does the moon rise every night at the same time and in the same location in the sky? 2. How accurate are long-range weather forecasts? 3. Is rainwater absorbed at the same rate in different kinds of soil? 4. From which direction does the wind blow most frequently? 5. How warm is it under the snow? Human Body 1. Which grows faster, body hair or scalp hair? 2. How do fingerprints differ? 3. Do all people have the same normal body temperature? 4. Are certain dominant traits exhibited in the same family? 5. Who have bigger hands, boys or girls? 6. How accurately can you tell the temperature of an object by touch? 7. Who are generally taller, boys or girls? 8. How fast do muscles get tired? Physical Science 1. What is the effect of heat when dissolving sugar? Salt? 2. Why is salt put on icy sidewalks? 3. What is the acidity of various household products? 4. How fast do fabrics burn? 5. What kinds of materials can put out a fire? 6. Do all crystals have the same shape? 7. How much of the air is oxygen?

11 8. Can sea water be desalted by freezing? 9. How is the strength of a magnet affected by glass, cardboard and plastic? 10. What is the best shape for a kite? 11. How does a pulley help you do work? 12. How does the use of paint prevent the formation of rust? 13. Which holds two materials together better, a screw or a nail? 14. Do all objects fall at the same speed? 15. How does the weight of a pendulum affect the swing? 16. How is the distance a cart rolls affected by the mass in the cart? 17. On what kind of surface will a ball roll fastest? 18. Which kind of metal conducts heat best? 19. Does sound travel best through solid, liquid, or gas? 20. What materials provide the best insulation? 21. What is the effect of temperature on the volume of air? 22. How does the length of a vibrating body affect sound? 23. How does the design of a paper airplane affect its flight? Consumer Science 1. Which chewing gum holds its flavor the best? 2. Which detergent breaks up oil the best? 3. How does the absorption rate of various paper towels differ? 4. Which detergent makes the most bubbles? 5. How does the wattage of a light bulb affect energy use? 6. Which brand of popcorn pops the fastest? 7. Which brand of glue holds two boards together the best? 8. Which brand of diaper holds more water? 9. Which type of battery makes toys run longest? Other Areas to Explore 1. Your Senses 2. Water 3. Surface Tension 4. Air Pressure 5. Carbon Dioxide 6. Bicycles 7. Flying 8. Earth Satellites 9. Center of Gravity 10. Electricity 11. Mirrors 12. Heat Please Note: Ideas provided by Instructional Fair, In., 1F8512 Science Fair Projects

12 A Good Scientist Asks Questions The hardest part of the independent science project is finding a question that you want to answer. Once you have your idea, all of the other steps are easy to follow. To make it easier for you, here is a list of possible questions to choose from. You are NOT limited to these questions. Feel free to change one of these to fit your interests, or to come up with your own. However, research questions must meet the following criteria: 1. You have to be able to design an experiment to answer your question. Questions like, Why is Mars red? may be interesting to you, but cannot be answered by you doing an experiment. 2. The experiment that can answer the question must be done in class over the span of a week. Therefore, questions about long term effects are not appropriate. Neither could you do an experiment that would require you to make observations at night. 3. Questions that would require experimenting on or with living organisms are, on the whole, not acceptable. Special permission is required and strict guidelines are enforced. Please stay away from these topics. 4. Students in the same class may not do the same project. 5. The question must interest you. You will be spending a lot of time on this project. You should care about the answer to the question. One of the best areas for finding questions is in consumer research. Watch TV ads and listen to their claims. Is there a way to test what they say and meet the above guideline/ If so, you have a good research question. Sample Research Questions 1. What factors affect how well plastic wrap sticks? 2. What type of fabric holds dye the best? 3. What type of water causes detergents to make the most suds? 4. Which type of orange gives the most juice? 5. What brand of gum has the longest lasting flavor? 6. Which brand of soda loses its fizz the fastest? 7. What affects how fast the fizz is lost in soda? 8. Which brand of soda is the most acidic? 9. What is the ph of different brands of cosmetics? 10. Which antacid neutralizes the most acid? 11. What factors keep bananas from turning brown? 12. How long does citrus juice keep different types of apple slices from turning brown? 13. Which citrus juice is the best at keeping apple slices from turning brown? 14. What is it in the citrus juice that keeps apple slices from turning brown? 15. Which battery really lasts longest? 16. What factors affect how long a battery lasts? 17. Which paper towel is really the most absorbent? 18. Which paper towel is the fastest absorber? 19. How does temperature affect the rate gas is produced from Alka-Seltzer? 20. How does putting Alka-Seltzer in different beverages affect it? 21. Does the temperature of popcorn affect how well it pops?

13 22. Which brand of popcorn is the fluffiest? 23. Which brand of popcorn pops the most of its kernels? 24. What is the best container you can design to keep liquids hot? 25. What factors affect lung capacity? 26. How accurate is the weatherman? 27. Do changes in temperature affect how a clock (not digital) keeps time? 28. What happens when the length of a pendulum is increased? 29. What kind of particles are in the air around the school? 30. What is the ph level of various water samples from our area? 31. How does the phosphate in some detergents affect the growth of algae, elodea, & daphnia? 32. How much garbage thrown out in class could be recycled? 33. What is the most common type of litter in your neighborhood? 34. What types of litter are biodegradable? 35. What factors could slow the erosion of topsoil? 36. What is the best type of soil to grow radishes? 37. How does water drainage affect the growth of radishes? 38. Will coating nails with substances found at home prevent rust? 39. What peripheral vision differences exist between people with 20/20 vision and the visually impaired? 40. Does living in a house with parents who smoke decrease lung capacity? 41. Is there a difference in eye-hand coordination between people with 20/20 vision and the visually impaired? 42. Is there a difference in eye-hand coordination between athletes and non-athletes? 43. Is there really a home field advantage in sports? 44. What factors affect the bounce of a tennis ball? 45. What is the best ice-keeper you can design? 46. What causes ice to melt faster? 47. How can you reduce friction on the wheels of a matchbox car? 48. How does the wingspan affect the flight of paper airplanes? 49. Which fruit or vegetable can be used to generate the greatest electric current? 50. Does listening to different types of music affect people s ability to estimate time? 51. Does the content of a story affect the person s perception of how long it took to read? 52. Do females estimate time differently than males? 53. How can you make a board stronger? 54. Does the addition of salt change the rate at which water evaporates? 55. Are the different colors of light generated by a prism different temperatures? 56. How does acid rain affect seed germination? 57. Does internal body temperature change when the external body temperature is lowered? 58. What is the average calorie intake per day? 59. Which falls faster...a dropped object or a horizontally propelled object? 60. What factors affect the rate at which leave decompose?

14 Experimental Design Sheet Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 Teacher may complete the experimental design sheet with the class, or students will use developmental writing to complete their own copies. Scientist: Problem or Question: Think and Design Hypothesis: Materials: Procedure: Created by Naperville District 203 Curriculum Committee, Summer of 1996

15 Do and Report Collection of Data (observations) Display of Data (graphic organizers, diagrams, charts, or tables) Conclusion: Created by Naperville District 203 Curriculum Committee, Summer of 1996

16 Experimental Design Sheet Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5 Students complete this experimental design sheet independently. Think and Design Problem or Question: Hypothesis: Experimental Variable: Controlled Variables: Materials: Procedures:

17 Do and Report Collection of Data (observations): Display of Data (diagrams, charts, tables and graphs) Conclusion:

18 Choose a question from your Get to the Point page that you want to investigate and write it here. Remember... Your question should show a cause and effect. Check to see if your does. The cause is something that can be changed or manipulated. It is also called the independent variable. The effect is the result of the cause. It is also called the dependent variable.

19 Research Now it s time to find out as much about your topic as you can. This will help you decide what you think the answer to your question might be. Sources of Information Places People Literature School Library Home Businesses Garden center zoo Teacher Librarian Family/friends Doctor/dentist Veterinarian Scientist Science books Project books Encyclopedias Magazines Newspapers Yellow pages