Adelanto Elementary School District

Transcription

1 Adelanto Elementary School District Science and Engineering Fair Handbook

2 Superintendent Dr. Edwin Gomez Board of Trustees Debra S. Jones, President Evelyn Glasper, Clerk Teresa Rogers, Member Jayson Hughes, Member Holly Eckes, Member Dear Parents, We are excited to tell you about the Science and Engineering Fair! We hope that, with your encouragement, your child will participate in the fair by preparing a project. This will be an exciting experience for you and your child! A general rule of thumb to go by is: 4th through 8th graders should be doing the entire science project by themselves. 2nd and 3rd graders should be able to do most parts on their own or with minimal guidance. Kindergarteners and 1st graders will need help for most of the project. We are confident the following benefits will result from your child s participation: Reinforcement of grade level science, literacy and math skills Increased curiosity, awareness, and creativity In addition, the Science and Engineering Fair provides students with an increased awareness of science, an opportunity to practice engineering design, and an opportunity for them to develop positive attitudes about themselves and their work. Success is when your child asks their own question, completes their project with a smile, and knows more than when they started. Enjoy this time of discovery and fun for you and your child! Estimados Padres de Familia: Estamos emocionados en contarles sobre la Feria de Ciencias e Ingeniería! Esperamos que, con su apoyo, su niño participe en la feria y prepare un Proyecto. Esto será una experiencia emocionante para usted y su niño! Como regla general lo siguiente aplica: Los niño de cuarto al octavo grado deberán de hacer el trabajo de ciencias por si solos. Los niños de segundo y tercer grado deberán de hacer la mayor parte del trabajo por sí mismos o con muy poca ayuda. Los niños de kindergarten y los de primer grado son los que más necesitarán ayuda con su proyecto. Estamos seguros que los beneficios descritos abajo serán los resultados de la participación de su niño en la Feria de Ciencias e Ingeniería: refuerza el curso de ciencias del nivel del grado, habilidades de alfabetización y matemática aumenta la curiosidad, concientización, y creatividad Además, la Feria de Ciencias e Ingeniería proporciona a los estudiantes más concientización de las ciencias, y también una oportunidad para practicar diseño de ingeniería, y también para que desarrollen actitudes positivas sobre ellos mismos y sus trabajos. Éxito es cuando su niño hace su propia pregunta, termina el trabajo con una sonrisa, y sabe más de cuando empezó. Disfruten de este tiempo de descubrimiento y diversión para ustedes y su niño! AESD strives to be the High Desert s premier learning establishment where dreams are awakened, academic achievement soars, and integrity leads the way to future success.

3 Adelanto Elementary School District School Fairs (K - 8) On or before February 12, 2015 District Fair (K - 8) February 26-27, 2015 at Columbia Magnet School Regional Fair (RIMS) (4-8) April 5-7, 2015 at Bourns Inc. State Fair (6-8) TBD at California Science Center (TENTATIVE)

4 Science Fair Planning Guide Month of: December Month of: January Month of: February Month of: March Month of: April Month of: May Review Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process Review required components Assist students in finding a suitable topic Help students conduct library or internet research Help students develop a list of materials needed for the project Provide time, space, and guidance for experimentation Make arrangements for weekly progress checks from students Check to ensure projects conform to safety rules and regulations Review qualities of a good exhibit (construction, lettering, colors, etc.) Assist students with writing an abstract for their project Hold site science fair prior to February 12 th Top 3 projects from each grade sent to District Science Fair (February 26-27) District winners register for RIMS Inland Science and Engineering Fair Students revisit experiments for editing RIMS Inland Science and Engineering Fair at National Orange Show (April 5-7) Winners announced and selected for State Fair State Fair at California Science Center Regional RIMS = 4 th 8 th grade only; State Fair = 6 th 8 th grade only

5 Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process While scientists study how nature works, engineers create new things, such as products, websites, environments, and experiences. Engineers and scientists have different objectives, so they follow different processes in their work. The Scientific Method State your question Do background research Formulate your hypothesis, identify variables Design experiment, establish procedure Test your hypothesis by doing an experiment Analyze your results and draw conclusions Communicate results The Engineering Design Process Define the problem Do background research Specify requirements Create alternative solutions, choose the best one and develop it Build a prototype Test and redesign as necessary Communicate results

6 Components of a Science & Engineering Fair Project Science & Engineering fair projects often have several components. Depending on the project, some of the following components may not be necessary. Required components are marked with an asterisk (*). Please remember that the Scientific Method and the Engineering Design Process include slightly different components. 1. Proposal Written description of the experiment the student has chosen. This information helps the student pinpoint what they will be doing. The proposal also serves as a tool to let the teacher check that the experiment is safe, ethically sound, and that it is not a demonstration. 2. Title* The name of the experiment. Can be in the form of a question, and should grab the attention of the judge. 3. Purpose (Ask a Question or Define a Problem)* This describes what the student is trying to find out. 4. Background Research Prior to developing a hypothesis or specifying requirements, it is important to look at current research on the topic. The research might help students to develop a more educated hypothesis and /or better define design requirements. 5. Construct a Hypothesis or Specify Requirements for Design* This statement tells what you predict will happen in the experiment. It should be an educated guess based on some research, prior knowledge, and/or observation. It must be in the form of "If..., then...". For example, "If three brands of paper towels are tested for absorbency, then Bounty will absorb the most water." When following the Engineering Design Process, this is where the specifications would be found for desired prototype. 6. Materials and/or Planning Notes* A list of all equipment needed to conduct the experiment. When following the Engineering Design Process, this is where you would include notes and/or drawings from the prototype planning process. 7. Explain Procedure or Develop/Test Prototype* This is a step-by-step explanation of how to do the experiment and should be very detailed. If following the Engineering Design Process, this is where you would explain how the prototype was tested. 8. Results* A paragraph stating what happened when the experiment was carried through. Result paragraph should be accompanied by graphs, charts, and/or logs that document data obtained during the

7 experiment. When following the Engineering Design Process, this is where you will discuss what happened when testing the prototype. 9. Conclusion* This paragraph tells if your hypothesis was correct and what your experiment proved. State what you learned and how this information is helpful in your everyday life. Information about how to improve the experiment can also be mentioned here. When following the Engineering Design Process, this is where you will discuss whether or not the prototype solved the problem defined at the beginning and what, if any changes might be made to the prototype in order for it to work better. 10. Research Paper* A short (1-2 page) expository report on a topic related to the experiment. This report should not be attached to the backboard. Judges expect upper level students to have a report. It is a requirement in order to go to the regional and state fairs. 11. Bibliography/ References An alphabetical list of books, articles, internet sites, and people you gained knowledge from. If a report was written, it should have a reference page of its own. 11. Abstract* The abstract is a brief preview of the science experiment or engineering design. It should describe the entire project in one or two short paragraphs. The judges will review the abstract prior to scoring the project. It should give them an idea of what to expect.

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