Parent Acknowledgment Form Science Fair Project Complete and return Science Project form by September 19, 2011

Transcription

1 Parent Acknowledgment Form Science Fair Project Complete and return Science Project form by September 19, 2011 This project due dates depend on the last name of the student. October 17 th for letters A-F, November 17 th for G-L, January 3 rd for M-P, February 7 th for Q-T, and March 13 th for U-Z last names. A timeline guide calendar, example, layout diagram, and grading rubric are included. Scientific Inquiry Method Science Project Choose two possible QUESTIONS/PROBLEM you would like to investigate for your science project and a HYPOTHESIS to go with each Question/Problem. The experiment has to be measurable with quantitative results. I will review them and choose one that has not yet been done at Foskett Ranch Elementary School as your Science Project. If you need to check out a science board, let your teacher know. 1. My First Choice QUESTION/PROBLEM (what I want to test) for the science project is: My HYPOTHESIS (my guess as to what is going to happen) for my first choice Question is: 2. My Second Choice QUESTION/PROBLEM (what I want to figure out) for the science project is: My HYPOTHESIS for my second choice Question/Problem is: This paper will be returned to you the week of 9/19 with the approved project circled. I am aware of my child s science project due date of March 21 st, I understand this is a mandatory project for science class. Projects are to be completed by the student with the assistance of their parents/guardian. A free standing, 28 x40 or 36x48 science project board is required, which can be purchased at Target, Wal-Mart, and Staples or made in the required dimensions from a cardboard box. If you need to check out a science board, let your teacher know. Parent/Guardian s signature: Date: Student s name: Teacher s name Grade For ideas, Google Science Fair Projects Have Questions/Need assistance? Information Meeting 2:45-3:20pm in the science room. Ms. Curry-Science Teacher

2 Science Fair Project Directions This is a mandatory assignment for all Third Graders. The science fair project is due on October 17 th if your last name starts with the letters A-F, November 17 th for G-L, January 3 rd for M-P, February 7 th for Q-T, and March 13 th for U-Z. Some projects take a long time to observe so get started early. The actual Science Fair will not be until May 17th (Open House), but we will be presenting the projects during science class. The students have actively participated in a Science Inquiry Method Experiment in class. Below is an example of the headings. Follow the directions by including everything that is stated under each heading and place the heading in the correct order. Scientific Inquiry Method Here is how to begin: Think of a question that you would like to know about. Ask a testable question that will have quantitative results. Write it down with the word PROBLEM/PURPOSE as a heading. All the following words in capitals are headings. Write a HYPOTHESIS. This is your guess as to what will happen. If ---(I do this), then (this) will happen. Write a list of MATERIALS you will use during the experiment. (Be very specific) Write the PROCEDURES. Explain step by step how you performed the experiment. Anybody should be able to follow your procedure and come up with the very same results.) (Write it in a step by step format.) 1. Mix ½ tsp. of salt with one cup of water into cup A. 2. Place cup on window sill and let sit for 3 days. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with cup B 4. Record how much water is left in cup A and B. Write DATA/GRAPHICS. DATA is made up of two parts. First, make a table of the before and after results in measurable numbers, for example, inches, grams, etc. Second, take that information and put it into a bar, line or other graph to show your results. You can use a computer to create a table and graph or do it by hand. GRAPHICS include pictures of yourself doing the experiment, drawings, or computer generated pictures- Make your board colorful and interesting to look at. Write your RESULTS. Use words to explain what happened using the information from your table and graph. Write your CONCLUSION. Explain if your Hypothesis was correct or not and the scientific reason why. You will have to do a little research for this part. RECOMMENDATIONS. What have you learned about your experiment and what would you do next time to further test or learn more? Need ideas: Google Science Fair Projects or find something you are curious about, have fun and explore.

3 Suggested timeline Scientific Inquiry Method Experiment: Week 1 -Think of a project you have not seen at our school before. Use your imagination and be creative. Week 2 -Turn in your form with your parent s signature and your Question and Hypothesis. - Gather materials. Science Boards must be freestanding, labeled with your name, grade, and teacher s name on the upper back right flap of your science board. All materials brought to the classroom need to be in a box and labeled.) No loose items will be accepted. Week 4 - Do your experiment and take pictures and notes. Write out your Problem/Purpose, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedures, Data (table and graph), Results, Conclusion and Recommendations. Put everything together, paste and decorate your presentation board. Practice at home for your in-class Due Date - Turn in your Presentation Board and project. Everything must be labeled with your name, teacher s name and your grade.

4 Example Scientific Inquiry Method Experiment Bouncing Balls PROBLEM/ PURPOSE Which of the three balls will bounce the highest, rubber, tennis or ping pong ball? HYPOTHESIS I believe the rubber ball will bounce the highest. MATERIALS One rubber ball One tennis ball One ping pong ball One yard stick One Pencil and piece of paper One helper to be judge One helper to drop ball One helper to hold yard stick PROCEDURE 1. Have one helper hold the yard stick 2. Have one helper drop the tennis ball from the 36 mark of the yard stick. Have the third person look for the highest mark the ball bounces up to on the yard stick. Record the highest inch mark three times. Calculate the average by adding all three numbers together and dividing by three. Record this number on your graph. 3. Repeat step 1 and 2 using the rubber ball and then the ping pong ball. DATA and GRAPHICS Graph Ball Height in Inches Inches Tennis Rubber Ping-Pong Balls Tennis Ball Rubber Ball Ping Pong Ball

5 Table Ball Type Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Tennis 28 inches 29 inches 30 inches 29 inches Rubber 31 inches 31 inches 31 inches 31 inches Ping Pong 34 inches 33 inches 32 inches 33 inches Pictures Averaging numbers RESULTS The ping-pong ball bounced the highest at 33 inches, while the tennis ball bounced the lowest at 29 inches. The rubber ball bounced to 31 inches. CONCLUSION My hypothesis was not supported, I was incorrect. The ping pong ball bounced higher than the rubber ball. RECOMMENDATIONS/NEXT STEPS I learned that the ball with the least amount of weight bounced the highest. Next time I would try different balls that all have low amounts of weight and test my new conclusion. Science Board lay out recommendation: Materials List of item

6 Rubric for Science Project: Parent Signature Did you fill out the form completely and turn it in by Sept. 19? Neatness Did you handwrite or type your project with no spelling mistakes? How It Looks (presentation board) Does your project look like you took time and effort and is it interesting to look at? Followed the Directions Did you include all the requirements for your project? See separate requirements for the energy efficient house. Creativity Did your project have an original idea? Explained the project Did you speak clearly and could you explain your project well? Turned Project by Due Date Subtract 1 point for each day your project is late. Total points for this project 4 ( ) /28 (0-18)Unsatisfactory (19-21) Needs Improvement (22-25) Good (26-28) Very Good

7 Science Fair Oral Presentation Rubric Student Name: CATEGORY 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points Content Student shows a full understanding of the science experiment/project/ Invention/ story/ reverse engineering and describes their project with details. Time-Limit Presentation is 5 minutes long or shorter. Student shows a good understanding of the science experiment/project/ Invention/ story/ reverse engineering and describes their project with details. Presentation is 6 minutes. Student shows a good understanding of parts of the science experiment/ project/ invention/ story/ reverse engineering and/or describes their project some. Presentation is 7 minutes long. Student does not seem to understand the science experiment/project/ Invention/ story/ reverse engineering very well and/or gives little information about their project. Presentation is 8 minutes OR more. Posture and Eye Contact Speaks Clearly Student stands up straight, looks relaxed and confident. Establishes eye contact with everyone in the room during the Student speaks clearly all of the time, and has good volume. Student stands up straight and establishes eye contact with everyone in the room during the Student speaks clearly all of the time and/or is hard to hear at times. Student sometimes stands up straight and does not always establish eye contact with everyone in the room during the Student speaks clearly most of the time and/or is hard to hear. Student slouches and/or does not look at people during the Student often mumbles or can not be understood. Presentation Order and Relevance Entire presentation relates to the project and their presentation follows the proper sequential order. Most of the presentation relates to the project and/or order of presentation is not in proper sequence. Little of the presentation relates to the project and/or the order of the presentation is jumbled. Very little of the presentation relates to the project and/or no order is evident. comments Total points earned: Out of 40 points