Granby Science and Invention Fair - 2015 WHEN: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 WHERE: Granby gymnasium WHO: All interested children in grades K-6 (on a voluntary basis) WHAT: Research, Experiments, Inventions. Research is primarily for grades K-2 Experiments and Inventions for grades 2-6 JUDGING: Grades K-3: Judges will provide positive written feedback for the students as in prior years. New this year- Grades 4-6: Projects will be evaluated by grade level for 1 st, 2 nd & 3 rd place. REWARDS: In addition to all the academic benefits of participating in the science fair, each student will receive a ribbon during the Science Fair. On the day of the fair, each student will get ice cream sundae bar during lunch!! TIME LINE: Jan 12, Mon: Deadline for registration and poster board orders Jan 29, Thurs: 5-6:30 PM Poster Board distribution and Science Fair help and questions Feb 17, Tues: Fair set up (6:00-7:30 PM) Feb 18, Wednesday Granby Science and Invention Fair Science and Invention Fair Tues Feb 17 5:30-7:00 PM Set-up projects in the gym Wed Feb 18 8:30-11:00 AM Participants will go to their project to meet with the judges. 12:-12:30 PM kindergarten judging. 12:00-2 Teachers/classrooms visit the Science and Invention Fair 6:30-7:30 Public viewing of projects New this year - Announcement of winners for Grades 4-6 7:30-8:00 Take down projects and clean-up Questions: Contact Patricia Boughton 467-9020 or patkap@wowway.com
Explanation of Categories 1. RESEARCH (primarily for grades K-2)- Students have an interest in learning something that is already known. For example, What are galaxies? How are coral reefs endangered? How does a laser work? The student researches the topic and creates a display. 2. SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT Students ask a testable question, identify simple variables, research the background on the question, propose a hypothesis, conduct the investigation, collect data, and draw a conclusion. Even when the project is simple and an adult might know the answer, the student benefits from practicing the science process and finding out for him or herself. 3. INVENTION - Students develop a product that is practical and useful. a. Identify a problem (for example How can I roller skate when it s dark? ) b. Create an invention to solve the problem (for example roller skate headlights) c. Test the invention and record the results d. Prepare a display documenting the problem, invention, and test To think up some ideas look around in places like the kitchen or garage; look for simple devices that solve a problem (like chip clips, designed to prevent potato chips from going stale) or poorly designed products that drive you crazy. SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT IDEAS The Worthington libraries have a science fair area and an abundance of resources. The library at Granby also has many good references. Check out these websites: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/ http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/getting-started/idea-finder.html Science Fair Project suggested timeline Activity Decide on topic and develop question or solution 6 weeks Jan 7 Background research on topic 6 weeks Jan 7 Time before the science fair Determine materials and purchase them 5 weeks Jan 21 Set up project and begin to collect data Shop for project display supplies 3 weeks Jan 28 Prepare project display 2 weeks Feb 4 Prepare oral presentation 1 week Feb 11 Deliver presentation display to school 1 day Feb 17 Science Fair Day 0 Feb 18 5-4 weeks (depending on project)
6 Steps to a Successful Science Fair Experiment 1. PICK A TOPIC: Begin by wondering about the things around you. Pick something that you find most interesting. 2. ASK A QUESTION AND MAKE A GUESS: Research your topic and then think of a question you have about your topic and make a guess at the answer. Question: Do plants grow better in sunlight or artificial light? Guess: Plants grow betters in sunlight than in artificial light. This guess is your Hypothesis. 3. PLAN THE EXPERIMENT: Think up an experiment to test your hypothesis. You will need to make decisions about your experiment. Example: What type of plant? What type of light? How will growth be measured? Be sure to keep everything the same, except for what you will test. 4. DO THE EXPERIMENT AND RECORD THE RESULTS. You can also try variations; repeat the experiment several times to find out if it always works. Change the conditions to further test the idea. For example use different plants or different types of artificial light. 5. SUMMARIZE YOUR RESULTS and think about if they agree with your hypothesis. Think about what you have learned and draw conclusions about your findings. 6. MAKE A DISPLAY so you can share your findings. The display board is the ultimate product. It tells the story of the student s research, experiment, or invention. It chronicles their hard work, documents real data, and breaks down complex scientific concepts into basics that anyone who visits their display at the fair can understand. Testable Question What type of paper makes the best paper airplane? What is the best insulator to keep ice from melting? Examples of Testable Questions What is changed? Type of paper Type of insulation in a container What stays the same? Design of plane, size of paper, thrust, air currents Amount of ice, starting temperature Data collected Distance plane travels using the same amount of thrust Time for ice to completely melt
Science Fair Displays The Science Fair Display is the culmination of the entire process and comprises several parts. The main feature is a large display board that tells the whole life story of the student's project. For RESEARCH the display should share the information student found out about the topic. For EXPERIMENTS the display board should detail exactly how scientific methodology was used at each stage. This is propped up on a table, where students display accompanying material. These might include: a journal of detailed notes and sketches, a photo album documenting procedures and materials, and a sample of background research material or models. For INVENTIONS If the invention is transportable, the invention itself will be center stage in front of the display. Pictures of a non-transportable invention are good, too. Science and Invention Fair
Science and Invention Fair Rules 1. Students must do their own work. Teachers and parents may offer suggestions and work in a helping way, but students should write their own reports, create their own displays, and do their own experimentation. 2. The size of the project should not be larger than 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep by 3 feet high because if must sit on the table top. Any larger space requirement MUST be preapproved by the Science and Invention Fair Committee to verify whether or not space is available to the display the project. 3. If you are using anything that spills (water, fluids, powders) you will need to provide a table cover. If the item stains, it must be kept in a sealed container. 4. Permission from the Science and Invention Fair committee is needed before any experiments can be done on live animals. No live animals are permitted at the Science and Invention Fair pictures only. 5. No blood samples may be on display at the Science and Invention Fair. 6. All food items, molds, etc., must be wrapped for display. 7. Try to keep the cost of disposable items like poster board, seeds, chemicals, etc to $20 or less. You can do a great experiment without spending a lot of money. 8. All projects are subject to approval of your classroom teacher. 9. If you do not follow these rules, you might not be able to display some parts OR all of your project at the Science and Invention Fair. 10. If you decide to withdraw from the Science and Invention Fair, please notify the committee as soon as possible. JUDGING Students meet with a pair of judges to explain their project and to answer questions. Students in grade K-3, regardless of whether they have research, experiment, or invention will not be judged competitively, but rather will be evaluated and given positive written feedback. New this year- Grades 4-6: Projects will be evaluated by grade level for 1 st, 2 nd & 3 rd place All student will receive a participation ribbon.
Registration/Order Form Please complete and return to school by Mon, Jan 12 or email to patkap@woway.com NAME GRADE TEACHER EMAIL (for reminders): My project will be: Individual With partners Partner Partner My project will be: (please check only one) Experiment Invention Research (K-2) I have read the rules of the Science and Invention Fair and agree to follow them. If I decide to withdraw from the Science and Invention Fair, I will notify the committee as soon as possible. Student Signature Parent s Signature POSTER BOARD ORDERS Poster boards are a basic component of Science and Invention Fair projects. The poster board are white, measuring 36 high X 48 wide (divided into 3 equal, vertical sections with flexible seams). The poster board costs: $4.00 PICK-UP: Jan 29, Wed: 5-6:30 PM at Granby (will also provide Science Fair help and answer any questions.) # of Boards Amount Enclosed (Poster Boards are also available in stores such as Hobby Lobby, Staples, Office Depot, etc) RETURN THIS ENTIRE FORM WITH CASH OR CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO GRANBY PTA