November 14, 2007

 

 

           

During the next several months all sixth grade students will be creating a Science Fair Project for the Science Fair, April 23, 2008. Some time will be provided to work on the project during school. The majority of this project will be done at home. Many of the experiments will take considerable time to set up, observe, and record. The topic is due on DECEMBER 14^th . The research is due on JANUARY 15^th . The hypothesis is due on JANUARY 30^th.

            Enclose is a copy of the requirements for the project, a sample project, and a scoring rubric. It is your child’s responsibility to complete the project requirements and have the project and materials in school on April 23, 2008. The will need to be able to set up their project on display in the gym. A tv/vcr/dvd can be provided. The project can NOT be turned in early as I do not have the space for 120 projects in my room. I need to wait for gym availability. I recommend a Science Fair folder to keep all work and research in. Failure to complete a science fair project may result in a failing grade for the fourth quarter.

            Students will only be given one copy of the requirements. A copy can be reprinted from the website http://teacherweb.com/PA/PantherValleyMiddleSchool/grade6/    by clicking on the science fair icon.

            Please sign and return this page by Tuesday, November 20^th to let me know that you are aware of the project and you understand the requirements. If you have any further questions, please call 645-2175 or email me at mcbrides@cliu.org . Thank you for your continued assistance with the education of your child.

 

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Mrs. McBride

 

_____________________________________                      _________________________________

Parent/ guardian signature                                                      STUDENT signature

 

 6^th Grade Science Fair Project

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The students will create a science fair project (hypothesis) using the Scientific Method. They will choose their own topic, do the research, form a hypothesis, perform an experiment, record data, and draw a conclusion on that topic. They will present the information at the science fair on April 23, 2008.

 

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS:

           

1.      Choose a topic: Figure out what you want to learn. The students will pick a topic and get it approved by their science teacher by DECEMBER 14^th. If they need help finding a topic they may stay after school with their science teacher and work on it by appointment. The topic can be science or health related.

2.      Research the topic- The students will have to research their topic in order to find information to form a hypothesis with. This information can be photo copied or printed from the internet with the source list on the paper. They will highlight or underline what they are using to form their hypothesis. This information will be shown to their science teacher by JANUARY 15^th.

3.      Hypothesis- The students will state an idea they plan to try and prove or disprove through experimentation. They may find their hypothesis is incorrect after experimenting. This is OK. This means that the opposite of their hypothesis was true and they learned something. The hypothesis is due by JANUARY 30^th.

4.      Experiment- The students will perform experiments to test their hypothesis. The experiment should either be photographed, video taped, or able to be brought to school for display.

5.      Observe/ Analyze/ Record- The students must record the data collected. This may mean and daily or weekly log of information. This work will be turned in with the final project.

6.      Conclusion- Was the hypothesis correct or incorrect? What did you find out? The students will write a conclusion based on their hypothesis and what they learned. This and the rest of the information is due on APRIL 23^rd.

 

Websites with science fair ideas

Great sites

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

http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral

good sites

http://www.ipl.org/div/projectguide

http://www.juliantrubin.com/fairprojects.html

http://www.homeworkspot.com/sciencefair/

 

Example Project:

 

1.      Topic- Why is the Statue of Liberty green?

2.      Research- I would look up information on the Statue of Liberty such as: What is that “green stuff”? What color was it originally? Where did it come from? Where is it now? What might have caused it to be green?

3.      Hypothesis- The Statue of Liberty is green because it is exposed to pollution from New York and the pollution makes it green. (a hypothesis is NOT a question but a statement you hope to prove or disprove)

4.      Experiment- I would put copper in different places where it is exposed and not exposed to pollution.

5.      Observe/ Analyze/ Record- I would record where I placed them, what days and times I observed the copper, and what I saw. At the end of my experiment I would type up all of the information as a daily log of information.

6.      Conclusion- None of my pennies turned green so my conclusion would be: Pollution does not affect copper and did not cause the Statue of Liberty to turn green. My hypothesis was wrong but I still learned something.

 

 

Pennies after pollution that are not green.   Pennies before pollution

Conclusion: Pollution did not cause the Statue of Liberty to turn green.   Hypothesis: The Statue of Liberty is green because of the pollution in New York   Why is the Statue of Liberty Green?

By: Jane Doe      S-3   Pollution

 

 

 

 

 
=Name____________________________

 

Rubric for Science Fair Project

 

Pre-project

 

_________/10       Topic turned in by December 14^th.     (2^nd marking period grade)

 

_________/10       Research turned in by January 15^th.   (2^nd marking period grade)

 

_________/ 10       Hypothesis turned in by January 30^th   (3^rd marking period grade)

 

Final Project Display

 

_________/ 5         Display clearly includes topic question

 

_________/15        Research is turned in ON the project display and the source is sighted.

 

_________/ 5         Display clearly includes hypothesis.

 

_________/ 25       Experiment is displayed, photographed, or video taped and on display at the science

       fair. The experiment tests/ is relevant to the hypothesis.

 

_________/ 25       Data is typed in a daily log form or appropriate form to the project. It will show dates,

       times, and data observed.

 

_________/15        Conclusion is clearly stated on the project and supports or contradicts the hypothesis.

 

 ________/6          Project is neat and clean. It is not wrinkled, dirty, sloppy, or ripped.

 

_________/4          My first and last name are on the top right hand corner of the project & section S-___

 

_________/5         Rubric sheet is turned in with the project/display with you name on it.

 

________/105       Total

 

________-             Late? (If late -10 points per day it is late)

 

_________/105    ________%

 

 

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