This document describes how detailed and complete each section of your science fair display should be. Your PowerPoint should have the following sections/headings:

Question, Hypothesis, Variables, Controls, Materials, Procedure, Data Table and/or Observations, Graph, Results, and Conclusion. These headings should all be the same format, size, and font as each other. They should be consistent throughout your project. They should be easy to see and read and should clearly distinguish the different sections of your presentation. Your slide-show will go in this order of the headings listed above.

TITLE

Each presentation should have a title. Your title should NOT be a complete sentence, rather, a short phrase or word that is related to your project. Be creative with your title. Remember, as in book titles, your title should have the appropriate words capitalized.

The title of your project should be the first slide of your PowerPoint. You should also include your first name as sub-heading on the title slide. Example “By: Jessica”. (Do not use your last name, as I would like to post these to our website). Most formats have this sub-heading textbox built into the slide.

PowerPoint Title Slide Example

1st Heading: QUESTION

This will be your 2nd slide in the presentation. For this section, include the heading “Question” and then simply write your question. It is important that the first letter of each heading is capitalized. Include a graphic in this slide that corresponds to your question. For example, a graphic of a question mark or a picture of something that is included in your question. The text of this section will simply be your question. Simply write out the question you have investigated. Use the final set of feedback from the paper you handed in entitled, “Final Submission of Question, Hypothesis, and Variables” as a reference. Example of PowerPoint Question Slide

2nd Heading: HYPOTHESIS

This will be the 3rd slide in your presentation. Your heading for this slide is “Hypothesis”. It is important that the first letter of each heading is capitalized. Include a graphic in this slide that corresponds to your hypothesis. For example, a graphic of a light bulb or a picture of something that is included in your hypothesis. The text of this section will simply be your hypothesis.

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Again, use the feedback you received on the paper you handed in entitled, “Final Submission of Question, Hypothesis, and Variables”. Remember, a hypothesis is a statement of what you predict the outcome of your experiment will be: in other words, the answer to your question. It is not an explanation as to WHY you think the outcome will be such. You will save the WHY for your conclusion. Be sure to use proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar. For this section, include the heading, “Hypothesis” and then simply state your hypothesis.

3rd Heading: VARIABLES

Since there are two categories of variables in your experiment, you will have two different slides for your variables. Slides 4 and 5. “Variables will be the main heading for each slide, but you will have the following subheadings (one for each slide): Independent Variable, and Dependent Variable. You should include a related graphic if possible. See examples provided. Your variables should be written in a complete sentence as shown.

Independent Variable – Your independent variable should have the subheading “Independent Variable” and then a sentence beginning with “The independent variable in my experiment is . . “ Complete this sentence with what your independent variable is.

Dependent variables - Your dependent variable should have the subheading “Dependent Variable” and then a sentence beginning with “The dependent variable in my experiment is . . “ Complete this sentence with what your dependent variable is

Again, use the feedback you received on the paper you handed in entitled, “Final Submission of Question, Hypothesis, and Variables” to write each part.

4th Heading: CONTROLS

The 6th slide in your Power Point will have the heading, “Controls”. Controls are the things that stay constant in your experiment. On this slide you should have a bulleted list of all the controls you will use for the experiment. You should capitalize the first letter of the first word for each point in your list of constants. Your list does NOT need to be in complete sentences, but in short phrases. Remember to list everything you will keep constant when testing each independent variable.

5th Heading: MATERIALS

Your 7th slide will be a bulleted list of your materials. The heading on this page should be “Materials”. As in the example to the right, make sure your quantity numbers are evenly spaced from each item so a clear column of “white space” is seen which separates the two parts. This will keep any numbers from blending together and confusing someone. Create a complete list of materials a person would need to complete the full experiment one time. Be sure to use the same type of bullet as you did to list your controls. For each material, you should state the quantity needed of that item and a complete description of the item, including the brand if necessary. The description should be detailed enough for someone else to know exactly what to get. Please also remember that you write the amount of materials needed to perform one trial of all your independent variables. When you purchase your materials, you will buy 3x the amount you

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have listed because you will perform your experiment 3x in order to get accurate data. Make the heading, “Materials” and then post a bulleted list of your materials according to the directions above.

6th Heading: PROCEDURE

The 8th slide in your PowerPoint will have the heading “Procedure”. Make the heading, “Procedure” and then post a numbered list of all the steps a person would have to go through if they were going to repeat your experiment. Don’t assume someone will know what to do unless you write it down. The first word of each step should be a verb and should be capitalized. If you have many steps, use multiple slides for this part. Note: Don’t let PowerPoint shrink your font size in order to fit all steps onto one page. Once you notice PowerPoint trying to change your font size, begin a new slide and title it “Procedures Continued” as in the example here.

7th /8th Headings: DATA TABLE and/or OBSERVATIONS

Everyone will have a different looking data table depending on your hypothesis and the experimental design you chose. For some of you, you won’t be able to make a data table, but will have a collection of observations instead. Some of you may have both. At the very minimum, you must have one or the other. Not having a data table is VERY rare, but is appropriate for certain questions. Please check with me if you areunsure what you should have.

The heading for this part will be either “Data Table” and/or “Observations”. If you have both types of information, include a heading for both on separate slides. Everyone’s data table will be different depending on what data is needed to answer your question. You may be recording heights, times, amounts, etc. or you may have data that is made of sketches or photos of your observations over time. This packet includes several examples of data tables. Please consult me if you are unsure which type best suits your experiment. Most data tables should be typed or of a digital nature; however, there are special circumstances where this may not be ideal. Data tables that require sketches or photos do not need to be typed, but should be uploaded digitally into your project.

You should create your data table BEFORE you conduct your experiment so you have a place to record your data during the process. Take time to think through what type of data you need to collect. You will need to have column headings (capitalized appropriately) and unit labels for any measurements.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 and beyond has a feature which allows you to create a table right in the PowerPoint slide. Another option is to create one in Microsoft Word, save it as a .pdf file and paste it into your slide as an image.

Data Tables: Sample Ideas

Idea #1: Use this type if you are collecting data over time and using multiple test subjects

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Question: Do worms affect height of plant growth?Independent Variable: The independent variable is the presence of worms.Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is the height of plants.

Day Height of Plants Without Worms (cm)

Height of Plants With Worms (cm)

Plant 1 Plant 2 Plant 3 Average Plant 1 Plant 2 Plant 3 Average

1

2

3

Idea #2: Use this format if you are testing three or more different brands of your independent variable

Question: Which brand of popcorn leaves the most unpopped kernels: Orville Redenbocker, Trail’s End (Boy Scout), or Meijer?Independent Variable: The independent variable is the brand of popcorn.Dependent Variable: The dependent variable is the number of kernels left unpopped.

Independent Variable:Brand of Popcorn

Dependent Variable:Number of Kernels Left Unpopped

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average

Orville Redenbocker

Trail’s End

Meijer

More trials may be added. Three is the MINIMUM for your experiment Notice the bolding to make certain items stand out. Notice the alignment of

cells, some centered, some left-aligned. Bold and align according to whatever looks neat, professional, and appropriate.

Science Journal:

In addition to your data table, you may also wish to keep a science journal. You are NOT required to keep a journal, however, you may find it helpful when it comes to writing your conclusion, especially if you are recording how something has changed over time; like the example of growing plants with/without worms. A science journal is a record of your observations. You can keep a hand-written journal, or a digital one. A science journal should include:

The date the observation was taken and perhaps the time A sketch of the observation or a digital photo. Label the parts of the

sketch/photo Notes about what you are seeing. Color, movement, temperature, size, etc. Comments about changes you are noticing from the previous observation

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Instructions for Creating a Data Table Using Microsoft Word

Tip: It is helpful to sketch the table you want to draw before you create it on the computer. This provides a visual for determining the number of columns and rows you want, and where you may want to split cells.

Microsoft Word 2003

1. Place curser on page and click where you want your table to appear2. Click on “Table” from the menu bar3. Place your curser over “Insert” and arrow over to “Table”. Click on “Table”4. Enter the number of columns (up and down) and rows (across) and click “OK”5. Type your headings and data in the appropriate cells6. To split cells, select the cells you want to split.7. Click on “Table” from the menu bar and then click on “Spilt Cells”8. Uncheck the “Merge Cells Before Split” box, choose the number of columns you want and then click “OK”

Microsoft Word 2007

1. Place curser on page and click where you want your table to appear2. Click on the “Insert” Tab3. Click on “Table”. Use the custom grid that show up to select the number of rows and columns. 4. Left click on the grid once you have selected the number of rows and columns. This will automatically send this size table to

your page5. Type your headings and data in appropriate cells6. To split cells, select the cells you want to split7. Once you have created a table, an “upper level” tab will appear above the original row of tabs. Click on the one that says

“Layout”8. Click on “Split Cells”9. Uncheck the “Merge Cells Before Split” box, choose the number of columns you want and then click “OK”

8th or 9th Heading: RESULTS (if you had observations as a heading this will be your 9th)

Your heading for this section will be “Results”. The results section is simply a paragraph which states your results from your data table in writing rather than in just numbers. The sentences in your results paragraph are only statements explaining WHAT your results were. There is NO WHY or explanations given as to why you think you got these results. There is NO relating your results to the hypothesis. For this paragraph, you simply state the facts. You may make some general comparisons in your results, but be careful to not provide any justification for your results or draw any conclusions in this portion of the scientific method. Your results should also follow a logical sequence, beginning with your first data and ending with the last. You are basically putting your data table into written form.

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9th or 10th Heading: GRAPH

The next slide is the graph of your results. The only data from your data table you will graph are your averages. The graph organizes a summary of your data in a visual representation that is easier for people to understand than your data table. A graph will also help you in your efforts to analyze your data to formulate a conclusion.

As with your data table, your graph must also be computer generated. I recommend using Microsoft Excel for this part. Be sure to include a main heading/title for your graph, axis headings/titles, units of measurement for each axis, and a key/legend if appropriate. You may choose any style of graph to convey your results (line, bar, pie, etc.) A pie chart needs to be used if you are representing your data in percentages. Feel free to include several types of graphs to give readers multiple avenues of looking at the data.

A video tutorial series for how to create a graph in Microsoft Excel 2007 is provided on our science fair website: http://sci78.weebly.com/science-fair.html It is near the bottom of the page.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 has a feature which automatically opens up Excel for you to easily embed an Excel graph into your PowerPoint. Choose a layout for this slide that has a spot for a title and a large image (the one with 6 icons in the middle.) Click the icon that is a 3-column bar graph. When you roll your mouse over it, it reads “Insert Chart”. By clicking this, you will be walked through the steps of automatically embedding an Excel graph into your PowerPoint. Watching the Excel tutorials on our science website to help you understand how Excel works will be helpful to help you understand what is going on as PowerPoint leads you through making a graph. You may also make a graph in Excel, take a screen shot of it, and then paste it into your slide. Downloading “Jing” at http://www.techsmith.com/Jing/?gclid=CNm3-_zeiKcCFUS5Kgod6zajfA gives you a free screenshot feature. Jing is free and easy. I also used it to make the Excel tutorial videos. You can use Jing in many ways.

Example of Graph:

Data Entered

0.5 0.75

1.2 1.4

2.4 2.6

3 3.2

3.25 3.5

3.5 4

4 4.5

4.2 5.2

4.7 5.5

5 6

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How Worms Affect Plant Height

0

1

23

4

56

7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Day

Heig

ht o

f Pla

nt (c

m)

Plants WithoutWorms

Plants With Worms

10th or 11th Heading: CONCLUSION

The heading of these slides is “Conclusion”. This may take several slides. The heading of each additional slide should be “Conclusion Continued.” Be sure to add a new slide when you run out of room and keep your font size the same as the rest of your PowerPoint for all these slides. The conclusion is the final step of the scientific method (besides sharing your work with others). The conclusion is the part of the project where you make sense of what you learned. It is also where you can explain WHY you think as you do. You will also use data to support your reasoning.

This portion will be a 2-4 paragraph typed essay addressing the items in points 1 – 6 below. These are not broken down by paragraph. You may structure your paragraphs however you think makes the most sense. This is just outlining the logical flow of information you will want to analyze and report. Compare your conclusion to the rubric. Be sure you include all parts from the rubric. The conclusion is the section worth the most points in your project as it is the “meat” of what you have learned. As with everything, proper spelling, capitalization, and punctuation is expected.

1. Restate your question. Restate your hypothesis and then why you thought this would be the answer to your question. You may site prior knowledge or other research that lead you to think this way.

2. Next, tell whether you accept or reject your hypothesis. Whether you accept or reject your hypothesis should be based upon your data. You should give examples from your data as you explain why you accept or reject your hypothesis. If you accept your hypothesis, you are saying, based upon your data, your hypothesis is true. If you reject your hypothesis, you are saying, based upon your data, your hypothesis was incorrect. If you reject your hypothesis you should suggest a new hypothesis. Using data to support or reject your hypothesis is the key point here.

3. Discuss the accuracy of your results. Do you think your results are accurate? Why or why not? Was there anything that went wrong in your experimentation, such as something you failed to keep constant, or lack of attentiveness, failure to record data one day, improper technique, etc. that could contribute to your results not being as accurate as they should be? If so, state this and how you think it could have impacted your results. If you think your results are accurate, explain why you believe they are accurate. You can site examples here such as good technique, strict attention to your constants, etc.

4. If you were to ever repeat this experiment, is there anything you would do differently? What and why? Reflect upon any complications you had. Also discuss if this experiment leads you to further questions you would like to investigate.

5. What kind of summary can you draw from your data? In other words, a re-stated answer to your question.

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6. How can what you’ve learned be applied to help others in a real-world context? Describe how this new-found knowledge can be used to inform others when making decisions about what products to buy or how it can be used to better our world in some way. This is a critical area of your conclusion. Scientific investigations must help the general public in some way, as ultimately, it is tax dollars that funds research endeavors! (Please note that the Power Point example included here does NOT have a good real-world application imbedded in the content.) The example below is a little better in this area, but could still be stronger.

Example of Conclusion:

Do worms affect height of plant growth? I hypothesized that the presence of worms will make plants grow taller than plants grown in soil without worms. I thought this because I know gardeners add worms to their soil. It would not be logical for gardeners to pay to add worms to their soil if there was no benefit to the plant. I was curious to know if worms aided in the growth of plants. According to my data, I accept my hypothesis. My results consistently showed that the three plants grown in soil with worms added grew taller than the plants grown in soil with no worms added. For example, on the very first day, the average height of the plants grown in soil with worms was 0.25 cm taller than the average height of the plants grown in soil without worms. By the end of my experiment, the tenth day, the plants grown in soil with worms were a full centimeter taller than the plants grown in soil with no worms.

I can accept my hypothesis because I believe my results were very accurate. I was careful to ensure all my constants were equal. I measured the amount of soil very carefully for each pot. For the pots with worms, I chose worms that were the same size and heartiness. All pots received the same amount of sunlight, which is a factor in plant growth. I measured four tablespoons of water each day for each plant. I poured the water on the same part of the soil, directly over the sprout. I was very meticulous when measuring the height of each plant, recording the height to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. The only difference among my plants was the presence or absence of worms.

If I were to ever repeat my experiment, I would use more plants for each independent variable to increase the accuracy of my results, and see if my hypothesis would prove to be correct in a larger test sample. I may also try this same experiment and substitute the kind of plant to see if worms make plants of a different species grow taller. I may also put a wire mesh over the surface of each pot to ensure no worms escape. This is something I cannot verify for this experiment. I just assume all worms are still in the pot they were placed in.

In summary, I can conclude that the presence of worms does affect the height of a plant’s growth. Plants grown with worms grow between 0.20 and 1 cm taller than plants grown in soil without worms. This difference may not be significant enough, however, to warrant the purchase of worms for your garden. A more expensive, and perhaps effective, growth stimulant may be fertilizer.

For more student examples of projects and conclusions visit: http://sci78.weebly.com/science-fair.html The more you familiarize yourself with quality work, the better your project will be! Good luck!

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