westwood science fair - sbac.edu

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WestwoodScienceFair

2019-2020ScienceFairProjectGuide

WithMrs.CharbonnetandMrs.Floyd’stimeline

Forofficialrules,forms,andinformationsee:www.societyforscience.org/isef

www.ssefflorida.comhttp://www.sbac.edu/pages/ACPS/Departments_Programs/DepartmentsLZ/SciFair

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HelpingYourChildwithaScienceProject

Childrenarenaturallycurious.Anexcellentwaytoteachthemtodevelopproblemsolvingskillsistodirecttheircuriositytowardscientificinvestigation.Ascientificinvestigationthatusesthescientificmethodhelpsdevelopyourchild’sthinkingskills. Asaparent,youplayoneofthemostimportantrolesinyourchild’seducation.Theencouragement,guidance,andsupportthatyougiveyourchildwillnotonlyhelphimorherdevelopvaluablethinkingskills,butthetimeyouandyourchildspendworkingtogetherwilldeepentheparent-childrelationshipthatlastsforever.Therearemanythingsyoucandotohelpyourchildwithascienceprojectwithoutdoingtheprojectforthem.Pleasechecktheofficialwebsite:www.societyforscience.org/isefHelpfulWebsites:www.societyforscience.org/isefwww.ssefflorida.comhttp://www.sbac.edu/pages/ACPS/Departments_Programs/DepartmentsLZ/SciFairhttp://sciencebuddies.org10TipsforHelping:1. Thisisyourchild’sprojectandshouldreflecthisorherinterests.Listentotheirquestions.

Thosequestionsoftenmakegreatprojectideas.2. Althoughthisisyourchild’sproject,andistobehisorherownefforts,thereisno

substituteforyourpraiseandsupport.Encourageyourchildandlethimorherknowyouareinterestedinhisorheridea.

3. Helpyourchildwithskillsthatheorshehasnotyetmastered,suchasorganization,measuring,calculating,andconstruction.

4. Helpyourchildfollowthescheduletocompletetheprojectontime.Postscheduledatesontherefrigerator.

5. Provideatimeandareainyourhomewhereyourchildcanworkwithoutinterferencefromtelevisionorotherdistracters.

6. Helpyourchildacquirethematerialsneededfortheproject.7. Helpyourchildtakenecessarysafetyprecautionstoinsureasafeproject.8. Providetransportationtoplacessuchaslibraries,museums,naturecenters,andresource

persons,etc.9. Realizethattherealprizeofascienceprojectisthedevelopmentofcriticalthinkingskills,

nottheblueribbonpresentedbyasciencefairjudge.10. Contactusifyouhavequestions.

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Rules TherulesoftheWestwoodScienceFairareconsistentwiththeRegional,State,andInternationalScienceandEngineeringFair(ISEF)andhavebeendevelopedwiththebeliefthatallstudentsshouldconformtothesameregulationsasthosegoverningtheworkofprofessionalscientists.Theguidelinesforsometypesofresearch,suchasvertebrate(includinghuman)experimentation,areparticularlystringent.Adheringtotheseguidelinesisnotonlyalearningexperienceaboutwhatitisliketodorealscientificresearch,butitalsoensuresthatthestudentsdonotunknowinglyviolatestateandfederalregulations. Therefore,asteachersatWestwoodwestronglydiscouragestudentsfromexperimentingwithvertebratesofallkinds,includinghumans.Wewishtoavoidriskstohumansandothervertebrates,andfeelthattheadditionalISEFpaperworkrequiredforsuchexperimentsisoftenoverwhelmingforboththeresearcherandthehumansubjects.Pleasechecktheofficialwebsite:www.societyforscience.org/isefformoredetails. AllprojectsconductedattheUniversityofFloridamusthaveUFenvironmentalhealthandsafetyapproval.Pleasecheckthefollowingwebsites:Minor’sregistrationdocument:http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/bio/minors/Categories…Listedbelowarethe13categoriesdesignatedbytheFloridaScienceandEngineeringFair.Studentsselectspecificsubjectareasfromthesecategoriesfortheirperspectiveproject.AnimalSciences IntelligentMachines,RoboticsBehavioral&SocialSciences SystemsSoftwareBiomedical&HealthSciences Mathematics&Computational Cellular/MolecularBiology&Biochemistry SciencesChemistry Microbiology Earth&EnvironmentalSciences Physics&AstronomyEngineering PlantSciencesEnvironmentalEngineering

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6th Grade Science Fair Due Dates 2019-20

Due Date

TopicAnimal Sciences, Behavioral & Social, Biomedical & Health, Cellular/ Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth & Environmental, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Intelligent Machines Robotics & Systems Software, Mathematics & Computational Science, Microbiology, Physics & Astronomy, Plant Science.

Aug.29

Title and Purpose Title: In the form of a question (How does X Affect Y?) Submit for approval. Purpose: What will you learn and why is this topic relevant to the scientific community?

Sept. 5

References/Bibliography Five sources of information about your project. List them using the correct bibliographic format. Include at least one book and one Internet source.

Sept.19

Review of Literature/ Annotated Bibliography An original, three-page summary of all you have learned from the sources of information above. This paper must be written in your own words.

Sept. 19

Hypothesis A possible answer or solution to your question, based on your research above. Should be written in an "If…then…because…" form.

Sept.26

Materials and Procedure Materials: A list of the items necessary for you to perform your experiment. Procedures: A step by step description of your experiment from beginning to end. Include a list of your independent variable, dependent variable, constants, and control.

Oct. 3

Experiment / Logbook Check/Forms/Risk and Safety Begin collecting preliminary results. Bring Logbook to class for the next 4 weeks.

Oct. 10

Table, Chart, or Graph – Set up Assemble all data into appropriate tables, charts, and/or graphs

Oct. 17

Analysis and Conclusion Submit a one-page summary of the entire experiment. Answer the following questions: Was the original hypothesis supported or rejected? Why or why not? Was your purpose achieved? Why or why not? Is additional research needed?

Oct. 31

Abstract A summary of your entire project. It should be no more than 250 words long and include the purpose, procedure, data, conclusion, and applications. Use the State abstract form.

Nov. 7

Final Bibliography A complete list of all informational resources used in this project.

Nov. 7

Rough Draft of Project Notebook Assemble all the above steps, with a title page, table of contents, etc. and submit for editing

Nov. 7

Final Draft of Project Notebook Assemble all steps in final form, ink or typed.

Nov. 14

Display Board Display boards should be neat and organized, with all steps placed in the proper location. Projects will be presented in class.

Nov. 21

Westwood Middle School Science Fair Parent judges and volunteers needed!!!

Dec. 5

Alachua Region Science Fair at Santa Fe College Feb. 13

State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida in Lakeland Mar. 24-26

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PROCEDUREFORWRITINGABIBLIOGRAPHY(WORKSUSEDLIST)

Abibliographyorwordsusedlistisalistofsourcesofinformationusedwhileresearchingatopic.Thebibliographyshouldbeinalphabeticalorderbyauthor’slastname.Iftheauthor’snameisnotgiven,listthetitlefirstandalphabetizeitbythefirstimportantwordsofthetitle.Eachbibliographicalreferencebeginswith“reverseindentation.”Allpapersshouldbepresentedonstandardsizedwhitepaperusingblueorblackink,typed,orwordprocess.Pleaseusethefrontsideofthepaperonly.Rememberyoumayuseanonlinesourcelikeeasybib.comthatwillhelpyouthroughthestepswiththeISBN.I.ForBooks

Author’slastname,Author’sfirstname.TitleoftheBookUnderlined.PlaceofPublication:Publisher,copyrightyearpages.Example:Snow,TheodoreP.TheDynamicUniverse.St.Paul.Minnesota:WestPublishingCo.2013Morethanoneauthor.Usethesameprocedureasabovebutincludeallauthors.Ifthebookhasaneditor:Editor’slastname,firstname,Ed.UnderlinetheTitle.City:Publisher,year.Pagesused.Example:Charbonnet,Sara,Ed.TheWorldofScienceProjects.Gainesville,FL:HogtownePublishingCo.,2017,pages4-19.

II.ForEncyclopedias

Author’slastname,firstname(ifgiven).“TheTitleoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”UnderlinetheNameoftheEncyclopedia.CopyrightYear.Vol,pageExample:McCarthy,Shawn.“Air.”TheWorldBookEncyclopedia.2099.Vol1,page564Ifnoauthor’slastnameisgiven,startwiththenameofthearticle.

Electronic:Author’slastname,Author’sfirstname(ifgiven).“TitleoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”UnderlinetheNameoftheEncyclopedia.Copyrightyear.

III.MagazineArticlesAuthor’slastname,Author’sfirstname.“NameoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”NameoftheMagazineUnderlined.Monthandyear,Pages.Example:Shrum,SusanH.“America’sAncientSkywatchers.”NationalGeographic.March2023,pages76-107.

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IV.Newspaper

“TitleoftheArticleinQuotationMarks.”TitleoftheNewspaperUnderlined.Date,page.Example:“WestwoodStudentsExcelinScienceFair.”TheGainesvilleSun.January25,2014,1.

V.Pamphlet

Author’slastname,Author’sfirstname.(ifgiven,otherwiseskip)TitleofPamphletUnderlined.City:Publisher,yearofpublication.Example:Adams,Isabel.IdentifyingRocksofArkansas.LittleRock,UniversityofArkansasUpdate,2019.

Pamphletfromacommitteereportofacompany:TitleofPamphletUnderlined.Areportbythenameofthecommittee.Placeofpublication:Publisher,year.Example:AdolescentStressManagement.AreportbytheCommitteeofAdolescentMentalHealth.Washington,D.C.:GeorgetownUniversityPress,2043.

VI.Interview

Lastnameofperson,Firstname.Personal(ortelephone)interview.Person’stitle.City,State,Date.Example:Einstein,Albert.Personalinterview.ProfessorofPhysics.NotReally,N.J.June4,2076.

VII.LetterAuthor’slastname,Firstname.Letterto(Person’stitle).City,State,Date.Example:Bush,GeorgeW.LettertoBobbyJoeSmith.PresidentoftheUnitedStates.Washington,D.C.,Nov.20,2013.

VIII.TelevisionProgram

Programnameunderlined.Productioncompany.Networkname.Stationcallletters,City,Date.Example:BillNyetheScienceGuy.ScienceisFunProductions.PBS.WUFT,Gainesville,FL.,Jan28,2019.

IX.InternetSearchAuthor’slastname,firstname(ifgiven).“Title”webpagesponsor.Date.<httpaddress>Example:Armstrong,Neil.“ScienceFairProjectDesignsMoonRocket”NASA.Sept.25,1956.<http://spaceline.imaginarysite.nasa.gov>

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ACONTROLLEDEXPERIMENT

Toconductascientificinvestigationcaremustbetakentofollowexperimentalprocedures.Youmustdesignanexperimenttotestthehypothesis.Whenplanningyourexperiment,remembertokeepeverythingthesame(constants)exceptthesinglevariablebeingtested(theindependentvariable).Avariableissomethingthatischangedintheexperiment.Itiswhatyouaretesting.Everythingelsemustbethesameandonlyonevariableorconditionisalteredorchanged.Acontrolgroupshouldbeusedwhenconductinganexperiment.Acontrolgroupisastandardforcomparison.Thisgroupreceivesthesameattentionasthetestgroups;however,itwillnotbeinfluencedbythevariabletheothergroupsaretesting.Thevariablemeasuredasaresultoftheexperimentiscalledthedependentvariable.Hereisanexample:PURPOSE:Thepurposeofthisexperimentistoseeifcaffeineaffectstheheartbeatofwaterfleas.HYPOTHESIS:Ifwaterfleasaregivensoftdrinksofdifferentcaffeineconcentration,thenthehigherthecaffeineconcentrationthefastertheheartbeatbecausecaffeineisastimulant.TheINDEPENDENTvariablewillbethedifferentamountsofcaffeineused,soallotherconditionswillbekeptconstant.Thismeansthefollowing:

1. Thewaterfleasmustcomefromthesamesourceandbechosenrandomly.2. Allfleasmustbekeptinthesamesizecontainers,thesameamountofwater,etc.3. Allfleasmustbekeptatthesametemperature.4. Morethanonewaterfleashouldbeusedineachtestgroup.5. Onegroup,theCONTROLGROUP,receivesnocaffeine.6. Setuptwoothertestgroups(ordifferentbrands,whateveryoudecide),onereceivesacertain

amountofcaffeine,theotherreceivestwiceasmuch.

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SettingupaLogbookforScienceResearch

1.Youwillneedacompositionnotebook,withsewnpagesNOTaspiralorgluednotebook.Thiswillbecalledthe“LOGBOOK”sinceyouwillrecordnotonlyyourthoughtsasyoucontemplateaproblemforyourscienceproject,butalsorecordallthepertinentinformationasyoupreparefortheexperiment,recordyourdata,andanalyzeyourdata.ThisLOGBOOKwillbegradedthroughoutthescienceprojectprocess.TheLOGBOOKiscriticaltocompetitions,doNOTremoveanypagesorusewhiteout,ifyoumakeanerrorcrossitoutwithasingleline.IfyoumakeerrorswhilecollectingDATAyoushouldwriteyourinitialsanddatebesidetheline.2.SetupthelogbookwritingALLentriesinINK.Therightcolumnshowsexamplesofthelogbookpages.Numbereachpageonthefrontside(pagesontheright)inthetoprightcorner.

NameAnd

Decoration

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Makepage1thetitlepagewithyournamedate.Pleasedecorate.

Makepage2theTableofContentsIncludethepagewherethetopicbegins.YoudonotincludeeverypageontheContentspage.Donotskiplines.

TableofContentsPage3–MonthlyTimelinesPage8–Ideas 2

Thenext5pageswillbelabeledwitheachmonthyouhavethroughDecemberand"Timeline".EachdayyouworkonthelogbookshouldbedocumentedwithabriefdescriptiononONElineofwhatwasdone.Youonlywritedowninformationabouttheproject.Judgesliketoseehowyoudevelopedtheproject.Timelinepagesdon'tneedadateintheuppercornersincethepagehasthedatesitcovers.

Augusttimeline–(example)14th–purchasedlogbook29th–receivedassignment31st–preliminaryideadeveloped 3

Eachaspectoftheprojectwillbewrittenonaseparatepage(s)ofthelogbook.

Ideasdevelopment/proposal 8

InstructionsandInstructionalmaterialgiventoyouinclass

Topic IncludePagenumbers

Research–withoutlineforintroduction

IncludePagenumbers

Plansfordata–plansforchart,graphsandstatistics

IncludePagenumbers

Results IncludePagenumbersDraftAnalysis IncludePagenumbersDraftabstract IncludePagenumbers

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LOGBOOK

RECORDINGOBSERVATIONANDDATA

Usealogbookforrecordingallmeasurementsandobservations.Recordallinformationaboutyourscienceprojecteachday.Considerthefollowing

• Makesurethatyouincludeaccuratemetricmeasurementinyourdata.Givemassesingrams,volumesinmilliliters,andlinearmeasurementsincentimetersormeters.

• Keeplotsofnotes!Itisbettertohavetoomuchdatathannotenough.• Donoterase.Ifyoumakeamistake,drawasinglelineoverthemistakeandmakea

correctionnexttoit.• Writedownthedateandtimewhenmakingobservations.• Keeptrackofthematerialsused,theirquantitiesandcost.• Takephotographsandvideoduringyourproject.Thesecanbeusedaspartofyour

displayboard.Getpicturesofyoudoingyourexperiment.

FORMS:Allparticipantsneedforms1,1A,ReserchPlanand1B,whichmustbecompletedanddatedbeforethebeginningdatefortheexperiment.Projectswithsafetyconcerns,humans,vertebratesandpotentiallyhazardousbiologicalorchemicalagenswillneedtocompleteadditionalforms.

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HowtowriteanAbstract

Abstractmustbeonthisyear’sofficialFloridaStateScienceandEngineeringAbstractForm.ChecktheSSEFofFloridawebsite.AbstractHeadingmustbeinthefollowingform:TITLE(INCAPITALLETTERS)Lastname,FirstName,MiddleInitial.School,AlachuaRegion,City,State(NoAddress,teacher’sname,school,referencesorbibliographyshouldappear)AbstractText:Writeaonepagesummary(Maximumof250words.)Itshouldinclude:

a. Thepurposeoftheexperimentb. Proceduresusedc. Datad. Conclusion

Itmayalsoincludepossibleresearchapplications.

Acopyoftheabstractmustappearonyourdisplayboard(seepage13)andyoushouldkeepseveralcopiesonhandtogivetojudges.Besuretoanswerthequestionsatthebottomoftheform.Pleasereadeachonecarefullyandanswerappropriately.Signanddatetheform.

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PROJECTNOTEBOOKLAYOUT

Finaldraftshouldbetyped,orwrittenneatlyinblue/blackink.Pleaseusefrontsideofthepaperonly.

MATERIALS

Listallthesuppliesneededfor

yourexperiment.Includeamountsandsizes.

HYPOTHESIS

If…(Tellwhatyouwilldo)…Then…(tellwhatyouthinkwillhappen)….because(howcanyouexplainyourguess?)

PURPOSE

Thepurposeofthisexperimentistofindout….Thisisimportantbecause…

TableofContents

I.IntroductionSectionPurpose…………………………..…...65ParagraphEssay….……………..7Hypothesis…………………………..11II.ExperimentSectionMaterial……………………………...12Procedure…………………………...13Data&Results…………….………14III.ConclusionSectionAnalysis&Conclusion………….16Bibliography………………………..17Acknowledgements…………….18

ABSTRACT

ReviewoftheLiterature

3pagereport

Whatbackgroundinformationdidyoufind?

.

(BlankPage)

TITLE

(HOWDOES__AFFECT___?)(PutyourtitleinthemiddleofthepageinALLCAPITALS)

TITLEPAGE

(PutyourtitleinthemiddleofthepageinALLCAPITALSYourNamePeriodSchoolGradeDate

ScienceTeacher

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ANALYSISANDCONCLUSIONS

2-5paragraphsthattelltheresultsofyourexperiment.Restatethe

purpose.Explain:Didyouaccomplishwhatyouwantedto?Wouldyoudoitthesamewayifyouhadtodoitover?What

additionalexperimentswouldyourecommendtoaddtoyour

research?School

DATAANDOBSERVATIONS

Includeeverythingthathappenedandwhatyouobservedasyoudidyourproject.Includecharts,

tables,graphs,andpictures.Thissectionmaybeseveral

pageslong.

PROCEDURES

Givestep-by-stepdirections

ofhowtodoyourexperiment.Includeindependentvariable,

dependentvariable,control,andconstants.

(blanklastpage)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

(Optional)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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ScienceFairDisplayBoard

Exhibitsizeislimitedto:76cm(30in)deep,fronttoback 122cm(48in)wide,sidetoside 327cm(108in)high,floortotopThedimensionsshownrepresentthemaximumallowablesize.Itisnotintendedthateachprojectwillmeetthisspaceallowance.Smallerexhibitswillbewelcomed.Boardsareavailableatofficeanddiscountstores,orfromyourteacher.Includephotographsifpossible.

CONCLUSION

PROCEDURE

MATERIALS

PROJECTNOTEBOOK

LOGBOOK

ABSTRACT

HYPOTHESIS

PURPOSE

PHOTOGRAPHS

GRAPHS

PROJECTTITLE

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PRESENTATIONTOJUDGESThisisanimportantpartofyourprojectsotakethetimetoplanandpracticethepresentationyouwillmaketothejudges.Planaheadwhatyouwanttosaybutdon’tmemorizeyourpresentation.Writekeyphrasesorideasonindexcardsandusethemasareference,butdon’tdependheavilyonthem.

PresentationHereisanapproachyoumaywishtouseformakingyouroralpresentation.1. Greetthejudgesandintroduceyourself.2. Givethemacopyofyourabstractandresearchpaper.3. Givethetitleofyourproject,yourgrade,school,andsponsor(teacher).4. Tellhowyoubecameinterestedinthistopic.5. Givesomebackgroundinformationaboutthetopic.6. Statethepurposeofyourinvestigation.7. Discussyourreviewofliterature.8. Describeinastep-by-stepfashiontheproceduresyoufollowedforconductingyour

investigation.Pointtosectionsofyourdisplayandrefertocharts,graphs,andphotographs.Ifyouhaveequipmentondisplayallowthejudgestoexamineit.

9. Explaintheresultsofyourexperimentandbesuretodiscusscontrolsandvariables.Remembertokeepallmeasurementsinmetricunits.

10. Identifytheconclusionsthatyoucouldlogicallydrawfromtheexperiment.11. Discussanyfutureplansyoumayhavetocontinueresearchorexperimentationrelated

toyourtopic.Includeafewstatementsaboutanychangesyoumadeinyourscientificapproachduringyourearlyinvestigation.

12. Askthejudgesiftheyhaveanyquestions.Rememberifyoudon’tknowananswersaysoandindicateyouwilllookintoit.Ifjudgesinsistonaskingquestionsinunrelatedareas,redirecttheconversationbacktoyourspecifictopic.

13. Thankthejudgesfortheirtimeandanysuggestionstheymayhaveofferedtoimproveyourproject.

Goodmanners,niceclothes,andenthusiasmforwhatyouaredoingwillhelpyouimpressthejudges.Herearesometips:1. Wearniceclothes.2. Bepoliteandpracticegoodmanners.3. Makegoodeyecontactwiththejudges.4. Standupstraightandtothesideofyouexhibit.5. Speakwithenthusiasm,clarity,andassuredness.6. Don’tdoanythingdistracting.7. Relax,Smile,andhaveFUN!