Earth Science Week Contests OCTOBER
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/index.html
National Chemistry Week Poster Contest OCTOBER
http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_TRANSITIONMAIN&node_id=1033&use_sec=false&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=d258380e-60ae-4cc0-a588-cc0e0e257e2c
Rubber Band Contest for Young Inventors NOVEMBER
http://rubberbandcontest.org/
Bubblewrap competition for young inventors NOVEMBER
http://nmoe.org/bubblewrap/index.html
National Forest Products Essay Contest NOVEMBER
http://www.texasforestry.org/docs/National-Forest-Products-Contest.pdf
Dig It! the Secrets of Soil Poster Contest DECEMBER
http://nacdnet.org/education/contests/poster/
Conservation Photo Contest DECEMBER
http://nacdnet.org/education/contests/photo/
Young Scientists Challenge MARCH
http://youngscientist.discoveryeducation.com/home.html
Texas State Fish - Art Contest MARCH
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/education/fish_art/
SCIENCE FAIR INFORMATION
Each student wishing to complete a science fair project the cut
off date to enter is October 25th.
If you have not completed the required forms by that time you
will not be allowed to enter the science fair.
Steps to completing a Science Fair Project
1. Select a project
2. Print out the three forms 1, 1A and 1B, complete the forms
with the proper signatures and turn in to Mrs. Petkovsek by
October 25th. (If you miss this deadline, you will not be in the
science fair)
3. Come up with question or a problem you would like to conduct
an experiment to find out about.
4. Complete research, and write a 2-3 page research paper with
bibliography attached. You must have at a minimum: 2 book
sources and 1 internet source. Talk to the Librarian about
finding appropriate books.
5. Come up with a Hypothesis based on prior knowledge and your
research...what you think will be the outcome of your experiment,
and why you think it will happen this way.
6. Design and conduct your experiment. If your experiment will
have human subjects, or have any type of animal or human tissue
you will require additional forms and approvals, get this done
before you proceed with your experiment.
7. Take pictures of your experiment (don't include anyone's face
as they can not be displayed on the project board)
8. Compile your data in a table.
9. Create a chart or a graph showing your results. This can be
neatly hand drawn or done on the computer, Excel is a good
program for completing this portion.
10. Create a neat project board on a tri-fold display board
(these can be found at arts and crafts stores), include the
following sections at a minimum:
a. Title
b. Problem or Question
c. Hypothesis
d. Some research information (could be basic vocabulary)
e. Material List
f. Step by Step Experiment Procedures
g. Data Table of Results
h. Graphs or Charts of Results
i. Conclusions (Make sure it says if it supported or rejected
the hypothesis)
j. Pictures of the experiment as it was being conducted
k. Each entry should have a border around it, which can be
accomplished easily by placing the paper of information onto a
piece of construction paper.
l. Write an abstract that is 250 words or less that summarizes
your complete project. You will want to type this onto the
correct Abstract Form (see forms below)
m. Keep it in a safe place until the December XX School Wide
Science Fair.
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
2007 Student Handbook
Some Places to Find Project Ideas
Discovery School Science Fair Central
Kidspace @ The Internet
Public Library Experimental Projects (Grades 4-12)
Young Engineers Club - Science Experiments
Forms for the Science Fair
You can type on these forms on line and then print them out, but
you can not save them unless you have the correct Adobe Program
Forms 1, 1A, and 1B are mandatory for every project, the others
are required for certain types of projects
Form 1 Checklist for Adult Sponsor Form 1A Student Checklist
Form 1B Approval Form Form 2 Qualified Scientist Form
Form 3 Risk Assessment Form Form 4 Human Subject
Form 5A and 5B Vertebrate Animal Form 6A Potentially Hazardous
Biological Agents
Form 7 Continuation Project Abstract Form
Media Release Form
Scientific Method
A science fair project is an investigation using the scientific
method to discover the answer to a scientific problem.
Before starting your project, you need to understand the
scientific method.
The scientific method is the "tool" that scientists use
to find the answers to questions.
It is the process of thinking through the possible solutions to a
problem and testing each possibility to find the best solution.
The scientific method involves the following steps:
Research
Problem
Hypothesis
Project Experimentation
Project Conclusion
Research
Research is collecting information from your own experiences, and
knowledgeable sources. Your first research is used to select a
project topic. This is called topic research.
After you have selected a topic, you begin what is called project
research. This is research to help you understand the topic,
express a problem, propose a hypothesis, and design one or more
project experiments designed to test the hypothesis.
Do use many references from printed sources books, journals,
magazines, and newspapers as well as electronic sources computer
software and online services.
Problem
The problem is the scientific question to be solved. It is best
expressed as an "open-ended" question, which is a question that
is answered with a statement, not just a yes or a no. For
example, "How does light affect the reproduction of bread mold on
white bread?"
Do choose a problem that can be solved experimentally. For
example, the question "What is a mold?" can be answered by
finding the definition of the word mold in the dictionary.
But, "At room temperature, what is the growth rate of bread mold
on white bread?" is a question that can be answered by
experimentation.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an idea about the solution to a problem, based on
knowledge and research. While the hypothesis is a single
statement, it is the key to a successful project. All of your
project experimenting will be performed to test the hypothesis.
The hypothesis should make a claim about how two factors relate.
For example, in the following sample hypothesis, the two
relating factors are light and bread mold growth. Here is one
example of a hypothesis for the earlier problem question:
"I believe that bread mold does not need light for reproduction
on white bread, because mold does not contain chlorophyll.
Do state facts from past experiences or observations on which you
base your hypothesis.
Do write down your hypothesis before beginning the project
experimentation.
Don't change your hypothesis even if experimentation does not
support it. If time permits, repeat or redesign the experiment to
confirm your results.
Project Experimentation
Project experimentation is the process of testing a hypothesis.
The things that have an effect on the experiment are called
variables. There are three kinds of variables that you need to
identify in your experiments: independent, dependent, and
controlled.
The independent variable is the variable you purposely manipulate
(change).
The dependent variable is the variable that is being observed,
which changes in response to the independent variable.
The variables that are not changed are called controlled
variables.
Do have only one independent variable during an experiment.
Do repeat the experiment more than once to verify your results.
Do have a control.
Do organize data.
Project Conclusion
The project conclusion is a summary of the results of the project
experimentation and a statement of how the results relate to the
hypothesis.
Reasons for experimental results that go against or reject the
hypothesis are included. If applicable, the conclusion can end by
giving ideas for further testing.
If your results do not support your hypothesis:
DON'T change your hypothesis.
DON'T leave out experimental results that do not support your
hypothesis.
DO give possible reasons for the difference between your
hypothesis and the experimental results.
DO give ways that you can experiment further to find a solution.
If your results support your hypothesis:
You might say, for example, "As stated in my hypothesis, I
believe that light is not necessary during the germination of
bean seeds. My experimentation supports the idea that bean seeds
will germinate without light. After seven days, the seeds tested
were seen growing in full light and in no light. It is possible
that some light reached the 'no light' containers that were
placed in a dark closet. If I were to improve on this experiment,
I would place the 'no light' containers in a light-proof box
and/or wrap them in light-proof material, such as aluminum
foil."
http://teacherweb.com/TX/GrishamMiddleSchool/petkovsek/ap1.stm