SCIENCE FAIR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED FOR EVERY STUDENT IN THE 5TH
GRADE! PLEASE VISIT THIS PAGE TO SEE WHAT PART YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE WORKING
ON EACH WEEK. A HOMEWORK GRADE IN SCIENCE WILL BE TAKEN EVERY TUESDAY OF
EACH WEEK IN SCIENCE. PLEASE SEE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR SPECIFIC HOMEWORK
GRADE INFORMATION.
A. WEEK OF DEC 7 - 11, 2009 HOMEWORK FOR INDIVDIUAL PROJECTS:
Monday - Finish (#'s 5 & 6) Variables & Procedures to be checked in class
tomrorrow.
* There are 3 different types of variables to any science fair experiment
that must be definied before beginning your experiment so that you know
exactly what you are testing in your experiment. The independent variable
is the one thing in your experiment that you are testing - its the item that
you are measuring different amounts for or comparing in your experiment -
there can ONLY BE ONE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE. The dependent variable is the
one thing that will change in your experiment as a result of the independent
variable being tested - THERE IS USUALLY ONLY ONE DEPENDENT VARIABLE. Then
there are the control variables - these are all of the things in your
experiment that you will keep the same - like the same amount of time,
measure the same amount of liquid, etc...
* Procedural steps must be very specific and must list exactly what you are
going to do when you conduct your experiment. You MUST use sequence words
when writing your procedures and you must be very specific so that who ever
reads your procedures knows exactly what you did in your experiment and so
that the person reading your procedures can recreate the same exact
experiment that you conducted just from reading your procedures if they
would like to - this is how specific and detailed your procedures must be.
Tuesday - Begin collecting all materials needed to conduct your individual
experiment.
Wednesday - Set-up experiment and begin conducting your experiment (start #7
in your science fair planning packet)
Thursday - Continue conducting your experiment through trials (at least 3)
or through data collection over time (at least 2-3 weeks)
Friday - Continue conducting your experiment and collecting data tonight,
next week, and through the Christmas holiday break. Mrs. Catz will check
that your have conducted all 3 trials or data collection over 2-3 weeks when
we return from break on Tuesday, January 5th. (So #7 in the science fair
planning packet needs to be completed by Jan 5th).
B. WEEK OF NOV 30 - DEC 4, 2009 HOMEWORK FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS:
Monday - Finish Research & Hypothesis - due for a homework grade tomorrow
(12/1)
* Each student must have 3 different sources for their research. They can
look online or in a book. They must write down some key information - at
least one-two sentences of key information from each source and list the
title or website they found their information from for all 3. For
example: "Both vinegar and baking soda are acidic materials." -
www.wikipedia.com
* A hypothesis is a prediction of what each student thinks will happen when
they conduct their experiment. They must also base their hypothesis or
reason for why they predicted the way they did on the key (most
important) research information they listed under the research section.
Tuesday - Research & Hypothesis (#'s 3 - 4) are due for a homework grade in
science. Begin working on your variables (#5) tonight.
* There are 3 different types of variables to any science fair experiment
that must be definied before beginning your experiment so that you know
exactly what you are testing in your experiment. The independent variable
is the one thing in your experiment that you are testing - its the item that
you are measuring different amounts for or comparing in your experiment -
there can ONLY BE ONE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE. The dependent variable is the
one thing that will change in your experiment as a result of the independent
variable being tested - THERE IS USUALLY ONLY ONE DEPENDENT VARIABLE. Then
there are the control variables - these are all of the things in your
experiment that you will keep the same - like the same amount of time,
measure the same amount of liquid, etc...
Wednesday - Finish working on your variables (#5) tonight and start working
on listing all the materials (#6) you will use when you conduct your
individual experiment.
Thursday - Continue working on listing your materials (#6) and writing out
your procedures.
* Procedural steps must be very specific and must list exactly what you are
going to do when you conduct your experiment. You MUST use sequence words
when writing your procedures and you must be very specific so that who ever
reads your procedures knows exactly what you did in your experiment and so
that the person reading your procedures can recreate the same exact
experiment that you conducted just from reading your procedures if they
would like to - this is how specific and detailed your procedures must be.
Friday - Continue working on your procedures. Variables (#5) & Procedure
(#6) are due for a homework grade next Tuesday.
B. WEEK OF NOV 16 - 20, 2009 HOMEWORK FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS:
THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK IS DUE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH & NEXT MONDAY, NOVEMBER
23RD
Monday – Work on your title, topic, and purpose.
* A topic for a science fair project is the science concept that your
question is related to. For example in our class project we are trying to
figure out the following question: Does the level of acid within
vinegar effect the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs within a balloon
when vinegar is mixed with the same amount of baking soda? So our topic
would be Chemical Reactions because that is the concept or topic in science
that our question is related to. Our class can also put down that Chemical
Reactions is a part of Chemistry so our overall concept or topic within
science is Chemistry.
* A title can be any thing fun or interesting that catches a reader's
attention. You want it to be inviting so that people that pass by your
project when it is finally displayed at the science fair want to stop and
read it.
* The purpose within a science fair experiment is the goal or what you want
to learn from exploring the science fair question you picked. For example
with our class science fair project our question is: Does the level of acid
within vinegar effect the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs within a
balloon when vinegar is mixed with the same amount of baking soda? So our
purpose that is related to our question would be: To see if the level of
acid within different types of vinegar will effect how large a rubber
balloon can get when added to the same amount of baking soda. So the purpose
is directly related to the question - it is just rewritten in a way that is
in the form of a statement or sentence.
Tuesday – Continue working on your title, topic, and purpose.
Wednesday – Title, topic, and purpose are due for your individual project on
your science fair planning packet - rough draft for a homework grade today.
Thursday – Begin working on researching your topic and question.
* Research your topic and the different items you are using in your
experiment. Find out information on these items so that you can make a
better prediction or hypothesis later as to what you believe will happen and
why you think so. You can research using the internet (make sure it is a
good source - we will discuss this in class), books from the library, etc...
Friday - Continue working on researching your question and topic for your
individual science fair project to be checked off for a homework grade in
science on Monday, November 23rd
C. WEEK OF NOV 9 - 16, 2009 HOMEWORK FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS:
THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK IS DUE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH.
Monday – Begin Looking for a Question
Tuesday – Pick one of the questions Mrs. Catz sent home tonight and/or find
a question online and write your question down in your science fair planning
packet to be checked off on Thursday.
Wednesday – No School – (See Tuesday’s Homework)
Thursday – Now that you have picked your question, come up with your title,
topic, and purpose.
* A topic for a science fair project is the science concept that your
question is related to. For example in our class project we are trying to
figure out the following question: Does the level of acid within
vinegar effect the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs within a balloon
when vinegar is mixed with the same amount of baking soda? So our topic
would be Chemical Reactions because that is the concept or topic in science
that our question is related to. Our class can also put down that Chemical
Reactions is a part of Chemistry so our overall concept or topic within
science is Chemistry.
* A title can be any thing fun or interesting that catches a reader's
attention. You want it to be inviting so that people that pass by your
project when it is finally displayed at the science fair want to stop and
read it.
* The purpose within a science fair experiment is the goal or what you want
to learn from exploring the science fair question you picked. For example
with our class science fair project our question is: Does the level of acid
within vinegar effect the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs within a
balloon when vinegar is mixed with the same amount of baking soda? So our
purpose that is related to our question would be: To see if the level of
acid within different types of vinegar will effect how large a rubber
balloon can get when added to the same amount of baking soda. So the purpose
is directly related to the question - it is just rewritten in a way that is
in the form of a statement or sentence.
Friday - Continue working on your title, topic and purpose and record all on
your science fair planning packet to be checked off for a homework grade in
science on Tuesday, November 17th
B. GENERAL INFORMATION (this is the same information as sent home in the
Science Fair Student Information Packet before Spring Break)
* Science Fair Requirements:
~1. No projects will be accepted late! Due date is Wednesday, January 27,
2010. Please turn in your project by 3:15 p.m. on the cafeteria stage.
* NOTE: Our class individual projects for every student are due in class on
Monday, January 25th prior to the fair for a project/quiz grade for our
overall final project that should be on a display board.
~2. The science fair will be judged on Thursday, January 28, 2010
~3. Science Night will be Thursday, January 28th at 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
in the school cafeteria. All student science fair projects will be on
display and you can come view your child’s science fair project and see any
awards that their project may have received.
~4. Students and parents may pick up their project at the end of Science
Night on Thursday, January 28th.
~5. Please see the evaluation criteria in this packet that judges will use
on each science fair project to determine the awards 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and
honorable mention in each grade level and overall best in show.
* Science Fair Guidelines (Project Rules & Materials NOT Allowed to Use)
Ø Backgrounds must be used to display a students science project
Ø Each student must do an experiment using the scientific method
Ø The background must be set-up using the directions given
Ø No animal parts or tissue can be in your display
Ø No photographs of dissections or animals parts can be on display
Ø No waste samples of any kind can be used
Ø No materials or substances with mold are permitted
Ø All liquids must be in a closed container, including water
Ø No flames of any kind can be part of your display
Ø All wiring, switches, and connections must be insulated
Ø No dangerous chemicals can be part of your display
Ø No syringes, pipettes, etc. can be on your display
Ø No lasers can be operated
Ø No dry ice or other sublimating solids can be used
* Please note that an experiment (science fair project) that does NOT meet
these guidelines will be automatically disqualified from entering the
science fair.
* Project Display Checklist
Students should start planning their displays as soon as they begin their
projects. Some of the items that should be on display are:
1. Title & Topic (as the header at the top of the display board)
2. Question, Statement of Purpose, & Research
3. Variables (the materials that are controlled within the experiment)
4. Hypothesis (predict the answer to the problem)
5. Materials (used during the experiment)
6. Procedures (steps taken during the experiment)
7. Data/Observation (record what happened during the experiment)
8. Application and Conclusion (Was your hypothesis correct?)
9. Abstract (summary of your science project)
10. Resources (any references you used)
11. Any pictures taken/materials used during the experiment
12. Charts, graphs, tables, or other visual aids
C. SCIENCE FAIR VOCABULARY:
- topic
- question
- purpose
- title
- research
- scientific method
- abstract
- application
- conclusion
- control group
- hypothesis (prediction)
- procedures
- variables
- predict
- observe
- explain
