Becky-David Science Fair

Help Guide 2012

Table of Contents

Overview............................................................................................3Project Types.....................................................................................3Feedback............................................................................................3Schedule of Events...........................................................................3Becky-David Science Fair Rules......................................................3Getting Started..................................................................................3Sample Topic Ideas...........................................................................3Avoiding Problems...........................................................................3The Experiment – A guide to putting it together............................3RESEARCH PLAN.............................................................................3Suggested Display Board Layout....................................................3Data Tables and Graphs...................................................................3How to Cite Your Sources................................................................3Research Note Page.........................................................................3PROJECT SAFETY FORM................................................................3ENTRY FORM....................................................................................3Regional Science Fair.......................................................................3Science Fair Committee Contact Information................................3

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Overview

Thank you all for showing interest in furthering your knowledge of science. Your science fair project is sure to be a fun and rewarding experience. The goal of the Becky-David Science Fair is to promote interest in our young budding scientists in a positive and supportive setting. Everyone wins when children are given the opportunity to be exposed to science from as early an age as possible.

If you’ve never completed a science fair project before, DON’T PANIC! This Help Guide will provide guidance on how to put together a quality project. It also contains information about the school science fair that will be held in the Becky-David Library from May 7 – 21, 2012.

A link also posted on the Becky-David Elementary School and the Becky-David PTO home pages:http://cms.fhsdschools.org/beckydavid/home/tabid/5666/default.aspxhttp://www.beckydavidpto.org/home.html

The Becky-David Science Fair web page will be updated as new information becomes available.

Project Types

All types of projects are welcome at the Becky-David Science Fair. It is the Science Fair Committee’s goal to cultivate scientific growth and learning in any field of study that interests our young scientists. Students may work individually or collaboratively in groups or with other siblings. All grade levels (K – 5) are encouraged to participate.

Project types can include:

Experiment or Investigation – This is the most common type of project and the primary focus of this Help Guide, where you use the scientific method to propose and test a hypothesis. After you accept or reject the hypothesis, you draw conclusions about what you observed. For those students wanting to enter the Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair, this is the only type of project allowed.

Research – This type of project entails collecting information about a topic and presenting your findings in a report, paper or poster.

Model - This type of project involves building a model to illustrate a concept or principle. An example would be constructing a solar system mobile with important facts to illustrate interesting points.

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Collection – This kind of project often displays a collection to illustrate your understanding of a concept or topic. An example would be pictures of a butterfly collection including observations on how wing lengths of the insects differed from year (and possible explanations for the phenomenon). Note: No animal tissues, plant matter, bacteria or molds will be allowed to be displayed at the Becky-David Science Fair.

Demonstration – A demonstration usually involves re-testing an experiment that already has been done by someone else. You can get ideas for this type of project from books and on the internet.

Feedback

The Becky-David Science Fair is a participation-based event and projects will not be judged or scored. All entrants will receive a participation award.

Professional scientist and engineer volunteers are available to provide constructive feedback to reinforce the key points associated with the project and promote ideas for future study. Students who wish to receive feedback may indicate their wish on their Entry Form when they drop off their projects on the first day of the fair.

Schedule of Events

The Becky-David Elementary Science Fair will be held in the School Library from May 7 – 21, 2012.

Registration Forms

Students participating in the Becky-David Science Fair must complete the Entry Form found on page 33 of this Help Guide. The completed form must be submitted along with the project on May 7, 2012.

Parents of students participating in the Becky-David Science Fair must complete the Project Safety Form found on pages 31 and 32 of this Help Guide prior to beginning experiments. Please note that some experiments will require additional information be provided to identify and minimize potential health and safety risks. The completed Project Safety Form (and any supporting pages) should be submitted along with the project and Entry Form on May 7, 2012.

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Project Set Up

Projects are encouraged to be set up on Monday, May 7, 2012 between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM. A member of the Science Committee will be there to assist in project set up and collection of the Entry Forms. Late projects will be accepted, but please contact Mike Nohara-LeClair for any late project to make sure the proper participation and feedback arrangements are made.

Feedback

Feedback will be completed during the week of May 14th by science professional volunteers. Feedback results will be passed out during the Science Fair Awards Ceremony.

Public Viewing

The Becky-David Science Fair was extended to maximize the time the projects can be viewed by the students, teachers, parents and the public. There may be a PTO meeting and Accelerated Reader Night in the library while the projects are displayed. Please invite your school friends, parents and teachers to check out the awesome work! Science discoveries are meant to be shared with everyone!

Awards Ceremony

An awards ceremony will begin at 6:30 PM, Monday, May 21, 2012. This will be when the participation prizes and feedback will be passed out. The Science Fair Committee is also planning to have a special science demonstration as a reward for our incredible students. Projects may be removed after this ceremony. All projects must be removed by Tuesday, May 22nd, or they will be sent home with the students.

Becky-David Science Fair Rules

1. Any type of project will be accepted, but experiment or investigation projects are preferred. Students may work individually or in groups.

2. For safety reasons, students may not work with the following items Pathogenic microorganisms, fresh animal tissues or body fluids Radioactive substances or radiation producing equipment Controlled substances including tobacco products, alcohol, etc. Potentially hazardous equipment Firearms or other weapons Vertebrate animals

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3. Parents must complete the Project Safety Form located on pages 31 and 32 of this Help Guide prior to the student initiating experimental trials. For the safety of all, and to comply with federal regulations, projects that involve human subjects (including those that involve surveys) must follow strict guidelines that are cited on the back of this Project Safety Form. Please contact the Science Fair Committee (information on page 34) if you have any questions or require additional information.

4. Projects may take any form, but it is preferred for experimental or investigation projects to be mounted a display board and include the following items: rationale, problem statement, research notes, hypothesis, variables, materials, procedure, data tables, graphs, and conclusion. The display boards may be papered or painted to make the display attractive and neat. Do not display any samples or equipment from your experiment (pictures are great for this). Ensure that the display board base is attached and display components are fastened securely to the display board. We recommend everyone use the display boards that conform to the Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair requirements (see discussion and website reference on page 34 of this Help Guide).

5. The following are not allowed to be included in the project displays (but pictures are encouraged):

Chemicals or liquids of any type Food items, molds Animal or Plant matter Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, knives) Pictures of peoples faces or obvious identifying marks Pictures deemed offensive or inappropriate by the School Administration

or Science Fair Committee

6. Becky-David Science Fair project displays may be lightly marked to with the student(s) name(s) for identification purposes. However, projects being submitted to the Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair must not include any identifying marks to conform to their rules.

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Getting Started

So you decided to participate in the science fair? Now how do you get started?A successful science fair project does not have to be expensive or even terribly time-consuming. However, it does require some planning and careful thought. Projects become frustrating to students, parents and teachers when they are left to the last minute and thus do not have the chance to be as good as they possibly can. You cannot rush good science!

The most difficult part of a science fair project is coming up with a good topic to research. Whatever the topic, it is probably best that it be something that interests the student and that they can come up with a question about the topic to test and design an experiment to test that question. Whatever the project idea, it must have a testable outcome. Keep in mind what equipment will you need to conduct the experiment? Equipment can be as simple as a ruler and stopwatch or become nearly impossible due to cost and access without the help of a research scientist at a local corporation or university.

Make It Fun Since you’ll be spending weeks or months preparing for the science fair, you really want to be sure that you have a true interest in finding out about your topic. Even though all of what you learn in school is worthwhile, most of the topics have been chosen by someone else. Take full advantage of the chance to choose something you’re really interested in for your science project.

Your Journal: The Most Important Tool You’ll UseThe first thing you’ll need to do is sit down with your science project journal and brainstorm a list of possible science project topics. Keep all notes that you take and data that you collect in this journal. The point of having a science project journal is simple: if you write everything down in one place, you’ll know where all of your information is during the entire project. It will also be much easier for you to show your progress to your teacher and parents. Because all of your project information will be in your journal, be sure to keep it in a safe place.

A few helpful websites to visit: 

http://scienceclub.org/scifair.html

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

http://www.scifair.org/articles/steps.shtml

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http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/

http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/science-fair.html

http://bryan.fhsd.k12.mo.us/hspies/index.html

http://bryan.fhsd.k12.mo.us/hspies/science_fair_links.htm

http://www.scifair.org/articles/reports/reports.shtml

http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document/index.asp

Sample Topic Ideas

One way to come up with topic ideas is to think about a scientific topic you want to know more about. Maybe you’ve always been interested in how mirrors work or the way light travels? Or perhaps you were on a field trip and saw something cool that you couldn’t explain at the time. Another way to begin is to make a list of things that have been a mystery to you. This is a chance to learn more about how things work.

While it would be best to come up with your own idea, here is a list of ideas that other elementary school kids have studied in the past:

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Physical Science

1. How does the size of a wheel affect how fast it rolls?2. How does tire pressure affect how far a bicycle will coast?3. How does road surface affect the stopping distance of your bicycle?4. How is the frequency of pendulum swings affected by the length of the

pendulum?5. What material conducts sound best: metal, water, wood?6. How does the shape of an object affect the time it takes to fall to the ground?7. How does the shape of an ice cube affect its melting time?8. How does the beginning temperature of water affect the time it takes to

freeze?9. How does the thickness of a liquid affect evaporation rate?10.Does wing shape affect flying distance of a paper airplane?11.How does structure affect bridge strength?12.Does size affect how long candles burn?13.How does wheel size affect the speed of a skateboard?14.How does the weight of a bat affect hitting distance?15.How is crystal growth affected by the absence of light?16.What form of yeast makes bread rise the fastest?17.How does change in temperature affect the bounce of a ball?18.Which fabrics absorb dye best: natural or manmade?19.How is water temperature affected by water depth?20.How does exposure to sunlight affect the size of an inflated balloon?21.How does wetting paper affect its strength?22.How is the amount of water a sponge absorbs affected by the temperature of

the liquid to be absorbed?23.How is the size of a baked cookie affected by substituting butter or margarine

for shortening in the recipe?24.What affects the strength of a magnet?25.How does surface texture affect the bounce of a ball?26.Which type of popcorn popper pops the most kernels?27.Does the color of a candle affect how much it melts?28.Do evaporation rates vary depending on the type of liquid or the type of

container?29.What method of popping (microwave, oven, stovetop, etc.) pops the most

popcorn?30.Does salt affect the freezing and boiling points of water?31.Comparisons of suspension bridges for stress or strength.32.Does solution concentration affect crystal formation?33.How are various terrains affected by erosion?34.Compare the various methods of using water to obtain power.35.Are some types of bridge construction better than others?36.What is the best way to control floods?37.Are some dyes more permanent than others?38.What causes fuses to blow circuits?

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39.What type of material would cause a parachute to fall fastest?40.Test the acidity of various types of soil.41.What is the best method of purification?42.Compare the acidity of home products.43.What type of soap cleans the best?44.Does size and shape affect how long candles burn?45. Is there a predictable manner in which numbers come up with dice.46. Is it possible to predict the direction of a resting pool ball hit by a moving pool

ball (Inertia)?47.How does gravity affect the bouncing of different sizes or weights of balls?48.Will the bounce of a ball change if it is heated/cooled?49.Which color absorbs more heat?50.How can levers and pulleys be used to do more work?51.How surface area affects the rate of evaporation?52.Do added chemicals affect the boiling/freezing point of water?53.What different materials conduct electricity best?54.Does temperature affect crystal growth?55.Do some foods contain more sugars than others?56.Which materials rust the quickest?57.What conditions are most favorable for promoting rust?58.What is the best method of preventing rust?59.What is the best angle for a solar collector?60.What materials are the best insulators?61.How does acid rain affect various car colors?62.Which fabrics absorb moisture fastest?63.How does the shape of a balloon affect the amount of air it holds?64.How does exposure to sunlight affect the size of an inflated balloon?65.How does exposure to changing temperature affect the weight of an inflated

balloon?66. In what way does the type of pan affect the length of time it takes to bring a

liquid to a boil?67.How does a length of wire in a circuit affect the brightness of the lights?68.What plowing patterns prevent erosion best?69.Which soil does water evaporate from slowest or quickest?70.Which are the fastest rollers: wheels, spheres, or cylinders?71.How does tire pressure affect how far your bicycle will coast?72.How does the outside color affect the inside temperature of a closed

container?73.What materials absorb the most solar energy: sand, water or oil?74.Do watches keep time the same?75.How can you measure the strength of a magnet?76.Does a bath use less water than a shower?77.Do wheels reduce friction?78.What holds two boards together better: a nail or a screw?79.Does a ball roll farther on grass or on dirt?80.Do all objects fall to the ground at the same speed?

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81.How far can a water balloon be tossed to someone before it breaks?82.Does the shape of a kite affect its flight?83.What gets warmer: sand or dirt?84.Using a lever, can one student lift a student who is bigger?85.Do suction cups stick equally well on different surfaces?86.Which way does the wind blow most frequently?87.Does the size of a light bulb affect its energy use?88.What keeps thing cooler: aluminum foil, plastic wrap or wax paper?89.Who can balance better on the balls of their feet: men or women?90.Does exercise increase heart rate?91.For how long can speech be transmitted through a tube?92.Do taller people run faster than shorter people?93.Does the length of a vibrating object affect sound?94.Does a baseball go farther if hit by a metal or a wooden bat?

Chemistry

1. How much salt does it take to float an egg?2. What kind of juice cleans pennies best?3. What kind of things do magnets attract?4. How long will it take a drop of food dye to color a glass of still water?5. Can you tell where sound comes from when you are blindfolded?6. Which materials absorb the most water?7. What materials dissolve in water?8. Will bananas brown faster on the counter or in the refrigerator?9. Can things be identified by just smell?10.Which dissolves better in water: salt or baking soda?11.Do different types of soil hold different amounts of water?12.Does water with salt boil faster than water without salt?13.Can you tell time without a watch or clock?14.Does an ice cube melt faster in air or in water?15.How much of an orange is liquid?16.Which liquid has the highest level of viscocity?17.Will more air in a basketball make the ball bounce higher?18.Does the color of light effect the growth of a plant?19.Does baking soda lower the temperature of water?20.Does the color of water affect its evaporation rate?21.Can you separate salt from water by freezing?22.Will water evaporate faster if it has salt in it?23.Do all colors fade at the same rate?24.Which metal conducts heat the best?25.Does the viscosity of a liquid effect the boiling point?26.What materials provide the best insulation?27.Do liquids cool as they evaporate?28.How is dissolving time affected by temperature of the liquid?29.How does the boiling time of water change when salt is added to it?

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30.Ph comparisons of shampoo, aspirin or antacids.31.Conductivity of various solutions and substances.32.Compare various samples of soil for nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH.33.Compare water from various sources for hardness.34.Compare the evaporation rate of tap water and salt water.35.Effect of salt on boiling point of water.36.What types of soils filter water the best?37.Which grows mold faster: moist or dry bread?38.Does sound travel best through water or air?39.Does the color of an object affect its ability to absorb heat?40.Do sugar crystals grow faster in tab water or distilled water?41.Can you see better if you limit the amount of light that gets to your eyes?42.What common liquids are acids, bases or neutrals?43.Can you identify dye colors by using chromatography?44.Can you light a light with a potato?

Biological Science

1. Do different types of apples have the same number of seeds?2. Can plants grow without soil?3. Do bigger seeds produce bigger plants?4. Does holding a mirror in front of a fish change what the fish does?5. Do mint leaves repel ants?6. Does the temperature affect the growth of a plant?7. Will adding bleach to the water of a plant reduce fungus growth?8. Does sugar prolong the freshness of a cut flower?9. How much weight can a growing plant lift?10.Do plants grow bigger in water or in soil?11.Can plants grow from leaves?12.Do living plants give off moisture?13.Does the direction in which you plant a seed effect its growth?14.What percentage of corn seeds will germinate?15.Does a plant grow better if given milk or water?16.What plant foods contain starch?17.What are the effects of chlorine on plant growth?18.Which cheese grows mold the fastest?19.Does a plant need some darkness to grow?20.Effects of acid rain on crops.21.What type of bread molds the quickest?22.How is mold growth affected by the amount of light?23.How is mold growth affected by the amount of moisture?24.What is the effect of colored light on the growth of plants?25.What is the effect of fertilizer on the growth of a radish plant?26.What is the effect of soap solution on the growth of a radish plant?27.How do root types affect erosion?28.Will salt affect the growth tolerance of plants?

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29.How does soil type affect plant growth?30.Does the use of insecticides affect the growth of plants?31.What is the effect of planting depth on the germination of seeds?32.Photosynthesis (can test many factors that affect photosynthesis, including

the effects of light, colored cellophane, amount of starch produced, etc.)33.Effects of various chemicals on the growth rate of plants (especially salt has

implications on the retrieval of farmland from the sea).34.Seed germination (how it is affected by temperature, depth of planting,

moisture, and fertilizer).35.Effects of soap solution on the germination of radish seeds.36.Directionality in mealworms.37.Effects of root types on erosion.38.Comparing food spoilage systems (Tupperware).39.Effects of temperature on mealworm production.40.What soil is best for a plant?41.Compare the amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates and minerals in various

foods.42.Comparisons of spoilage of foods under different conditions.43.How heat affects the growth of beans?44.How greenhouse temperatures affect radish growth?45.How is a plant affected by a deficiency of various nutrients?46.How does sodium chloride affect plant growth?47.Effects of temperature on bean seeds.48.Effects of light on plant growth.49.Hydroponics: Can a plant be grown without soil?50.Effects of sugar sweetener on plants.51.Effects of sunlight on seed germination.52.Effects of gravity on plants.53.What conditions affect algae growth?54.Do roots of a plant always grow downward?

Consumer Science

1. Which paper towel brand is strongest?2. Do paper towel brands differ in characteristics such as absorbency, strength,

etc.?3. What brand of diaper is the most absorbent?4. What type of battery is longest lasting?5. Which glue bonds the best?6. What type of stain remover works best?7. Which detergent works best?8. Which brand of bleach works best?9. Which paper plates will hold more weight without buckling?10.Which dish soap makes the most bubbles?11.What brand of raisin cereal has the most raisins?12.Which brand of chocolate chip cookie has the most chocolate chips?

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13.Which brand of popcorn pops the fastest?14.Which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels?15.Which dish soap has the longest lasting suds?16.Does hand sanitizer work as well as washing hands with soap?17.What light bulb is the brightest?

Avoiding Problems

Keep in mind the limitations of the science project. Ask yourself the following questions about your topic:

Are the materials you need affordable? Are the materials you need available?

Consider the expense and availability of materials that you need for your project. For instance, unless you have access to an X-ray machine, you don’t want to study how different materials affect the path of X rays.

Find out the limitations of the science fair itself. Ask your parents about any restrictions on qualified science projects.

How long will it take you to gather the necessary data? How much time do you have for data collection?

Be careful not to choose a topic that will take more time to investigate than you have to carry out the science project. For instance, you don’t want to study the growth of a plant that grows only 2 cm a month.

The Experiment – A guide to putting it together

As stated earlier, the Becky-David Science Fair will accept all types of projects. It is preferred that students attempt an experimental or investigative project that uses the Scientific Method. This section is written to guide parents and students through the experiment process.

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Before starting an experiment it is highly suggested that all projects have a research plan. A suggested Research Plan to complete prior to experimenting is include on pages 25 and 26 of this Help Guide. This form is not required, but included as a potential resource to use.

1. Title – The title should reflect the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variable.

2. Rational- The rationale states the reason for doing the experiment. It includes statistics or a real world example. The rationale should also define any scientific vocabulary necessary to understanding the project.

3. Hypothesis- A hypothesis is an “if – then” statement written in the third person. The hypothesis is an educated guess (based on research) that will answer your problem. It must be related to the experiment. It should include the independent variable and the dependent variable.

For example – If clear packing tape is placed in the freezer (0° C) and in the sun (35° C), then the tape in the freezer will be less adhesive when brought back to room temperature (21° C).

4. Problem Statement and Variables – This is what you want to investigate. It is stated as a question that identifies the independent variable and the dependent variable. It should directly relate to your hypothesis.

When testing your hypothesis, you’ll want to establish a control group and one or more experimental groups. The control group and the experimental groups are exactly the same except for one factor, which varies in the experimental groups. The factor that differs is called the variable. Because the variable is the only factor that differs between the control group and the experimental group, scientists know that this factor is responsible for the results of the experiment.

Your variables should be clearly defined. The independent variable is the one thing that is changed in the experiment. The dependent variable is what you can measure as the result of the independent variable.

For example: Problem Statement: How does the amount of water given affect the height of a plant?Independent variable: amount of water (milliliters)Dependent variable: height of plant (centimeters)(In this example, both variables are measured in metric units)

There Can Be Only One It is very important that you have only one variable. Otherwise you are not effectively testing your hypothesis. For instance, a test of the type of bridges’ strengths would be influenced by

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the materials from which the individual bridges were made, so all bridges in that experiment must be made of the same materials. All factors of the control group and the experimental group(s) must be exactly the same except for one variable.

5. Science Project Notes (background information/research) - When you do research, you want to find articles and books that can teach you something about the independent variable and dependent variable of your project. Learn about the topic so that you can make a hypothesis based on intelligent information. Your conclusion will have to relate to what you learn about the variables now and how they turn out in your experiment. Therefore, the research is the foundation of a good hypothesis and a meaningful conclusion.

List the bibliography of your sources and a minimum of 3 facts that you found in the resource that helps you understand your variables. Science project notes may be in the student’s own handwriting and put on the display board in a flipbook or included in the logbook. A flipbook can be fashioned with pronged brass paper fasteners or staples. Do not use clipboards or hooks.

6. Research Paper – Older students should write a short research paper to synthesize their project notes. The first paragraph should be the introduction to the topic. The body paragraphs support the introduction and the last paragraph is the conclusion of the report. Do not use the first person (I, we, my). The research paper may be typed or hand written and should be included in your logbook.

7. Materials List- The materials list should include all items used. We recommend measurements be reported in metric units. Go to the website listed below to convert English units of measurement to metric units of measurement.

http://www.sciencemadesimple.net/conversions.html

8. Procedure (experiment) - The procedures should be in logical steps that are numbered in a list, not in paragraph form. Remember that you can only test one independent variable at a time. All other possible variables in the experiment must be kept constant for each group tested. The group(s) that receives the independent (manipulated) variable may be referred to as the experimental group(s). If you use a control group for comparison, ensure that it does not receive the manipulated variable. The procedure should be a step-by-step description of how you did the experiment. The experiment should be easily understandable and repeatable using your steps.

The steps of the experiment should be written in the third person. All procedural steps begin with command verbs, such as mix, pour, cut, measure, mass.

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It should be written without pronouns using command words (cut, pour, measure, add, etc.).

Take pictures of your experiment and your results. Remember, you cannot have any faces in your photos . If you cannot take photos, then drawings or diagrams are very helpful. Consider using the Research Plan on pages 25 and 26 of this Help Guide to organize and set up your experiment. This should make it easier for you to write a step-by-step description of your procedure. Remember to be creative in your experimental design. Good experiments have at least three trials and use a sample control.

9. Types of Data – Data can take two different forms: data can be quantitative (a value that can be measured or counted) or qualitative (a value that can be described but cannot be measured or counted). Some projects maycombine both forms of data.

Quantitative Data: Count It Up – Quantity and quantitative have the same word root. Just remember that quantitative data have to do with numbers or quantities that you can measure. Examples of quantitative data are the number of bird chirps that you hear on a cold day or the width of a layer of rock in a cliff wall.

Qualitative Data: Spell It Out – The word quality is related to the word qualitative. Taking qualitative data means that you will be describing your observations with adjectives instead of numbers. Examples of qualitative data are descriptions of the color and shape of the rock in each layer of a cliff wall. Drawings and photographs are also qualitative data.

Whichever kind of data you have decided to collect, remember to write it down. Be certain to record all results of your tests in your science project journal. Recording everything as it happens not only will help you keep your information in one place but also will make it easier for you to avoid errors..

10. Sample Size and Multiple Trials – Test More Than One Subject. Sample size is the number of subjects you test. Your sample size must be large enough to allow you to draw accurate conclusions from your data.

For example, if you were comparing the differences in hand-eye coordination between 20-year-old and 40-year-old women, the data taken from just one woman in her 20s may not give you accurate results. She could be the fastest woman in the world! Testing only her, you would conclude—possibly incorrectly—that all women in their 20s are faster than all women in their 40s. If you tested several

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other women in their 20s and compared this data to the data taken from several 40-year-old women, you would have a more realistic picture of the actual trends among 40-year-olds and 20-year-olds.

Record in your journal the number of subjects that you tested. Also record any details that might affect your results. For instance, in the example above, you would record each subject’s age, sex, height, weight, the time of day the subject was tested, the number of times you tested each subject, etc.

Play It Again, Sam! When you are conducting an experiment, it is necessary to do multiple trials. This means you should perform each test several times. The minimum recommended number is 3 repetitions. For instance, if you are going to compare your body temperature in the morning with your body temperature in the evening as part of your project, make sure that you test your temperature on several days before you try to draw any conclusions. And if one day’s temperature differs wildly from the rest, you might consider that there was an error and try to figure out what went wrong.

11. Take Accurate Measurements – Scientists need to be as exact as possible in taking measurements. It’s almost impossible to measure something exactly, so scientists usually measure something more than once and then use the average of the results. This approach helps to account for the uncertainty of eachindividual measurement.

Always double-check the measurements you take before you record them in your journal. Measure carefully and make each measurement level. For instance, if your experiment requires the use of measuring spoons or cups, be consistent: don’t fill some of them so that they are heaping and others so that they are not quite full.

12. Data/Statistics – Keep a logbook with dates, notes, observations and measured data. Check your math for any errors. You must have your data in tables. All labels should be in metric when appropriate (For Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair Entrants – All measurements must be shown in metric units, English units of measurement are not allowed.) A helpful website for converting English units to metric units http://www.sciencemadesimple.net/conversions.html ). You should construct a data table before you experiment so that you have a place to record your observations neatly.

As you are collecting your data, you may want to keep in mind that you will be required to display your results and conclusions at the science fair. You can make it easy for people to understand the relationship between your variables by displaying your data in a chart or graph. It may be useful for you to make the first

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drafts of your graphs in your journal. This will let you decide the best way to illustrate your data before you make the final graphs for your display.

GUIDLEINES FOR CONSTRUCTING A DATA TABLEa. Label each table with a number and title.b. Include a column for each experimental and control group.c. Each column should have a heading with metric units if appropriate.d. All trials in each group should be shown.e. The average of the trials in each group should be calculated.

When choosing a graph, you must pick a graph appropriate for your data.

GUIDELINES FOR GRAPHINGa. When comparing two sets of numeric data (2 sets of numbers), you should

use a line graph to show the continuous change.b. When comparing a set of numbers and a category, you should use a bar

graph.c. If you have two sets of non-numeric data, you should use a pictograph.d. All labels on your graph should be metric when appropriate – distance,

temperature, mass/weight, volume, etc.e. All graphs should have a title that includes the independent and

dependent variables used in the project.f. The x-axis is the independent variable and the y-axis is the dependent

variable.

Bar GraphsUse a bar graph if you want to compare different types of data. In the case of a bar graph, each bar represents a group of data.

It is important to make it easy to identify each bar. For example, you could choose to use polka-dotted bars for one group of data and striped bars for another.

Every graph always needs a key so that people can easily tell what each color or pattern represents.

Make each key the same so that graphs are easy to compare. That way, if you had measured data on three different days, a person could quickly distinguish between the groups of data.

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Line GraphsUse a line graph if you want to show how the dependent variable is affected by changes in the independent variable or if you want to show how data change over time.

In a line graph, place the dependent variable on the vertical (upand- down) axis, or the y-axis. The independent variable should be on the horizontal (left-to-right) axis, or the x-axis.

Plot your data as carefully as possible. Then connect the points. If you decide to record the results of more than one experiment on one

line graph, you may choose to use a different color of ink for each set of points (and the connecting line). Be sure to include a key explaining the colors.

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Pie ChartsShowing percentages is easy to do with a pie chart, a round chart that looks like a sliced pie. You can quickly see which group has the biggest slice and therefore contains the most data.

The size of a group’s slice indicates the proportion of the whole that the group represents. Say you want to show that 30 percent of people in an experiment sneezed when exposed to a bright light and 70 percent of people didn’t sneeze. You would use 30 percent of the circle to represent the sneezers.

A circle has 360°, so you would multiply 0.30 by 360° to get the number of degrees that should be used to represent the sneezers.

0.30 x 360° = 108°

Using a protractor, you would measure out 108° of the circle for the sneezers. The other part of the pie chart (252°) would be reserved for the non-sneezers.

Make each section of the chart a different color and include a key or labels to make the graph easy to understand.

12. Analyzing Data- After you’ve gathered all of your data, you’ll want to analyze your results. In the analysis, ask yourself, “What are the data telling me? What trends do I see in my graphs? Are the data for the control group different than the data for the experimental group?” Write your analysis in your science project journal.

What Does It All Mean? If your results are mathematical, it will help you to understand the concepts of mean and median. Mean is the average of your data, and median is the middle-most value when all measurements are listed in order from smallest to largest. Two experiments may have the same average result but differ in how the results are distributed. Compare

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the means and medians and see how they differ. Ask your parents for help with mathematical concepts that you aren’t sure about.

12. Drawing Conclusions- The main question you should ask yourself when drawing a conclusion is, “Do my results agree with my hypothesis?” If they do, why do you think they do? If they don’t, how are they different? And, why do you think they differ? Remember that it is not important for the hypothesis to be correct. It is important, however, that you explain why you got the results you did. Write your conclusions in your science project journal. Be sure to mention in your conclusion what factors you believe contributed to your results. Then, briefly explain possibilities for new experiments that would control these factors. Also, mention any investigative questions that came up during the experiment. These questions will guide other researchers who find your results interesting and want to study the topic more.

Your conclusion should restate your hypothesis and then tell if the data collected in the experiment supports or rejects your hypothesis. A hypothesis will not be proven, true, right or wrong. You need to use the terms supports or rejects. You should then explain your results including what you have learned and what scientific concepts can be applied your data. You should also discuss any new ideas you have to improve your project. Further, include any mistakes or mishaps during the experiment, errors in data collection, etc. See this website to assist with writing the report http://www.scifair.org/articles/reports/reports.shtml .

13. Presentation Characteristics- A good project will have a creative approach to the experiment. It will be attractive and neat. It should include photographs, diagrams, and/or drawings to explain procedures and data. It should also include a logbook and your original data notes. Double-check your project for correct spelling and grammar. Your main title and major subtitles should be readable from a distance, and any other information can be smaller. If you use paper or plastic lettering or stencils, use a ruler to apply them in a straight line.

While you want your display to be as interesting as possible, the design should not distract from the content. Be creative with borders, font, and layout, but make sure that a reader would find it easy to read the information contained in the display. Illustrations should be informative, not just decorative. In your display, you want to impress the reader with the project’s seriousness yet be unique and have some fun.

14. The Logbook- This is like a scrapbook of your entire project. All of your original notes, report on you topic, pictures not included on the display showing the progress of the experiment, etc. Listed below is a suggested list of items that you might want to include. Ensure the logbook is titled the same as your display. Tab each item in the logbook and include a table of contents.

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a. Cover – with project titleb. Table of contents listing each item and lettered tab.c. Background report or research paper on the topicd. Experiment – List procedures, safety precautions taken and materials. Pictures taken during the experiment that are not on the display board can be included here.e. Data – Include your results from your observation and notesf. Charts and Graphs of your datag. Report – Addressing the problem statement and the conclusion h. Required Forms for the fairi. Miscellaneous – Receipts, etc

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RESEARCH PLAN

1. What are all of the materials available and how are they used?

2. Draw a picture of the materials as they will be used and label them.

3. How can these materials be changed and measured?

4. What results could be measured with these materials?

5. VARIABLES:Independent (I Change It)___________________________________Dependent (Watch and Measure)_______________________________Constant (Keep the Same)___________________________________ ___________________________________6. HYPOTHESIS: If the _____________________________increases,

then the _____________will (increase, decrease—circle one).

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7. RESULTS (data chart): Label the names of the variables and their units. Record the data.

Indep. VariableDep. Variable

Average

Trial #1 Trial #2 Trial #3

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Graph the Independent Variable on the horizontal axis & the Average of the Dependent Variable on the vertical axis.8. CONCLUSION: The data (does or does not—circle one) support the hypothesis. The results on the graph indicate that when ____________________increases, then ________________________will____________________. Possible sources of errors include:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.Future investigations indicated are________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.By performing this experiment, I have learned __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

9. TITLE OF MY EXPERIEMNT: How does ________________________ affect __________________________?

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Suggested Display Board Layout

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Title The Effect of the Independent

Variable on the Dependent Variable

Rationale

Problem Statement

Research Notes

(Flipbook)

Hypothesis(If….. then …)

Variables(Independent &

Dependent)

Material List(All items used and

measures in metric units)

Procedures(Numbered steps

followed during the experiment)

Photographs (no faces),Diagrams,

orDrawings

(include captions explain each)

Results: Data

Table(s)

Results: Graph(s)

Applications - Future Research

Logbook

Conclusion

Data Tables and Graphs

DATA CHARTWhat you

will changeX

(Independent Variable)

What you watch change

(Dependent Variable)

What you

graphY

AverageTrial #1

Trial #2

Trial #3

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Rotate the data chart one-quarter (1/4) turn

counterclockwise.

X Y

Y X

GRAPH GRAPH

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Independent Variable

Use ¾ of the area of the graph

Depe

nden

t Var

iabl

e

Label your axis, units

How to Cite Your Sources

Follow these examples for creating a Works Cited page:Book by one authorAuthor. (last name, first name) Title. (underlined) City: Publisher, Copyright date.

ExampleJackson, Louis. The Death Penalty. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1998.

Book with two (or more) authors*** If a book has more than one author, you cite them in the order they appear on the title page. For ONLY the first author, put last name, first name. After that, the names are cited with first name followed by last name. See the following example.

ExampleWeber, Valerie, and Beverly Crawford. Shopping in Grandma’s Day. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1999.

Book with no author (use editor’s name instead – this will be on the title page)Example

Barthon, Edward, ed. Steps to Training a Lizard. Chicago: Random Book, Inc., 2003.

Encyclopedia Article with an author (usually found at the end of the article)Author (last name, first name). “Title of article.” (inside quotation marks) Title of Encyclopedia. (underlined) Date of edition.

ExampleTempleton, Alan R. “Evolution.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2002 ed.

Encyclopedia Article without an author“Title of Article.” (inside quotation marks) Title of Encyclopedia. (underlined) Date of edition.

Example“The Holocaust.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 1986 ed.

Newspaper ArticleAuthor (last name, first name). “Title of Article.” Title of Newspaper Date, Edition: Page(s).

ExampleWalton, Sherri. “Bats in Our Community.” Chicago Tribune 12 Oct. 2004, late ed.: D3.

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Article in a magazineAuthor. (last name, first name) “Title of the Article.” Magazine name. (underlined) Date(of publication): pages.

ExampleBrown, Jim. “The Fun of Being Young.” Teen Magazine. 10 June 2003: 35-45.

Internet Remember that every piece of information will not appear on every site every time. Do your best to locate the information but if it is not there, you cannot cite it. Put as much information as you can. The most important information is the URL address and the date you were there!

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of site -webpage or description such as Homepage. (underlined) Date of last update. Organization associated with site.(underlined) Date of visit. <electronic address>.

ExampleSherman, Bobby. "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Lacrosse." Sports Online. 24 Aug. 2004. Irish Lacrosse Leagues of America. 4 Sept. 2004. http://ILLA.com

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Research Note Page

Bibliography (use proper citation):______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Notes from source:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Becky-David Science FairPROJECT SAFETY FORM

(Must be completed prior to starting experimental trials)

Student Name:_____________________________________Project Title:_______________________________________Grade:___ Teacher: _______________________________

For safety reasons, the following types of projects are not allowed: Pathogenic microorganisms, fresh animal tissues or body fluids Vertebrate Animals Radioactive substances or radiation producing equipment Controlled substances including tobacco products, alcohol, etc. Potentially hazardous equipment Firearms or other weapons

My project will involve (check one):

___Human Subjects

___Biological agents (yeasts, molds, etc.)

___Chemicals

___None of these

For projects that involve human subjects, biological agents or chemicals, attach another sheet of paper to identify the health and safety risks associated with the project and the measures taken to minimize these risks.

Projects that involve human subjects must meet the guidelines listed on the back of this form.

Parental Consent:

I certify my child’s science fair project will meet the safety requirements listed above and those listed within the Becky-David Science Fair Help Guide.

_______________________________ ___________Parent/Guardian Signature Date

HUMAN SUBJECT INVOLVEMENT

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The use of human subjects in science projects (including those at the elementary school level) are governed by the Code of Federal Regulations (45 CFR 46). The definition of a human subject is a living individual about whom an investigator conducting research obtains (1) data or samples through intervention or interaction with individual(s), or (2) identifiable private information.

The following types of projects are allowed without further approval by the Science Fair Committee:

Behavioral observations of unrestricted, public settings (e.g., shopping mall, public park) in which ALL of the following apply:

a) the researcher has no interaction with the individuals being observed

b) the researcher does not manipulate the environment in any way and

c) the researcher does not record any personally identifiable data.

Data/record review studies (e.g., baseball statistics, crime statistics) in which the data are taken from preexisting data sets that are publicly available or published and do not involve any interaction with human subjects.

Research on individual or group behavior or characteristics of individuals where the researcher does not manipulate the subjects’ behavior and the study does not involve more than minimal risk.

Surveys, questionnaires, or activities that involve perception, cognition, or game theory and do NOT involve gathering personal information, invasion of privacy or potential for emotional distress.

Studies involving physical activity where no more than minimal risk exists and where the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater than those ordinarily encountered in DAILY LIFE or during performance of routine physical activities.

Projects involving human subjects that DO NOT meet the above criteria are not appropriate for the Becky-David Science Fair.

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Becky-David Science FairENTRY FORM

Student Name:_____________________________________

Project Title:_______________________________________

Grade:___ Teacher: _______________________________

Feedback I want to receive feedback on my Science Fair Project.

I DO NOT want to receive feedback on my Science Fair Project.

Awards Night I plan to attend the Becky-David Science Fair Awards Night on

Monday, May 21, 2012 @ 6:30 pm in the School Library

I CAN NOT attend the Science Fair Awards Night

Regional Science Fair I submitted my project to the Missouri Tri-County Regional

Science and Engineering Fair (Please indicate if you won a prize at the Regional Fair).

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Regional Science Fair

The Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair will be held at St. Charles Community College on Saturday on Saturday, February 25, 2012. All those that are interested in participating may do so. A separate Information Packet from the Regional Fair Committee is available to those interested, which includes the specific rules and requirements for this fair. Additional information (including an electronic copy of their Rules and Forms packet) about the Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair is available on their website: http://www.mtrsef.110mb.com/

A new registration process for the Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair is being initiated this year. Registration will be on-line as entered by each school’s representative. Mike Nohara-LeClair is this year’s Regional Science Fair representative for Becky-David. Please contact Mr. Nohara-LeClair prior to February 13th to indicate you wish to participate in this year’s Regional Science Fair and he will work through the registration process with you.

The most notable requirement for the Missouri Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair is the size restrictions for the project display:

56 cm ( 22 inches) from side to side 60 cm (23.6 inches) from front to back 90 cm (35.4 inches) tall

Science Fair Committee Contact Information

ChairpersonMike Nohara-LeClair75 Sandy Ridge CtSt. Charles, MO 63303636-447-3760 (home)314-982-1112 (work)636-578-1468 (cell)mnohara@burnsmcd.com

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